Passing California Emissions

Has it been modified?

Is there some reason you think it wont pass?

 

I came up with a cool little trick.

get your car passed on emissions but register it in a non-emissions area out in the desert. I registered my car in Calexico with a mail-depot address.

then you can take off your cats or do whatever you want because in those areas, emissions testing is only needed when there's a change of ownership. As long as you keep your car, you will not need a new emissions test.


The PO box address isn't really OK with the DMV, but no one checks on it and no one cares. Just write "apt 308" instead of "box 308."

My 85 countach had no emissions equipment on it when I got it. So I got 1 catalytic converter put on temporarily to pass emissions. Once the emissions test was done, I put the good exhaust on the car, which will make it run healthy and last me a long time.

I did get pulled over once for a taillight being out. But the cops were so stunned to see a countach that they didn't even think to check anything out. I strongly doubt I'll end up getting a "modified exhaust" ticket.

The areas where the laws are different are in Imperial County and Riverside County, but not the entire counties. Here's the map (gray areas)-
http://smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARResources/02_SmogCheck/Engineering/Program_Map.pdf

And if you want to look up a zip code-
http://smogcheck.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Ziparea/ZipLookup.aspx

 

The Calif smog check has changed.
If your car is <5 years old, it doesn't get smogged at all.

If your car is between 6 and 11, they will plug into your OBD port for mods + do a visual inspection. They won't use the "sniffer" on these tests. If you have ANY codes, you fail. If you have any mods (that the tech sees) you fail. This may include "tunes."

You can get a modded car to pass, but it'll cost you about $1,000. Hundreds work perfectly...

 

Make very sure you go to a CA-certified smog shop that does pre-inspection tests, i.e., otherwise test results are automatically transmitted to the State computer and you can't undo it if it fails. Not all testers do pre-inspections. It gives you an opportunity to take corrective action BEFORE being officially failed. If you have any check-engine-light issues, get it checked before the test. Be clear on the CA regulations before you have the car tested.

 

CA smog sticker on a 458 Italia being delivered. Tsk, tsk.
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So, if I move to California from Texas, where I live now, with my 1977 308 GTB (pre-cat), it won't have to pass a smog test?

This is one of my concerns about moving to CA, passing my 308. What about vehicle registration costs? I understand the state charges an annual amount based on the car's value. Unlike Texas, where it's a low standard cost across the board for all passenger cars.

??

Greg in Houston

 

Greg
You will have to pass smog to register the car here. 1975 and earlier cars are Exempt but every thing else must pass. As stated above there are some counties with some different rules...but anything 1976 up to the cars with OBD connectors will need to be sniffer tested and "California Required Equipment" for that year car. Air pump or Pumps (don't know if the tech would know a thermo-reactor from heat shield covered headers...but at least your year doesn't require the cats... (FWIW I went thru this all after bringing a 79 308 in from AZ about 6 mo ago...you will also need a CHP or DMV vin# verification they also look for the "Meets California Emissions" Sticker...BTW you can get the vin inspection done at an AAA office in they have the in house DMV dept)

 

For what it's worth, I bought 3 weeks ago a 1990 testarossa in OR, and it passed the CA smog check very easily. It barely moved the needles on all three numbers, way below average.

I drove it 30 minutes first to make sure the cats were up in temperature.

Piece of cake. That said, my exhaust is stock and being a testarossa it doesn't have any OBD, so I couldn't be ratted our by it.

If you have no check engine light and a stock exhaust, it should be a walk in the park.