Silly suggestion to pass emissions... :)

Of the 3 or 4 times I've had to pass I've only been successful once. The other times I've had to transfer tags from my truck then re-register it later. On transfers no need to pass emissions in TN. Emissions has been a real buzz kill for me and my 355.

 

I wish I could share pics and the story about how mine passed. Some stories cannot be shared. =( Maybe in the owner's forum?

 

Bo,

The answer varies so widely from state to state, and even within Texas you cannot travel from your home County to smog the car....

25 years of age is total exemption here, but I am sure you'd need a spread sheet to recap our various positions...

I have heard, ...deep into the woods, ....that sometimes..... trickery occurs....

 

If your 55 needs a new engine that no passing smog was a warning that something was not right. Caught early and perhaps an engine rebuild could have been avoided. I guess that's a live and learn. In reality from 348 and beyond these cars are super clean.

 

In addition to the federal 25-year exemption, some states offer "special use" or "collector car" status registration for cars less than 25 years old, which, if your car meets the qualifications and restrictions, allow it to be exempt from emissions testing and requirements.

 

???

 

NYS pass/fail no sniffing. If you don't have a check engine light on or somethng like that it will pass. Even w/o cats if your computer is fooled by cat syms etc. GTS BRuce

 

Well, TN is like NY, they only plug to the obdii port. I had 9 codes first time I tried, eventually worked through them all over the first year. Needless to say I transferred tags that first year.

 

I knew a guy that was seriously into electronics that built an ODB2 replicator that showed no pending codes. He was considering selling it on E-bay but decided it wasnt worth the hassle if it became "popular"

 

25 years old is the emmissions exemption in WA-state. When I purchased my 328 it was still 24 years old. However, because I went through a registered dealer/broker (Roy Cats) there's an exemption for the first year. Didn't even need a state patrol inspection for the same reason. I can't imagine the nightmares some of the CA folks go through...

Even for my more modern cars, it's just pay $15 at a WA-state inspection site every two years, plug in the ODB, get the codes, pass, go home and purchase your new registration tabs online. Pretty simple.

 

Jeff,

Even in California there is no nightmare if your car runs right.

 

They are putting more pressure on checking for correct cats and manifolds. Had another guy the other day call because he had Hyperflows and failed the visual inspection.

Solution is simple, $16,000 worth of cats. Just put 14 grand worth on a 575 the other day.

Some people call that a nightmare and if anyone thinks California will get more understanding of old cars they need to lay off the hallucinogenic drugs.

The state is actually in the trial stage right now for easier testing and more rigorous visual inspection because they know damned well most cars that have all the right parts pass and many have illegal equipment. They intend to spank the latter.

 

problem with that rigorous visual is that most shops don't see many of these cars. My last smog test the inspector spent quite a bit of time doing the visual. He spent a lot of time looking at my cats (I assume for a CARB sticker) and I explained they were OEM cats and he passed me.

 

In many areas the inspectors are smarter and more experienced. They will become more diligent when the weight of the State of California is breathing down their back.

In 1972 we thought predictions of where it was all going was paranoia too. It has already far surpassed or worst case scenarios.

 

These aftermarket makers of Cats will simply need to get them CARB certified.

Join SEMA and get all the news and legislation pending on this issue

 

Congratulations OP. 7 misspellings in one post. New record for FChat?

 

My 87 - 328 passes with flying colors here in Cali. Time before this last one it barely passed, when I looked into it, I had two spark plug wires that were shorted so the car was probably firing on 6 cylinders when it was tested (but still passed). This year, with that fixed, car passed easily.

I'm a bit surprised that any of the newer Ferrari's have issues passing smog test (visual OR sniff) (assuming they have not been messed with).

 

Dare I say it - a cottage industry developing OEM replacements that give the appearance of OEM but are otherwise modernized? Fraudulent? Maybe but what if an OEM item can be proved serviceable?

 

There used to be some gasoline additive that was supposed to help you pass emissions. I was going to try it but ended up getting a better tip from the emissions tester who said make sure your cat is really warm becasue with older cars the cats lose efficiency when they age.

Tough to keep it warm when you are sitting in a line waiting to get in for them to test.