so i just got told by the ca dmv that i have to get my car smogged. do you guys have any suggestions to help a car pass the smog test??

 

Full tune up (fuel/oil/air filters, oil change, cap, rotor, plugs, properly set timing, mix, and idle), test all the emissions stuff per the FSM section 1A step by step, fix everything not working right, run a clean new tank of gas with a can of seafoam in it down to near-empty, then fuel up with only a couple gallons fresh good-quality regular so your car's ***-end is light on the dyno... and get the car thoroughly up to operating temp before it gets on the rollers.

If they want you to wait before your turn comes, tell em you'll come back and go for a rip around the neighborhood first.

Good luck; I'm facing mine again right now, too.

 

yep agreed. the KEY being that the ACV is working properly

http://www.jimrothe.com/mazda/84_tra...raining_4a.pdf

 

Haul *** out of cali ASAP..

 

Oh, almost forgot: fill your tires to the max pres rating; cuts rolling resistance on the dyno.

 

How often is this requirement and isn't there some sort of vehicle age cut off where it won't apply?

 

yes there is an age cut off, unfortunately i think its 76 and lower where they dont have to get smog, which i think is no bueno!

and thanks guys for the advice. but one question can i do all that myself?? or would i needa take it to a shop for some of it? cause i know i can do an oil change and change some filters myself.

 

Age cutoff is 75 & older = no smog test; 76 & newer test every other year unless designated as a 'gross polluter' due to previous failures, then they can snag you every year.

If you register as planned non-operational (PNO) for long-term storage or repair purposes, you don't have to smog it, but can't drive it til you do. You'll still get hit every other year based on the original registration date, too; that's why I have to get one now, even though I just passed one in January of last year.

Have to have a passed test within 90 days before selling the car, too, unless you junk it. New owner can come back at you legally if you sell it without valid smog, & recover from the seller all costs in getting it passed.

I'm particularly pissed about this one; this was supposed to be the year under the previous law that my car would have become exempt. That dumbass Scharzenegger signed changes to the law in 2004 that moved it from a 30-year moving window to the new 'forever' laws. Bastard.

 

i know! we're the only place in the world to smog cars this old....

and we smog new cars too, even though they check themselves.

 

yep! take it step by step. the emissions system is just a couple of very simple systems on top of each other.

checking it, really is just pulling a couple of hoses to check for vacuum/no vacuum