911 California Emissions

[waterski56]

I'm moving to San Diego, and have an east coast (49 state) 1979 911 SC. Can someone enlighten me as to how the California emissions process works? Can I drive the car or do I have to spend unlimited funds until it passes? Is it even feasible to get the car modified?

Thanks

[DonNewton]

Many years ago, CA used to have you pay a fee (~$300 if I remember correctly) to register a 49 state vehicle. Then, that was found to be illegal (unconstitutional?) and they (the state) had to refund all that money. Don't think they ever did. So, now, if you move here, you just go have the car smogged and if it fails, you end up at a referee station. There is a cap on how much the state can "force" you to spend if all the parts that originally came with the car are there.

Now, here's the good thing. If you have a cat (as you're supposed to) and the car is correctly tuned, you should be able to pass. As always, there are variations that we're not aware of.

One other thing to try is once you're here, find a repair shop that can "sniff" your car before you venture into CA Smog Land. It's not such a nice place. . .

[wes_r]

I bought my '87 from Nevada and had issues passing smog. Best thing is to get a pre-test for the car to see if it passes.

If you don't pass, DMV will give you temporary tags so you can drive the car while you attempt to repair. I believe it's good for 3 months.

They do have a program that will give you $500 towards repairs, but it's need-based and depends on income.

I would suggest you take the eyes wide open approach and find a reputable shop in SD that can look at the car (and perhaps pre-test it) so you know what modifications or repairs you may need.

As you know, California smog restrictions are very tight - so good luck!

[porwolf]

If you have a functioning catalysator and a well tuned car it should not be too hard to get through the smog inspection here in California. A couple of years ago I drove my original 79SC (California equiped), after a 16 year hibernation, into a smog station and passed with flying colors. Though the car was was low on miles, 50k total only. To be safe I would have an experinced shop here take your car to their favorite smog station. It is amazing what they can do, and I understand it is totally legitimate. If you are from out of state you may want to contact a shop like that in the place where you want bring your car to, describe the car, and get their opinion.

[djdsc]

There is also a visual test that means all the original emissions equipment that came on the car needs to be in place. This can work for you or against depending on your situation and the knowledge of the individual tester. This is also where it gets dicy with cars produced in the Calif. only equipment years. Not sure about today but at one time non-Calif equipped cars needed to be retrofitted. I'm sure someone will chime in on if in '79 there were Calif. only cars. This is is a do your home work first before testing situation.

[JQ911]

Very timely as I will relocate to CA (Covina area) tentatively Sept or Oct. Definitely I will have an independent shop look at it before having it tested. Do they also do a visual and other related test aside from smog? Would it pose a problem if you have a loud sports muffler but everything stock on it (cat converter). I still have the original muffler and I can easily put it back if recommended

Follow up question on djdsc - Would a non OEM looking muffler pass a visual test?

[DonNewton]

JQ: I can only tell you that based on what we see and hear, there's no limit on the db level of your "muffler" and you really don't need the original. You got the cat and all the other equipment, you pass the visual. Sniff test (rolling bed test) is the issue.

So, at one time, I lived in Bergen County while teaching at Paterson East Side HS. You anywhere around there?

[Greg72/2.8]

I don't think all areas have the same requirements...ie; an Inyokern or other areas with lower vehicle counts may not need testing....That was a few years ago and I haven't checked lately as the 72 isn't subject to testing

[JQ911]

Originally Posted by DonNewton

JQ: I can only tell you that based on what we see and hear, there's no limit on the db level of your "muffler" and you really don't need the original. You got the cat and all the other equipment, you pass the visual. Sniff test (rolling bed test) is the issue.

So, at one time, I lived in Bergen County while teaching at Paterson East Side HS. You anywhere around there?

Thanks Don! I live by Summit next to Chatham. I frequent Paramus, Bergenfield and New Milford area visiting relatives and friends. I visited a fellow pelican a few weeks ago at Ramsey.

[johndaroza]

I,m in California I hate Emissions test most all cars pass any way. So I started looking into how to not do Emissions testing in California !

" I found out how not too smog in Ca. any car any year ! "

Now I,m taking off all the crap from 1986 Porsche when they only wanted good MPG and going to go full race engine no cat no this no that, big cam ! Just all about making power !

