Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 16:15:04 -0800
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [WetWesties] Washington state...changes in vehicle licensing
rules..
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimdNe8mxcLBzTD3FWnFnmNjRT_2mL2Zhkoqbg2m@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Keep in mind that Calif CARB Standards make a difference with regard
to 49 State and California sold vehicles on the older cars, generally
76-85 when it comes to Bugs, Buses and Vanagons. From 86 onwards all
Vanagons sold in the USA meet California Emissions specs for the test.
It's been that way in other states (ex. Arizona, New York, etc.,)
that adopt CARB Standards AFTER the fact for many years now.
My buddy Cliff here in Calif has a 77 Federal Model Beetle - never
came with a cat, but does have an EGR system (which is different from
the Calif model). When he gets tested every two years, he is tested
according to the 49 State Standard, not the stricter Calif Standard.
This is what truly is CARB Standards. This doesn't mean Washington
(or any other state adopting CARB Standards) is tested under the
stricter emission limits set for California, only for Federal/EPA
emission standards of the older vehicle's year. Ideally Washington
will test your vehicle to the Federal Emission Standard of your older
vehicle's date, provided of course they do it right.
Now for any new vehicle sold in your state (Washington being the
example here,) after the effective date of the law will require the
auto manufacturer to meet whatever CARB Standard is for California
Emissions. Again, that "copycat" of the California style law has been
legal in various states across the country for several years now.
One other note - Some states require just a "sniff test" on our older
rides, but if they *choose* to follow the letter of the CARB Standards
as set by California for Federal Models, they will do a visual
inspection to make sure whatever Emission Controls were originally
installed on your old vehicle are indeed still installed and
functioning. This is rigidly done here in California, no exceptions.
This is why we in California will never have approved BostigZetec
retrofits on Vanagons and have to follow the Carb Standards on Subaru
Conversions.
As Don said, it takes money to get the exceptions - Kennedy was
willing to pay, but Bostig won't.
Eventually this will happen in the majority of states, sooner or
later. I'm surprised that rule-happy Federal EPA just doesn't default
to CARB standards, but I'm glad they don't.
My Quarter's Worth :)
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
Full Timing Since March 1999
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
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On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 1:58 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> Not interesting maybe to the general readership of Vanagon list, but the
> Wet Westies...this is us....and maybe an indicator for other states...
>
> I just got my renewal notice for the vanagon registration and right
> there....paraphrase...
>
> "be advised if you buy a new car it MUST now comply with California Clean
> Air standards to be registered in Washington state."
>
> I certainly hope they don't intend to create the same type
> inspection/compliance/arbitrary and inconsistent rule requirment nightmare,
> nationwide, that California has with their CARB....
>
> Not that I, as a tradesman, will ever again be able to afford a new
> vehicle on my 'worker-wages' but.....
>
> Don Hanson
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