I PASSED The Dreaded CA Smog Test

[Noah930]

FWIW, I had my car smogged last week. Actually, my wife's daily driver (a 2005 Acura) and my '87 911 Turbo were both smogged. The max allowed levels were different; her car had stricter requirements than mine. My car had the same requirements as it did when I last smogged it 2 years ago. I don't know how those levels compared to 1987, though.

I'm having computer issues right now, so I can't post the results. But I'll do so when I get my computer back from the repair shop. (I'm posting from work, right now.)

[86 911 Targa]

FYI.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

The CA cut point and CARB input may not be worth the trouble of a law suit but it would be nice to know exactly how things work so we can understand how the CA cut points are calculated.

That was my initial focus (find out how things work/etc.) after reading a lot on line and calling etc. I sort of gave up. The statistical mechanics and exact laws followed for what they do does not seem to be easily found out unless you have time/money and know what to ask for under freedom of information act. Some of the reading left me with the feeling that CARB can do just about anything if they say it is under one (I forget now) of the high level air protection acts.

I've tried a bit of googling to see if could find smog readings or requirements as initially sold, but didn't get too far. I still say the best bang for the buck is to write your CA congressperson. They are aware we are out here. The SEMA people have made some good progress with allowing late model special hot rod crate engines in old cars, they may have ideas about what might be done. I would be surprised if they haven't been over this ground previously.

So far I haven't seen anyone post that CARB has broken any law. Lowering the cut points on a 1988 Carrera I don't think is against the law unless the cut points are below the as originally sold values.... and we don't know those values.

In addition, the new car companies and dealers are not with us, they want to sell new cars. The more they can make owning an old car a PITA the more likely you will buy a new one. I guess that could be what they are thinking. If all else fails we just need to pick up a pre 1975 model, I think 1974 is the year model cut off for passing smog every two years. You may still need to pass to some degree on change of ownership.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

Grrrrr the clock doesn't work, but its on the calendar to get done.

What the Hell M???

No worries L, it works perfectly twice a day

[Nick Triesch]

I was told in a phone call to carb that the cutpoints are lowered based on normal "wear and tear" of the motor. Whatever that means. I was also told that when I start my car it sends out more smog than 10 new cars. In other words, he gave me the guilt trip. I did a lot of phonr calling but I got nowhere! Just jerks who have too much power.

[Hugh R]

"Lowered based on wear and tear". That is just plain bull. Emissions go up with age, not down. I've experienced the same smog BS, but my car's emissions are on par with those posted above. I had an old CAT that belched out around 1,200 ppm of NOx, but I had a "newer" spare and it passed at low 200's.

[kinein]

i have to get a smog inspection on my car also next week wish me luck

[DonNewton]

I recently received notice to have my 83 SC smogged, again, for registration. This is the fourth year in a row. No, the car has never failed smog in the almost 30 years I've owned it. I just don't get it. One day next week, I'll take it in and see what's up. Just another way to extort ~$50 from the taxpayers. . .

[Hugh R]

Its supposed to be every two years, not annually. I'd call the DMV in Sacramento. Not that it will do any good.

With all this SMOG BS, there is a form on the DMV website where you can indicate that the car is not in the state for SMOG testing. You have to certify under penalty of perjury that it is out of state, other than Nevada, IIRC. So drive it to AZ, take a pic of it as you drop the form in the mailbox.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by Nick Triesch

I was told in a phone call to carb that the cutpoints are lowered based on normal "wear and tear" of the motor. Whatever that means. I was also told that when I start my car it sends out more smog than 10 new cars. In other words, he gave me the guilt trip. I did a lot of phonr calling but I got nowhere! Just jerks who have too much power.

Yes, those are the sort answers you get. Buildings full of people with little or no value. They don't want the processes open to technical scrutiny, they say and do what they want to. Exactly how the management is motivated other than keeping a job I don't know, that would be a place to start. They can't push on the new car OEM's those people have too much power, instead they push on us with no clout. They take actions (lower cut points) and then make exaggerated claims of lowering smog in CA. This is IMHO.


It would be interesting to find out what other makes/models had the cut points lowered, I can't imagine Porsche's are singled out. Cars are grouped in categories of weight, CID, # of cylinders, trans type. Is what I remember.

[Noah930]

My stock 930 from 2007:


2009:


2011:


The acceptable levels are the same throughout the 4 years I've been here in CA.


My wife's '05 Acura, 2011:


Her car's maximum permissible levels are lower (more restrictive) than those allowed the 930.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by Noah930

My stock 930 from 2007:


2009:


2011:


The acceptable levels are the same throughout the 4 years I've been here in CA.


My wife's '05 Acura, 2011:


Her car's maximum permissible levels are lower (more restrictive) than those allowed the 930.

Noah930 - great info. Thx.
The Acura is extremely clean compared to many of the requirements. That is curious by itself, why would Acura design a car to be much cleaner than required? I would say it is a prime candidate to get the cut points lowered. Notice that a couple of requirements are close to each other, that's interesting. A previous poster tells of phone calls with CARB and they say old cars put out 100 times more smog doesn't seem to be true, more yes maybe 2X but not 100X. The 930's may be protected because of statistics, there aren't that many of them so the CARB algorithms let them be.

The whole cut point data base and associated algorithms I'll bet are a complete mess and would not stand up to an independent statistician review. As mentioned previously, we just want to know how it works.

[KNS]

Jeez, I'm glad I'm in Arizona. No smog check for cars on classic car insurance. And, I just paid my registration (good for five years, through 2016) - $68.00.