Future Smog Testing in CA
 

My last test was very hard to pass but it did finally pass after much adjustment. The indy I use did not charge me one penny for all his work. I just had to pay the test fees and a new oxy sensor.

I was told that it will be more and more difficult to pass the test in the future and I should think about getting a PO box in a smog test free area.

You guys in the know - can an 81 pass this test in the future? I hear it will get harder and harder to pass.

What is it going to take? Thanks for your opinion.

I have the original Cat in my car.

I don't see how they can force you to pass a smog test higher than the original car could make in it's day. There are so few 928's on the road one would think they would let it pass. Glad I don't live in California any more.

"Glad I don't live in California any more."

Amen!

I have a 1981 also and have had no trouble passing. My car has 35K miles.

It is normal that as the engine wears it will be harder to pass smog. You may be able to bolt on a new O2 sensor, replace the CAT, or make other subtle adjustments depending on its condition, but at some point the engine or FI may need work to make it pass within spec.

35K? That car isn't even broken in.

Agree on the Cat, an old 30 year one just isn't going to do it's job very well. Then replace with new Magnaflow one, won't last much longer after the two years that we need to smog again. Calif sucks with the new smog laws and yes they will be getting stricter. I hope to someday buy a hack transmitter that will disable all the Priuses we have rolling on the freeway at 45 mph. I can't stand those cars and drivers that buy 'em. Then I will feel better driving my Gross Polluter :D

Just to be clear, disable them first when they are not on the freeway and moving;)

Engine wear is not an issue for smog, except "maybe" valve guides.

Dirty injectors, old cat, old air meter, old O2 sensor, air leaks, oil getting into combustion chamber either through vent system or valve guides, those are smog issues. Most likely are air leaks and dirty injectors (flows don't match as a set), which can wreck cats and O2 sensors.

928intl has a limited number of new old stock factory cats for early cars (huge single cat) for $395 that pretty much cleans up anything remotely close to proper air fuel mix.

I don't know if the test range has changed for the 928, but I suggest that it might knowing Calif, but even so generally our cars run VERY clean in proper tune.

This is actually a good option since our stock cats have lasted 30 years, but so many different variants and especially those that have the air pump line connection, lots of muffler places wont even touch messing with a cat. It's called tampering here in smog nazi Cali and the fines are hefty and even possible loss of a business license.

The state needs to bring back the 30 year exempt law back. Stupid tree huggers :mad:

Thanks ALL for the options and info. I talked to 928intl last month about the cat. Very reasonable if that will get me to pass easily and last another 25. I know the AFM needed to be adjusted depending on which part failed the test.

My car runs great now. Better than when I took it in. Nice shop. Drove to work for the first time today since getting my little sticker....... fun, fun, fun.....to and then back home.

Last test passed no problem after failing once. Adjust and done. Not this time. Bummer.