So best of luck in Ca.

[DonNewton]

So how's the phishing today?

[Synchro Joe]

More info at: Before Buying a Vehicle From Out of State - Be Sure You Can Register It in California FFVR 29

California residency and vehicle importation laws and requirements, go to Buying an Out of State Vehicle. or call the DMV Technical Compliance Section, at (916) 657-6795.

California Smog check program, contact visit the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) online at Bureau of Automotive Repair, State of California, Dept. of Consumer Affairs or call 1-(800) 952-5210.

California smog laws, gray market vehicles, and 49-state vehicles, visit the California Air Resources Board (ARB) online at Air Resources Board - Homepage or call 1-800-242-4450 , or visit ARB online.

Which counties require a smog inspection for the registration renewal?

Counties that Require a Smog Inspection for Vehicle Registration Renewal: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin,
San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz , Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba,

There are six counties that require smog certifications within certain Zip Codes only. These counties are: El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma. To
to determine which Zip Codes are included: Program Area Lookup

Good luck with your transfer.

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by djdsc

There is also a visual test that means all the original emissions equipment that came on the car needs to be in place. This can work for you or against depending on your situation and the knowledge of the individual tester. This is also where it gets dicy with cars produced in the Calif. only equipment years. Not sure about today but at one time non-Calif equipped cars needed to be retrofitted. I'm sure someone will chime in on if in '79 there were Calif. only cars. This is is a do your home work first before testing situation.

I do have an original California certified 79SC with Clifornia emmission stickers. I bought the car new. So, yes, there were 1979 California p-cars.

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by JQ911

Very timely as I will relocate to CA (Covina area) tentatively Sept or Oct. Definitely I will have an independent shop look at it before having it tested. Do they also do a visual and other related test aside from smog? Would it pose a problem if you have a loud sports muffler but everything stock on it (cat converter). I still have the original muffler and I can easily put it back if recommended

Follow up question on djdsc - Would a non OEM looking muffler pass a visual test?

I am sceptical. But I hate noiser than stock anyway.

[djdsc]

Originally Posted by JQ911

Follow up question on djdsc - Would a non OEM looking muffler pass a visual test?

Here is the deal; few certified testers have a clue about the equipment on a 79 911. They are looking at a list of requirements and perhaps a few cheat sheet photos or diagrams. Case in point, I once had a certified tester not test me because on the '82SC the big heater hose from the fan had a hole in it and he said it was emission related. Right. At the same time I passed for years with a '77 911 without thermal reactors installed; I can almost guarantee that no smog tester in California has a clue what the thermal reactor set-up looks like on a '77 911. So there is some likely hood that a non-OEM muffler might pass. The less the testing station knows about a Porsche the better. Choose wisely.

Good luck!

[Photon]

Hey Waterskier! By coincidence, I had a conversation with a colleague yesterday on this very subject. He has a 1978 928, and he drops it off at Black Forest in San Diego whenever it needs to be smogged. They tune it to pass, take it in for inspection, and then he picks it up after it passes. I haven't had my SC long enough to have to deal with it yet, but made a mental note of it. Others have told me similar stories. Just a thought in case you get dinged on the first try . . .

[80-911SC]

I have an 80 sc and have all the smog equipment on it .. passed smog this year again ... with a muffler delete (straight off the cats back) ... it is loud but the muffler or lack of does not affect the smog ability, in its own ... it does lower the back pressure but thats another thread in its self ....

[NoEardGoat]

Buy/rent a place in the hills, Julian. No Smog.


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[dipso]

My 75 used to pass all the time, even without thermal reactors. I live in SoCal.
Maybe you can get a smog check out where you live, just to see the #s, and then compare them to California required #s. You might have nothing to worry about.
It couldn't hurt. You might be worrying for no reason.

[dicklague]

Don't move to CA!!

Well don't tell move to CA permanently. Keep ME as your home.

Keep a ME address and keep your ME tags and license. Use a friend or relative's address in ME as your home.


I know a guy who had a Quebec license and a CA one. He drove a company registered car, and he would talk french to the CA cops when they stopped him. He said it worked like a charm.