Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:15:53 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Re: California law (smog)
In-Reply-To: <bfb5ccc40701311408y52d4599bj1240ba2ed690d24b@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Additionally for engine swaps BAR requires all OBDII powerplants to be
swapped with the original transmission as well, making OBDII conversions for
vanagons in CA technically impossible regardless of measured emissions.
However, since the random BAR refs often let things slip by, it is actually
possible, but not officially. In addition, any SULEV conversion is out of
luck(like the zetec) because no aftermarket manufacturer has SULEV CA
certified catalytic converters to install either. It's backwards, since it
limits outcomes to be either only marginally better on emissions, or you
have to be as clean as the original application and bring the tranny with
it, apparently they feel that for example a slight reduction in emissions or
a large increase(convert to diesel) is acceptable, but a major reduction
isn't ok if it isn't the full potential reduction. Awful interpretation of
legislation by bureaucrats at its finest. Too bad most californians don't
know what's going on.
Jim Akiba
-----Original Message-----
From: Old Volks Home [mailto:oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:08 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: California law (smog)
Benny -
Here's the scoop on California Smog:
All gasoline vehicles up to 1975 are EXEMPT from the biennial (every two
years) smog test and smog test for vehicle ownership transfer. Up until a
few years back (and for just a short time) it was vehicles 30 years and
older.
All gasoline vehicles 1976 to present are subject to a biennial smog test
and/or when ownership transfer takes place (except for new vehicles 5 years
and younger). There are sometimes restrictions as to where you must have
the test done, either at a state certified test only facility, state
certified combination test and repair facility or at the BAR (Bureau of
Automotive Repair) Referee facility - any of those as usually directed by
the DMV when they send your annual re-registration form on the year it's
due.
California has 2 different style tests dictated by the county of where the
registration is based. The first is called Smog 1, which requires a visual
inspection (tank cap seals right, and unleaded restrictor is in place, all
STOCK engine components at the time of manufacture, etc.,) idle sniffer test
and a 2500rpm sniffer test. Sog 1 isusually in counties where there has
been a detrmination of low pollution levels and low vehicle count.
The second style test is the Smog 2 (aka IM240) which is the same as Smog 1,
except in place of the 2500 RPM sniff test, there is the Dyno test. Smog 2
is usually in places of high pollution, high population centers and high
vehicle count. The Bay Area, most of Southern California and parts of
Central California (Sacramento & San Joaquin Valleys) are the usual places
that require it.
There is a 3rd area, which is in selected rural counties of California and
is only subject to the Smog 1 test when the vehicle has an ownership
transfer. It thinks it's around ten or twelve counties out of 58 in the
state, such as in parts of Northern California and in the Sierra Nevada area
of the state, but that may have changed in the past few years (see the
website below).
If the vehicle was carbureted at the time of manufacture (such as the 76
Rabbit), then the STOCK carburetor (or one that has a CARB Exemption tag, I
believe Weber has made one,) is required for visual inspection passing, as
well as all the original Emissions Control components must be installed and
all must be working.
If the vehicle was equipped with Fuel Injection, then all of the ORIGINAL
Fuel Injection components, along with the factory Emissions Control
components must be installed and all must be working properly.
In the case of engine upgrades, all components for that year's engine must
be present and working properly (and must be the same year or newer). In
the case of Subie engine transplants, all of that maker's original
components must be present and working. In addition, the first time one
takes such a modified vehicle to have it smogged, they usually have to go to
a BAR rep to have it inspected, passed and I believe a bar-coded sticker is
generated to be placed in the door jam area for the next regular inspector
to scan to properly smog that vehicle.
For more info go to: http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/stdhome.asp
or
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/stdpage.asp?Body=/smogcheck/default.htm
As a third generation Californian (ugh!), I am VERY acquainted with the smog
rules.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 1/31/07, Benny boy <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote:
>
> Can someone enlight(en?) me on the emission/smog test:
>
> Let's say you have a 78 westy, carburated or injection, do you have to
> pass a smog test? is it a 25 years old car/van max law? what about
> collection vehicle? (special promenade plate = no smog test?)
>
> I sais Clifornia but any other state for that matter!
>
> Of what i know, California is more strict then other state?
>
> We have a local debate here...
>
> Ben
