Smog Issue
Just took my 87 minnie to get smogged 4 days after purchase... Didn't pass.. Been told that the Seller is responsible for paying for smog in California even after purchase..Anyone know the skinning ...
Forum Discussion
I, too, grew up here in SoCal, and also remember how bad the smog was in the 60s/70s, and am thankful for the vast difference in our air quality today. However, CARB in my opinion has gotten out of control, and should be dismantled. That organization has done more in the past decade to damage the State's economy and individuals' financial well being than any other governmental organization in existence.
Consider these few items:
Item #1: The $8 smog “certificate fee” used to be charged so that the test center could print you out your certificate so you could show it to the DMV, proving the vehicle passed. Now days, that is all done electronically, instantly, over the computer, costing nothing. Yet we still get charged the same $8 “certificate fee”.
Item #2: A vehicle that is showing a check engine light computer issue WILL NOT pass the smog test, even if the actual tailpipe emissions are perfectly clean. If the point is clean air, then the tailpipe emissions should be the deciding factor, even if there is a minor issue (an undetectable miss, for example) with the tune of the vehicle. But that is not the case; it really doesn't matter how clean the tailpipe emissions are if the ECM senses a minor glitch. Completely contradictory to the goal of clean air.
Item #3: Aftermarket catalytic converters in CA have tripled in price (IF you can even find one for your model) because CARB decided that aftermarket CCs needed to be “certified” for each model individually rather than bulk certifications based on same/similar engine configurations. Aftermarket companies cannot afford the expensive certification process for every single vehicle model out there, so it takes at least a decade before they are available, if you’re lucky. I just had to replace the CC on my ’06 Tahoe. California-legal aftermarket CC is no longer available, dealer cost $1000 just for the part! A 49-state aftermarket version IS available for less than $500; Thank you, CARB!
Item #4: My son recently bought a brand new Husqvarna TE310 (dual sport). It was so de-tuned in order to meet CARB standards that, although technically “freeway legal”, it was actually dangerous to ride on the freeway, barely able to reach 60mph. Removing the smog equipment (O2 sensor, nearly completely closed “pie plate” air filter cage, throttle limiter, and a small CC insert in the headpipe) literally tripled the power on the bike, and made it not only a joy to ride, but also made it safer to ride as well. This is how the bike was designed and manufactured to run. With EFI, I do not believe that it is now “smoking out” the state.
Item #5: The “clean burning” S**T that they call gas here in CA, that we are forced to use 6 months out of the year has meant that our prices are always 25-50 cents higher than the rest of the country because of the additives and the fact that refineries have to change their formula twice a year. Additionally, a single refinery fire or maintenance issue results in an instant 25 cent jump in prices because we CAN’T import gas from any other state. You can’t store it because it goes bad in a matter of 4-6 weeks, gumming up carbs & lines. Additionally, while we have been told that it burns 10-15% cleaner, we get 20% less MPG, meaning that the end result is actually MORE tailpipe emissions. Yes, I know those numbers are true; I test it every time I go to the river, purchasing AZ gas for the ride home. 25-50 cents per gallon cheaper and 20% better MPG.
Item #6: Aftermarket carbs for older vehicles are nearly impossible to get certified by CARB, even if they are exact copies of the OEM carbs that are no longer made/available. The few that CARB does allow, are 3X more expensive (because of the certification process) and are no better or worse than those that CARB won’t certify. BTW, the fact that the previous owner put a new Holley carb on doesn't mean he did anything wrong and doesn't necessarily mean that he "won the case" for the new owner. My 88 (87 chassis) Ford has a 4-BBl Holley, stock. The question is whether or not CARB recognizes that new carb as a legitimate replacement.
CARB would love for every single vehicle in CA to be no more than 6 years old, then scrapped and replaced, and they are constantly making it more and more difficult for people to maintain & drive any vehicle that is older than that. Sorry, but I can’t afford to replace every vehicle I own that often. With 3 driving age kids, we have 5 running vehicles, not counting the MH and toys.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture as to my opinion of CARB. At this point, CARB's real purpose is to generate revenue for the state, nothing more. AFAIC, CARB (and the SCAQMD) should be dismantled, and a number of the administrators (starting at the top with Mary McNichols) should be jailed.
