Smog in So Cal

356 Rookie · 09-02-2003, 03:25 PM

I am looking for a shop that is familiar with the 914. I own a 1975 2.0 that needs to be smogged. It has failed an initial test and the technition didn't know where any of the adjustments needed to be made to bring it into compliance. Anyone know of a good shop/Smog station that can help ?. La Verne area if that helps. Thanks in advance.

Greg

Jared at Pelican Parts · 09-02-2003, 04:31 PM

I thought 75 and older were exempt as of January 2004?

mikester · 09-02-2003, 06:27 PM

'74, '75's next year unless the law is repealed...

unclerichy · 09-02-2003, 07:42 PM

Not sure where Laverne is, but I use a small shop in Van Nuys called Trino's. I had him smog my '74 a couple of times. It's on the corner of Woodley and Sherman Way, just west of the 405.

hardflex · 09-03-2003, 12:40 AM

Hello La Verne, my home town. Bonita HS grad 1970. When I lived there there were orange groves ;-), and the college library was an Alpha Beta foodstore. We could hear the dragsters at Pomona run from my house on Sundays. It's been a few years since I've been back, how's the town doing?

Paul

356 Rookie · 09-03-2003, 08:23 AM

La Verne has changed quite a bit without sacrificing the "hometown" feel. It's still a great place to raise kids, and drive a 914...but it ( the 914 ) still needs to get smogged. Van Nuys is a little too far I think, but if thats all that is avavilable?. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Greg

hardflex · 09-03-2003, 08:47 AM

If you do some of your own work, or have a friend who might help, you could try some of these tricks

smogtestricks

If you could post your prelimany scores maybe someone can make specific suggestions

I used to know a German mechanic in Pomona, but he was a Benz specialist. There's a place in Riverside that has 914 gatherings, I know. Is that too far?

356 Rookie · 09-03-2003, 08:58 AM

I can do some of my own wrenching but would like to have a shop do the adjustments AND the Smog test. Riverside doesn't seem too bad though. Thanks.

356 Rookie · 09-05-2003, 10:01 AM

I just pulled my smog test and it appears the only levels that were too high were the HC levels. They came in at a whopping 447 PPM @ 25mph. The previous test with the PO came in at 84 PPM. What could have caused such a large jump ? every other level was within tolerance. Thanks.

Greg

hardflex · 09-05-2003, 07:17 PM

from a web search i found this--

1. HYDROCARBONS (HC - PPM)

Hydrocarbons are unburned fuel. A properly running engine will produce some HC's. On most late model vehicles in good mechanical condition and equipped with functional emission controls, HC measured at the tailpipe will be very low.

The presence of HC in the exhaust shows unused energy (fuel) going out the tailpipe.

Excessive HC in vehicles is the result of incomplete combustion, which could be caused by ignition malfunction, mechanical faults, vacuum leaks or fuel control or fuel management problems.

Example of:
An electrical defect may be caused by a fouled spark plug, shorted or broken ignition wire or a carbon tracked distributor cap.

A mechanical defect may be caused by a defective valve train component, weak or worn piston rings or excessive timing chain or belt wear,

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sounds like a tune up would fix it. have you looked for evidence of rich burning? tail pipe dry black?

Lemme see if I can get Ron Meier to come to this thread with local shop recommendations. He lives in Crestline, I think, not too far from you.

sean_V8_914 · sean_V8_914's Garage

74 is exempt now, I own one

calbrat · 09-06-2003, 12:00 PM

Man... My 914 would fail in a heartbeat. Thank God my parents still live in Calaveras County. Nice place to register a garaged 914....lol

My 74 is exempt now however. You are lucky your 75 has smog parts on it.

Tidybuoy · 09-07-2003, 10:51 PM

My 1974 CA car just became exempt because of the current 30 year law. Once your car is 30 yrs old it becomes smog exempt in CA. When I recently registered my car, I found that out.

mikester · 09-08-2003, 03:50 AM

Yes, the rolling exemption has started. So every year it will roll another year exempt. Next year '75s will be exempt, but check out this month's Excellence and you'll see there is a letter explaining that there is legislation in the works attempting to freeze it where it stands ('74s and '75s might make it).

356 Rookie · 09-08-2003, 09:24 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, I got a lead on a "saavy" smog guy in Glendora. If he doesn't work out I will be having the car tuned (which needs to be done anyway) and I hope this will get me over the smog hurdle and have my car running better. Thanks again.

Greg