Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:07:21 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Smog test failed - here is my plan
In-Reply-To: <b45a982b0907221231n7d8d95a3k66753119484ab01a@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Tim,
I don't agree with you. Yes, some old cars are sometime-stinkers,
especially when they are way out of tune or their choke is
malfunctioning....but your generalization that the CARB has saved Kalifornia
from stink...I don't think so. Much of that CARB stuff is in place because
it's been lobbied there. Some of it is downright ludicrous. For instance
them only allowing the Kenedy Engineering Subaru engine swap...Come on, that
is silly. Kennady coughed up the cash to buy the approval but thier Subaru
motor conversions are exactly the same as many others that are
"non-compliant"..But any modern Subie powered van is less polluting than an
older WBX van..
If they were serious and actually 'task-oriented' about reducing emissions
they would put in place something to measure the actual emissions from each
vehicle and go totally on that...But they have all kinds of weird mandates
that have nothing to do with the actual measurable emissions and lots to do
with paperwork and their own little Kingdom...They just make "Royal
Mandates" into law...(actually not law, but they won't pass your vehicle or
even test it)
I am willing to bet that my Vanagon with it's 92 Cabriolet inline four
would be 'rejected, out of hand' as 'non-compliant' by the CARB even though
it gets 25mpg and probably emits 5 times less than a brand new pickup...They
would not even agree to test it, and that sucks! The government should be
working for the people, not telling us to screw off and buy a new car...
Give the CARB a few more "Victories" and they will likely outlaw or
over-tax all but the newest vehicles... Ya think it's less polluting to
take your perfectly good 2-5yr old vehicle, crush it, send it to Japan,
Korea or Germany and make a new one out of the steel then put the new one on
the ship and send it back here again? That's gotta be a huge net-gain in
Carbon emissions and pollution...building a new car...
A little van content: I just saw one offered in the Classifieds with this
ad copy (Paraphrased) "Buy this van if you can afford a new car..You can
use this van to get the 'cash for clunker' rebate thereby saving yourself
some money on your new car" So there it is, already...to some people (those
who can afford to buy a new car right now) a perfectly good van is worth
more in the crusher. They are being sold as 'coupons'..".Take one "old
clunker" (not what we call our Vanagons, but to the CARB and the Gov. they
are that) to the dealer and get 15% off on your next new car".....Too bad
for the family who needs an affordable RV/camping/work/ whatever
vehicle..."It's just business"...
Don Hanson
On Wed, Jul 2 2, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Aristotle Sagan <
killer.jupiter@gmail.com> wrote:
> "He" is an idiot. But a very nice guy.
>
> Ya ever notice what happens to your sense of smell when you follow some guy
> in a 65 Mustang, Galaxy 500, or even a Beetle around? It stinks.
>
> If there wasn't a CARB in CA, it would all still stink like this.
>
> Get your van fixed and be pleased to live in a state where they care about
> your health (somewhat)
>
> tim in san jose
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Roland <syncronicity1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Yes, one of our favorite subjects: good old CA smog test, '89 2.1. It
> has
> > passed twice before without needing help, but not this time.
> >
> >
> >
> > I would do those "tune-up" items myself, but by the time I get it done,
> and
> > maybe adjust the AFM (which I've never done), I'd be guessing, and then
> go
> > back to get it checked again, and if it fails, then guess again, and go
> > back. The process stinks, given all the governmental stuff in CA, I am
> > getting sick of this state anyway (sorry for the editorial). Recent
> > reports
> > show the smog test system as useless: now there are so many newer cars
> on
> > the road which don't go bad, that this whole smog test junk is just a tax
> > on
> > older car owners.
> >
> > Things I learned from the Smog Test station (who is a really good guy):
> > - don't use premium fuel - it will increases the probability of failure.
> > - don't ever buy ARCO gas, he was adamant about this!
> > - California has a CAP program which my Van qualfies. I have to mail in
> an
> > application, then if approved I go to a CAP qualified repair facility,
> and
> > I
> > pay the first $100.00 of smog repairs, then the state pays the next
> > $500.00. But many of these "certified" CAP stations refuse to touch
> > vanagons. Takes about 2 weeks to hear back from the state after you send
> > the application.
> >
> > Any comments appreciated.
> >
> > Roland
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in which
> case, you ain't got there yet.
>
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