Consider these few items:
Item #1: The $8 smog “certificate fee” used to be charged so that the test center could print you out your certificate so you could show it to the DMV, proving the vehicle passed. Now days, that is all done electronically, instantly, over the computer, costing nothing. Yet we still get charged the same $8 “certificate fee”.
Item #2: A vehicle that is showing a check engine light computer issue WILL NOT pass the smog test, even if the actual tailpipe emissions are perfectly clean. If the point is clean air, then the tailpipe emissions should be the deciding factor, even if there is a minor issue (an undetectable miss, for example) with the tune of the vehicle. But that is not the case; it really doesn't matter how clean the tailpipe emissions are if the ECM senses a minor glitch. Completely contradictory to the goal of clean air.
Item #3: Aftermarket catalytic converters in CA have tripled in price (IF you can even find one for your model) because CARB decided that aftermarket CCs needed to be “certified” for each model individually rather than bulk certifications based on same/similar engine configurations. Aftermarket companies cannot afford the expensive certification process for every single vehicle model out there, so it takes at least a decade before they are available, if you’re lucky. I just had to replace the CC on my ’06 Tahoe. California-legal aftermarket CC is no longer available, dealer cost $1000 just for the part! A 49-state aftermarket version IS available for less than $500; Thank you, CARB!
Item #4: My son recently bought a brand new Husqvarna TE310 (dual sport). It was so de-tuned in order to meet CARB standards that, although technically “freeway legal”, it was actually dangerous to ride on the freeway, barely able to reach 60mph. Removing the smog equipment (O2 sensor, nearly completely closed “pie plate” air filter cage, throttle limiter, and a small CC insert in the headpipe) literally tripled the power on the bike, and made it not only a joy to ride, but also made it safer to ride as well. This is how the bike was designed and manufactured to run. With EFI, I do not believe that it is now “smoking out” the state.
Item #5: The “clean burning” S**T that they call gas here in CA, that we are forced to use 6 months out of the year has meant that our prices are always 25-50 cents higher than the rest of the country because of the additives and the fact that refineries have to change their formula twice a year. Additionally, a single refinery fire or maintenance issue results in an instant 25 cent jump in prices because we CAN’T import gas from any other state. You can’t store it because it goes bad in a matter of 4-6 weeks, gumming up carbs & lines. Additionally, while we have been told that it burns 10-15% cleaner, we get 20% less MPG, meaning that the end result is actually MORE tailpipe emissions. Yes, I know those numbers are true; I test it every time I go to the river, purchasing AZ gas for the ride home. 25-50 cents per gallon cheaper and 20% better MPG.
Item #6: Aftermarket carbs for older vehicles are nearly impossible to get certified by CARB, even if they are exact copies of the OEM carbs that are no longer made/available. The few that CARB does allow, are 3X more expensive (because of the certification process) and are no better or worse than those that CARB won’t certify. BTW, the fact that the previous owner put a new Holley carb on doesn't mean he did anything wrong and doesn't necessarily mean that he "won the case" for the new owner. My 88 (87 chassis) Ford has a 4-BBl Holley, stock. The question is whether or not CARB recognizes that new carb as a legitimate replacement.
CARB would love for every single vehicle in CA to be no more than 6 years old, then scrapped and replaced, and they are constantly making it more and more difficult for people to maintain & drive any vehicle that is older than that. Sorry, but I can’t afford to replace every vehicle I own that often. With 3 driving age kids, we have 5 running vehicles, not counting the MH and toys.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture as to my opinion of CARB. At this point, CARB's real purpose is to generate revenue for the state, nothing more. AFAIC, CARB (and the SCAQMD) should be dismantled, and a number of the administrators (starting at the top with Mary McNichols) should be jailed.
