Question for California Oppos re: smog controls

"and 100 more" (nth256)
09/15/2015 at 13:24 • Filed to: None

I’ve been watching Matt Farah’s one-takes and viewer-submitted test rides, most of which are run in the hills outside the LA Basin. I keep hearing about these cars running catless... Has California smog law become substantially less anal in the decade or so since I left? Used to be, there was a hefty fine for not being equipped with a cat, unless the car was a classic (then you were exempt from smog altogether).

DISCUSSION (11)

deekster_caddy > and 100 more
09/15/2015 at 13:36

I know there is a selection of modders who keep the original exhaust around to bolt back on for the smog inspection. Not sure if that’s still the case, but I used to hear of it.

Full disclosure - I’ve only driven in CA once, so I am not a good reference point for their smog testing. Boy did they go over my vehicle with a fine tooth comb at the border. It was more strict than driving across the Canadian border!

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > and 100 more
09/15/2015 at 13:49

I’ve known people who will remove all of the smog gear from their cars immediately after inspection is passed, and wait until the next year to put it back on.

PowderHound > deekster_caddy
09/15/2015 at 13:51

So if I don't have cats on my car I can't even drive in to California even though my car is registered and licensed elsewhere?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > PowderHound
09/15/2015 at 13:56

If it’s registered elsewhere you’re fine

jariten1781 > and 100 more
09/15/2015 at 13:57

Still required AFAIK, haven't lived there in a while...but when I did speed shops had 'remove and replace' specials where they'd put the stock part on for inspection (or referee) then replace your mod parts at a discount over the normal shop rates.

deekster_caddy > PowderHound
09/15/2015 at 13:58

No, I don’t think that’s the case. You should be allowed to. The inspection on my car was because of my Massachusetts plates and the travel trailer I was towing. They were doing an agricultural inspection, looking for anything growing underneath that was foreign to the state, etc. They didn’t care about emissions on my truck. Good thing, it was an ‘86 Suburban with a Buick 455 in it and no cats, no smog controls at all.. But I could never have gotten an inspection sticker there! They were more relaxed after we told them we had just driven through Texas and Arizona on our way, so anything growing should have been killed by the 120 degree heat!

RazoE > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
09/15/2015 at 14:04

It’s usually 2 years between smog checks. That said, new smog places don’t even look at your stuff. They just plug in a reader into the OBD II slot and if it all checks out, they’ll pass you. STAR smog stations, however are totally different and check EVERYTHING.

NaturallyAspirated > and 100 more
09/15/2015 at 14:15

Current CA resident here. Smog checks are super hardcore still. The only exceptions are indeed classics, which are defined as any car older than MY 1975.

I’ve had to go to a “STAR” station the last few times. They check under the hood, under the car, OBD2 scanner, and do a dyno pull (seriously) to make sure you’re legal.

I have a mental image of the CHP watching those videos and making a list of cars to check out.

and 100 more > NaturallyAspirated
09/15/2015 at 14:24

Seriously, a dyno?! They sure as hell better give you a copy of the chart when its done...

I recall in CA there used to be like a lottery system, where some years you’d only have to get a tailpipe test, but other years you’d have to get a full ODB scan and under-hood visual to make sure all your smog equipment was there as well. It also used to only be every 4 years, but then they went to every two.

Still better than Texas, where in the major metro areas, you need to get an annual inspection that includes smog, all safety equipment, and general overall condition of anything mechanical (they will fail you for old wipers), and in Austin they recently made it where you can’t even renew your registration unless you’ve already passed the inspection (they used to be exclusive before this year). The real bitch of it is, if you’re registered in any of the smaller counties outside of the major cities, you can talk to Bubba, who’s dad was your father’s best friend, and your enormous bro-dozer miraculously passes all tests while rolling coal the whole time, fancy that.

Knowone > and 100 more
09/15/2015 at 15:34

Smog checks required when selling a car, onus on the seller to do the smog test. Required on most vehicles after 1975 MY. The smog test requires specific RPMs for the testing. Impossible on a Prius, so my 9 year old Prius cannot be smog tested. My ‘64 F100 CrewCab and ‘67 VW Sqbk are too old and are never tested.

and 100 more > Knowone
09/15/2015 at 15:40

What are the RPMs that the Prius cannot achieve? Is it because of the hybrid system?

So does that mean you can never sell your Prius, or is there an exemption for being a hybrid?