WoW.. These California Emissions Test! I've read in this forum that alot of you guys have posted about how difficult it is to get by these emission tests. I didn't really believe it or I should say, I thought, "to much exageration from these kids" Well this Friday and Saturday was spent attempting to get my 89 RX-7 N/A smogged. I bought this car years ago. This past year I finally got off my @$$ to rebuild it. Finished it and now trying to get it smogged. Friday I take it to three shops in town... "Oh, it's a Rotory Engine? Well I have to tell you by state law I am not able to make adjustments blah blah blah.... because it's a 89 rotory engine!" The mechanic gives me such a perseption of he's an incompetent boob, who will take my money but won't have any idea of what he's doing. Two of three mechanics just run their mouths about how they will have to have "special equipment" to repair the car if it doesn't pass smog. I said, "special equipment?" I rebuilt that engine with mostly tools that are in my tool box? What are you talking about? I also advise them that I don't want them to break into my engine, just smogg it! Oh I can't because it's a rotory engine... I'm just looking at him thinking why don't you just say your scared to touch my car because your not familar with rotory engines... Now check this out, I take my RX-7 to "Mazda Dealership" Expecting to pay the high costs for dealer repair. Well they say they won't smog any cars older that 1993? Then I said, Ok,, how about just checking my work and check the timing to ensure I did everything right? (my first RX-7 rebuild) Well they won't touch it because they don't have a mechanic that is familiar with my car from that series or age? WOW!!!! A co-worker tells me to try this shop, they are pretty good. So I do, I just ask, "can you smog a mazda rotory engine?" Sure bring it in. Now I'm thinking, Ok that was just to damn simple. He must not have understood me, I'll say it again. He looks at me like I don't understand english. Ha! So I bring it in. Well it doesn't pass on friday evening. The mechanic says, he really has to go home, but bring it in again Saturday Morning and he'll try it again with a little tinkering. Saturday comes and I take it to the shop again. Well an hour goes by, and low and behold it passes. I pay my $60 bucks, shake his hand, thank him for his efforts to get my car passed. Come Monday, I go to the DMV proudly to get my sticker and "legally drive my RX-7!" I just couldn't believe the problems I had to go through. So I apologize to all the people that have written to express their confusion they've gone through because of the "Rotory Power"

 

Congratulations!

 

You should Post the name of the Shop that you took your car to.
Guys would love to get a mechanic that knows WTF a Rotary engine is,and at least be comfortable knowing that some Hack isn't smogging their Baby!

 

Believe it! These engines are like witchcraft to an average asa mechanic. If you don't know **** about it you will be scared. Most don't know **** about it because they don't need to know. Plain and simple. You are better off with a fellow owner going through your car. The emession system on a s5 N/A isn't that complex. Cat, Airpump, precat, egr valve.... not much to figure out if you have a stock port engine.

 

In europe it's not different. When i had my FC (with the FB it's the same) i first took it to the mazda dealership nearby for it's anual inspection. The minute i entered their shop i had a few mecanics around my car wandering what it was. One of them looked at the back and said "ow, i'ts a Mazda"......

My first thought was.....they are not going to touch it!

After that i found a small garage who had the knowledge of rotary engines and have been going there ever since.

 

congrats!

its always good to know a local rotary guy who knows wtf they are doing. im surprised mazda turned you down though. they at least have the step by step on how to make it pass. they just dident want to mess with it.

luckely here in chicago IL all cars older than 96 dont have emission testing. IL is just obd2 scan and go. good for us.

 

Just wandering, but why is it that a lot of states have their own rules regarding cars? Shouldn't that be for all states the same?

Where i live all regulation for cars is the same (except older rotaries don't have to pass emissions) and that goes for the whole country.

 

Hell dude, the rules aren't even the same within the same state.
In Colorado, only cars in designated major metropolitan areas get tested, everyone else is home free.
I know of at least one mountain town with dozens more cars registered than the small population would support...

 

Well most mechanics that work on piston cars Look at the rotary and RUN. Same with the dealer. They just cant get out of the mind frame of piston cars. But Rotary engines really are easy to work on.. The dealer wont touch these cars.. I went to the dealer once. And they Basicly told me off.

I do my own work. so its fine with me. I did emissions once and failed. I then poured bunch of alcohol in the tank on a low tank and i passed. But there are many ways to pass. But i registered my car to some hotel ski resort. so i by pass all that bullshit. But im glad you got it to pass. Mine would not pass in a million years with my setup.

 

it was to do with large population areas. if they have the money to set up the testing facilities. they only set them up if they have X amount of population in a area.