It's time for the first smog check for my car and I am wondering if some of you bay area guys can help suggest a good shop for the test as well as a windshield shop. Thanks, Liz

 

I don't think it matters much which shop to go to for the smog check. I will say that I prefer the dynos that are set in the ground - but i think that's as far as my recommendation goes.

Now, here is what is real important. Get your car nice and hot, drive it like you stole it for about 20 mins and then find a shop that can take you immediately. Don't let the car cool at all, keep it running while you are waiting to get on the dyno. A cat runs at 600 degrees, so 5 mins of cooling makes an enormous difference.

So what I did is I went online to www.dmv.ca.gov found a shop and made an appointment for a very specific time - indicating that i wanted the car hot and I would drive it right up at that time. And with all that I passed by the short-hairs.

I'm starting to think that a cat is going to become a maintenance item for many of us soon.

Cheers,
Boris

 

Boris, Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure if all shops were equipped. Thanks again. Have you had to have your windshield replaced? I followed some earlier threads abour replacing with German glass or American glass, in regards to how easily the glass got pitted. I called the dealer and the shop that they went through and both were relatively close in price about $900 to 1k!!! Godd thing it is a small crack! Thanks again, Liz

 

Right near the intersection of 580/650 is a well respected
shop called Kahler's.

Directly across the street is a glass shop that Kahler works
with and recommends.

When I had work done at Kahler's, after they were done,
they took the car to the glass shop for me.

One stop shopping.

tim

 

I had mine smogged in November... it passed with flying colors, and had only been driven from my house down to the local gas station. (ie. it wasn't run hard beforehand.)

Also, the mechanic mentioned that all smogs have to be done on a dyno now... he was griping about the 35K it cost them to put the dyno in.

 

Thanks Tim, Kahlers it is ! I know a smog check should be an easy thing but I have had the worst luck. Just a few years ago my husband's car was side-swiped while waiting for the smog test by the shop's own employees! Even worse, the employee did the damage while driving another customer's car! P-car won't go to that shop.

 

Thanks Tim, Kahlers it is ! I know a smog check should be an easy thing but I have had the worst luck. Just a few years ago my husband's car was side-swiped while waiting for the smog test by the shop's own employees! Even worse, the employee did the damage while driving another customer's car! P-car won't go to that shop.