doesn't anybody know anything about star smogs. what type of test they do. Im getting mixed info about it and i just want some clarification for those who does star smog or whoes car went through a star station

 

I recemtly took my friends 89 firebird V6 auotmatic to a star station in Pacifica. It looked to me like the testing was the same as the old test only stations did. The tech checked the timing. Then ran tests at 15 and 25 miles per hour with the prob up the tailpipe. I was able to see the screen and see the car was passing as he tested.
The tech did the evap test with the hose squeezed off at the canister and the gas tank presurized looking for leaks. The gas cap is tested with an adapter..They look to make sure all your smog equipment cat, hoses etc. are installed.
The total cost was about 80 bucks with certificate. You can get it done for less but my friend had used this guy twice before and had passed each time.
From what i have read it seems the state is a little stricker in giving the star license to the test stations but I am not sure.
In hide site it was not as bad as i had read about.

Make sure you car is fully warmed up when they test.

 

hmmm i heard that pre 00 car they do normal smog stuff while cars 00-up all they do is hook up the computer to check for codes but not do the tailpipe test. they also check the exhaust manifolds to see if their stock. I heard they stop the dyno smog test on new cars because due to the newer cars traction controls kicking in. thanks for ur response though

 

I think the tech checked for codes, but I could not see everything he was doing inside the car.
I have also read that replcement coils like MSD have to have a sticker showing they are approved for CA. I know the new replacement CATs have to have letters that can read from 5 feet away so they can charge more like everything in CA.
You might check the SoCal board as i did before taking my friends car for the star test.Her car is all original so that was not a problem. i think i read something about your timing needing to be within 2 degrees of the label. Most of the info on smog on the SoCal boards was for 5.7 engines. They also discussed non stock parts like manifolds.

 

Just a note on ignition timing - it is possible to mess with timing if you do it with a chip. They can't check that, they can only check the base advance.