It appears this topic is getting a huge amount of visitors. I bet the state of California has been here a few times too. It appears this topic is in the top three of search results for "pass" "smog" "test" (or "check").
George L. from Oceanside B.A.R., you are welcome to post information about the laws or other information you feel consumers, or smog shops should know. UPDATE, on 3-28-2010 passed 10,000 views
Having been in the auto repair business for a long long time, I have picked up a few tips to help you pass a smog check. Here you go,
This article is for California smog tests.
1) Fresh gasoline, do not get your vehicle smogged if it has been sitting for months.
2) Make sure your engine is hot, right off the freeway is the best time to get it smogged. I have seen vehicles fail a smog test, then drive around for a bit and then pass.
3) Make sure the "CHECK ENGINE" light is not on, the tech will fail the test even though he sees the light on. It's his job NOT to tell you to get the light fixed first, then the test.
4) Make sure your engine oil is not too old and at the correct level. Old oil that is contaminated will affect the test results.
5) Never disconnect the battery or allow the battery to go dead a day before a smog test, you will fail.
6) ask the tech to check and see if the MONITORS are ok before the testing. Monitors are something like (
"somethings like" as explained, the best way I can without the techie talk) like a check off sheet for the vehicles computer. Several actuators and sensors must tell the computer that they are working correctly. These actuators, sensors and computers together, if you disconnect the battery you have upset the balance. You are allowed 2-3 monitors to not be ready This is why at times your engine may not run the same after you have a new battery installed. The computer needs to relearn the way you drive, It's just takes a a day or two before everything is back to normal.
7) Make sure your gas cap is tight
8) make sure your gas cap is good. You see the gas cap is the last thing that is checked. The visual, the dyno test and then the function of the gas cap. Strange, something as simple as a bad gas cap can cause your vehicle to fail the test, even though everything else passes. Ever wonder why the gas cap is checked last?
9) Make sure you have the correct tire pressures and near the correct size. You can find the correct size for that vehicle sometimes on the side of the door, where the latch is, or on the panel or pillar where the door shuts.
10) Make sure there is nothing heavy in the vehicle, like books, bricks, sand bags, etc. The extra weight will cause a load on the dyno.
Another point:
Say you suspect your car is going to fail, you can have it pre-tested. Don't just have it tested; you don't want to have the official test results sent to Sacramento. If you fail miserably you will always be forced to have your car tested at a SMOG CHECK ONLY station.
Why am I saying this, because once you fail at a SMOG CHECK ONLY station, you then need to have the repairs performed at a TEST AND REPAIR station. That tech at the TEST & REPAIR STATION must record everything done to make the car pass. Meaning he can't do you favors, even if he wanted too.
Another point, say you want to just keep the car another few months and don't want to pour a lot of money into the repairs. The tech at a TEST AND REPAIR STATION can suggest that you have the catalytic converter replaced. This is not really fixing the problem, it's masking it from the test results. Instead of costly engine repairs, the catalytic converter will get you through the test so you can pass. However, the clean exhaust will not last for long, as the defective engine will ruin your new catalytic converter.
Now if you sell this car to another party, you the seller, are responsible for that car passing smog. Unless you sell it out of state or to Mexico, or donate the car. I did hear something about the state buying old cars and paying up to 500.00 for the clunkers.
Another point is who is performing the repairs; only licensed test and repair stations are allowed to do smog repairs. Now, how now does this affect you? Say you go to a TEST ONLY smog station and then the tech finds the timing if off. That tech is not allowed to adjust anything on the vehicle. You must have the smog repairs done at a TEST AND REPAIR station, but what if one is not open or near by. Go to any shop and tell them you want the timing adjusted and nothing else. Other shops are allowed to adjust timing, they are not allowed to perform smog repairs. Do not let on it's for a smog repair. They are not allowed, also the state will send in testers to the average repair shops to see if they are breaking the law. This scares shop owners, this is why you don't want to mention the repair is related to a smog test.
Another thing you need to watch for is in what gear the transmission is in while performing the smog check. Running the transmission is a lower gear will help you pass, BUT this can also be used against you. So you have the vehicle tested and it fails. The tech recommends some minor repairs, and then redoes the test and you pass. If the tech then redoes the test while in a lower transmission gear, how do you know you even needed those repairs?
This also goes for the engine not being fully hot. If your car sits before the test and then fails, maybe all you needed was to drive around a few miles and then come back for the test.
Another point, you are allowed a plus or minus of 3 degrees on the engine timing. Say your timing should be at 5 degrees, at your last tune up the tech put it at 6 degrees, your engine is worn and you then fail smog by just a few parts per million. If you reduce your timing to 2 degrees you may just then pass.
Make sure the tech can check your timing, I have seen engines without the pointers for timing, or the pointer has slipped. You will fail the test. A lot of early big engines have what’s called a harmonic balancer. This is a round two-piece thick plate. These pieces can slip on each other. The outer plate has the mark the tech needs to check the timing. If the plate slips, the tech cannot correctly check the timing. You must replace the defective harmonic balancer then recheck. I have also seen where the timing chain is too lose and it's impossible to check timing.
I once met a fellow that actual bent the pointer on the engine timing cover to fool the tech that the timing was correct. This way the timing was set to be what called "retarded" or late in the timing. This way the engine was set to 1 degree but the tech measured 5 degrees, which was what it should have been.
If you use cheap fuel, there is a chance that the fuel leaves deposits inside the engine, these deposits collect inside of the engine combustion chamber, where the pistons and valves are. If there is too much of these deposits, the engine compression will increase, this will cause heat. Too much heat will make you fail a smog test. You can clean out the combustion chamber with a cleaner, or use a better grade of fuel.
For more info:
http://smogcheck.ca.gov/stdPage.asp?Body=/geninfo/otherinfo/Enhanced_Smog_Check_FAQs.htmYou are freely welcome to copy this information, on these conditions:
1) You must give credit to www.chevycamaro.com That this is the site you obtained this information. And it must be on a not for profit use.
2) If it is for profit or if it is on a for profit site, you need to contact beforehand: tjjjc2@yahoo.com
