I just got my smog test done and thankfully passed.
But....
Did the rules change?
They only did a Idle Emission test on my car.
He dropped the roller bars down and I was waiting for the 25mph and the 35mph test to begin, and next thing I know... he said I'm done and you passed and the info was sent to DMV.

I passed with flying colors, but was expecting the second test like they did last time. That's usually where I fail.

Hopefully it's a legit test and DMV will give me my sticker.

 

There are areas where they only do the idle test, maybe thats where you had it tested or where its registered? The DMV or the BAR list the places where they do not do the test on the rollers.

 

Well,
I did move from LA County to Kern County in January of this year.
I live in Rosamond and had it tested in Lancaster.

He dropped the rollers down and I was waiting for the roller test to begin, when he told me... I'm done and I passed.

If everything is legit in this case....
I tell ya... I love living in Kern County!
My health insurance dropped, the cost of living dropped, and if this smog case turns out to be true..... It's a woo hoo day for me!

 

Thanks for the reply Madmax. I was worried there for a moment.

 

I think if you're the blue areas of this map, its idle speed test only.
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARRe...rogram_Map.pdf

 

Wow!
That's some great information there!
Too bad they don't list the towns, but I think I'm in the blue area.
I always thought the smog rules were the same for the entire state.

I thought for sure I was going to fail!

Is there a place on this site where they post this kind of stuff on smog rules?
If not.... I think it would be great information to 3rd gen owners living in Cali.

I cringe everytime I have to go to the sniffer and always ask my friends.... do you know a guy... who will pass you?
My car is stock... and don't know how these guys pass with all the mods they have on their engines.
I met a guy here in Lancaster who has a nice Iroc vert in his garage that he wants to restore. He just told me.... it passes smog every time and it never leaves the garage.
It hasn't been started in 4 years... so.... it's certainly a non gross polluter.
I don't know why he didn't just file it as non opp.

I'm just glad I passed!
I think it's the male version of having a baby!
I think I caused more pollution from the amount of ciggarettes I smoked during the test than my car emits.

 

that is a great piece of information. guess im going to santa barbara for my next smog test. eat some good food and roll on back with the wife.

that was pretty good info. think i will download it into a pdf and keep it.

thanks a lot.

 

I'm not sure that is going to work. The computer on the test machine may not allow the test to happen.

 

The grey areas don't even require testing at all! Glad to live in a blue and not an orange though.

 

From my experience.....
It's not "where" you have the car smogged... it's Where the car is registered.
I may be wrong though.

My car is registered in Kern County and I had it smogged in LA County.

May be one of those county line things.
If ya find a shop to put in the wrong zip code perhaps?
IDK!
I do know one thing though.
I went to a smog shop which had me back in the car one time....
I failed.
Next day... I went to another shop where I drove into the shop and passed.
Never did naything to the car that night.
Cost me the price of the smog... but makes me wonder.
Ever since..... I don't go to smog places that make you back in.

I'm sure its just my thinking.... but....
My thought process is.... more "clean" air around that sniffer tube... better results.
All I know is... everyone I've ever had to back into..... Fail!
Drive into.... pass!

 

No testing at all in the Grey areas? Really?
Dang... I may just commute!

Just read this week that diesel engines are going to be part of the mix starting Jan 2010. 1998 and up, under 14,000 gross weight..... hit the sniffer.
They say it will hit over 500,000 vehicles in Cali.
can ya say.... 25 million in revenue!

Cali is looking for EVERY angle to get out of debt.
All those angles are on us!
I won't be surprised at all when they pass the fart tax law at this point.
The average Californian farts X times a year.... causing ozone erosion. So therefore a fart tax.

 

yes they are going to smog diesel but it is only: Visual, SES light, and snap test. No sniffer or dyno

 

Sniffer and dyno here, plus...they gave me grief for having headers and not having the exempt placard under the hood. First of all, I never got a placard. And the car passed.

 

The rules for the testing are based on what address is your "home of record." It doesn't work to go to an area where they don't require a roller, unless you have an address there which had better be on your driver's license. If you live in Los Angeles, but take your car to an area where they don't require a test on a roller and they don't have a dyno to do the tests on, they simply won't do the test. The computers in Sac are set up to read out the test that was done based on the address where the car is registered. If you are registered in an "orange" area, the state computer will look for the 15 and 25 mph load test results.

Whether you pass or fail also has to do with the engine temp. If you have to wait for the test and you decide to save money by shutting off the engine, your engine may cool off while you wait in line to get in. Then you go into the test and fail because the engine cooled. Drive far enough to get the engine nice and warm and then leave it running until it is your turn on the roller. If the line is too long, find someplace else or come in on another day when the line isnt; too long.