Brand New California Smog Laws Affecting Our Older Alfas!

[onethumb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Dragon Let me first state, that I am in no way a proponent of these draconian mandates. My spider is modified to the limit of the meager bosch system. The exhaust uses the pre-smog 2 piece manifold instead of the one piece log. With the addition of a high flow OBD II cat, I have no trouble passing smog. In fact, it tests barely above the minimums across the chart.

[alfettish]

If it was like that here I'd really consider moving to another state.

[Bill77]

In the U.S., coal burning power plants collectively contribute far more CO2 to the atmosphere than all the road vehicles combined. Why isn't anybody talking about coal burning power plants?

[ossodiseppia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill77 In the U.S., coal burning power plants collectively contribute far more CO2 to the atmosphere than all the road vehicles combined. Why isn't anybody talking about coal burning power plants?

[AlfaTango1]

Having spent 90% of my life in California and having dealt with emmisions for over twenty years I have a few gripes. But compared to states that have inspections for windows, brakes, tail lights etc. I guess it could be way worse. I do have an issue with the legislators changing to law to require 15 year old or older cars to pass smog. This is just a gross attempt to ring more money out of the state with the most motorist.
One word of advice to California drivers. Never bring your vehicle to the smog shops that also do repairs! They have the $14.95 smog check for a reason. To get you to fail the visual and try to make you pay for junk like a valve cover leak or any other dirt of oil related expense. Take it to a smog only shop, pay the $40 or so dollars and if it blows clean you are golden. Only if the tech sees a on going leak that is lets say dripping into you spark plugs or vapor pouring from a charcol canister you will pass. All older cars have leaks of some sort but unless it's visable at time of inspection and the tech deems it a pollutant they will pass you. These techs are not allowed to do service so they will not tell you things just to get extra cash.

Oh and as far as losing our cars go, I still think the $400.00 repair applies. This means if you are a gross polluter and you spend $400.00 trying to fix the problem, you can get a waiver from smog. You must show receipts from a licensed shop though, not one for a super cat that you tacked on at home. It is still the state mind you.

[sillibilly]

My .02 The smog laws have very little to do with clean air, and more to do with getting money/revenue, in the form of higher registrations.

The testing process is a farce. I had a '74 914, completely stock, about 6 years ago. Even though it passed, the inspector told me "this car should be illegal" Even the "objective test only" shop owners seem to have some agenda.... Then I had a '78 911 SC, with the cat removed, and it somehow passed the visual and the emissions twice. The point here is the former laws (which it seems they are trying to get back to) did nothing for getting cleaner cars. But I can imagine some folks having real headaches over this and not being so fortunate, and either spending money on repairs, or money on a new car (and subsequently much higher DMV registrations).

[AlfaTango1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillibilly My .02 The smog laws have very little to do with clean air, and more to do with getting money/revenue, in the form of higher registrations. The testing process is a farce. I had a '74 914, completely stock, about 6 years ago. Even though it passed, the inspector told me "this car should be illegal" Even the "objective test only" shop owners seem to have some agenda.... Then I had a '78 911 SC, with the cat removed, and it somehow passed the visual and the emissions twice. The point here is the former laws (which it seems they are trying to get back to) did nothing for getting cleaner cars. But I can imagine some folks having real headaches over this and not being so fortunate, and either spending money on repairs, or money on a new car (and subsequently much higher DMV registrations).

[jimcra]

I have an idea! Buy carbon offsets like Al Gore and pollute all you want. That way you can do the ultimate swap, put a 40 year old CAT diesel from an old school bus in a Spider and feel good about it.