I PASSED The Dreaded CA Smog Test

[Targa Me]

Hello Everyone.
I'm completely jazzed today. I took my Targa in for the smog check and passed. Although my car runs great I was a bit worried cause my car has 230,484 miles on the clock.
(1984 Carrera with a stock 3.2)
Here's what I did to prep for my smog check.
1) Plugs, Cap and Rotor.
2) Replaced the air filter.
3) Replaced the O2 sensor (even though the old one only had 30k miles on it.)
4) Change oil and filter.
5) Cleaned out all the breather hoses from any oil residue.
6) Inflate rear tires to 40 psi.
7) Drove the car prior to test making sure engine was up to running temp.

Also what I'm going to do now is remove the CAT and replace it with a test pipe so I can save the life of the CAT for next time.

See you on the road.

[Joe Bob]

Yeah, but does your clock work?











Congrats.....

[timchar]

Congrats, my 86 just passed with 178 k, although only 25 k on rebuild. Nothing done to car for prep. Everything stock.

[Targa Me]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Yeah, but does your clock work?



Congrats.....

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

[Joe Bob]

Shot in the dark.....

[timchar]

Congrats, my 86 just passed with 178 k, although only 25 k on rebuild. Nothing done to car for prep. Everything stock.

[hcoles]

please post CA passing results if you have a second.

A possible drawback to passing very clean is that the CARB might lower the cut points for your year car - they have done this in the past.

It is good to pass with a well operating smog system but let's not strive for ultra clean as we may penalize those that have a cat on the margin by subjecting to lower cut points and spending $$$ for a new cat.

[Targa Me]

I will post the smog test results later this evening.

[Targa Me]

Here are the smog test result from my current test.


Here are the test results from 2009.



Notice how they lowered the MAX levels for the HC, CO and NO.

[cdrik915]

It seems to be difficult to pass this smog test in CA.

Is there not guys who control , more coolest than others ???

If you see what i mean ???

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

Here are the smog test result from my current test.


Here are the test results from 2009.



Notice how they lowered the MAX levels for the HC, CO and NO.

I am unable to authenticate this item previously posted by another member.

Anybody?

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by 86 911 Targa

I have been unable to authenticate this item posted by another member.

Anybody?

We need a lawyer to fail the test with his car, and sue the state on this basis. When they lose, they are forced to refund all the addtional test fees from previous failed smog tests.

Who is up for this ?

[Joe Bob]

Always been my argument....how can they make a stricter standard w/o legislation? I think it's illegal.

[msterling]

I wonder if some cars "as manufactured" would fail the current CA smog test. It is absurd to apply current requirements to older cars. I think that 3.2 Carreras were probably very clean for a 1988-built car owing to the EFI setup.

Ohio is not nearly as tough where testing is required. Here is my test on my very stock 88 Carrera with 46K from last year:

HC PPM Test 10.1 Limit 174.0
CO % Test 0.00? Limit 1.12
NO PPM Test 343.5 Limit 1258.0
CO2 % 14.96 Limit N/A

[Targa Me]

That's very, very interesting. I know a DMV Investigator... I'll talk to them and see what they say.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

That's very, very interesting. I know a DMV Investigator... I'll talk to them and see what they say.

Any light that can be shed on this conundrum,
would be greatly appreciated by our members.

It just does not seem right........

Best,

Gerry

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by 86 911 Targa

I am unable to authenticate this item previously posted by another member.

Anybody?

There are a number of things going on with this:

1 - the smog test stations have nothing to do with it, they follow the cut points coming across the connection to the CA cut point data base, CARB has innocent looking people show up at test stations to check how they operate, the station operators for the most part try to follow the rules as far as I can tell, I'm sure there are exceptions.
2 - the cut points have been lowered in some cases, don't know what cars/years/models have been affected - there is no public general quiery access to the data base other than through the cut point look up
3 - the current measurement and type of pollutant may not have been known or published when many of these cars were first sold - if anyone has this info. please post with reference
4 - CARB operates for the most part in a secret manner and they do pretty much as they wish, e.g. you didn't see a public notice informing that the cut points for cars x, y and z will be lowered. There are a few public meetings here and there, and car people get up and rant and are pretty much pushed aside and ignored as far as I can tell.

If your car is in good working order it will pass easily.

Probably the best thing you can do is write a letter to your local elected officials.
You can call and talk to some of the people that work at CARB, some are car people but will not say much because they want to keep a job I suppose, I've talked to a couple good people. On the other hand some will say you are killing babies because you drive an old car, I've actually had that said to me over the phone.

As you might tell I've dug into this a bit, I've given up, I have bigger fish to fry. Unless you have a huge amount of money we are not likely to get lawyers to dig in to suing the government, there is no money in it likely

[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.

[Quicksilver]

If the cost is distributed across a large number of enthusiasts a legal challenge would actually be a cost savings. How much did you spend prepping for your last smog test?
I think we should get a test case going and then get car clubs and individuals to donate to pay the legal fees. Any judge will smack CARB back into line but only a judicial ruling can change CARB's direction.

[Targa Me]

I spent roughly $230 on smog prep which does not include labor; had I not done the work myself.