Rant: CA SMOG (long)

[gjp]

Sorry but no one is home and I need to rant. :rant:
I have to smog my truck by the 1st. Decited to take it in today. 1st off it still has a messed up idle. Voltage still drops. I can get it running good with the phil 50# chip but not the 50# smog chip. I figured I will give it a try anyways. Took it to my local "smog only" station. WHy because DMV are f-ing assholes. I know a guy at a regular station and he says if it passes it passes.
The guy was cool. He was tripping off the truck. Saw the turbo, AWD.... thought it was cool. He looked like a "ricer" but a cool guy. We did the test. He saw the open filter but said who cares. Well with the standard chip in it failed. The computer asked it to be idled at 2500rpm for 3 min to heat the cat. Ok, he did that. As it was warming up the Power steering pump, Mind you its new, Started to leak. Smoke was everywhere. Thats when the main tec came over. He shut of my truck. Looked under the hood and said "bring it back when its stock" and "no one will smog that" I said "WTF, Its just an air cleaner, all the smog shit is on it?" he said "nope" not here.
SO now I an %$#!!!!. Not only do I have to fix the PS pump but figure out how I am going to pass smog. I F-ing hate california. Sorry guys but I am pissed.

I think I am done for a while. Truck will sit till I decide what to do.

 

[Nasariobv]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

thats why i had to sell, CA sucks, would never pass smog, its going to good home in Canada...

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

CA. does suck!!! You just have to get the "right" shop. Just keep searching on here for ways to pass and go for it again (at a different place). No big deal.

 

[gjp]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

thats why i had to sell, CA sucks, would never pass smog, its going to good home in Canada...

thats what I am thinking. Think I went way over my head buying this truck. Now I just want out.

 

[gjp]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

it has to be smogged by sunday or I cant take it on the streets. It also has to go to a smog only shop. They are more strict as to what will pass. Now it needs work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I am thinking sell and get a STI or srt-8 charger.

 

[The Devils Own Chariot]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

That would really suck. I feel for you man. Move to MN or WI. Im going to put a catless system on my sy and no one is going to say anything about it.

 

[CodyTY23]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

when i had to get smog tests done on my old truck it would have never passed but i poured about 3 gallons of methenol in with the fuel and it passed with flying colors. Just throwin it out there for ya guys

 

[gjp]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

I was spraying meth. I know it would pass with the smog chip. Engine is new. Just an electrical issue I was hopeing to sneak it past. But know I have to make a air box, Hide my controlers and aftermarketstuff and find the smog sticker? is that on the fan shroud?

 

[mattw]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

That alone would be reason enough for me to move out of that crappy state..

-Matt

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

Hey Gary,
Just think of it as a warmup to your 'real' test. When I lived in CA I was building '80's VW's and always had to screw with the old Boschtronic fuel injection when I took them in to be smogged...... just make sure everything looks right (no smoke! ), pour in some methanol, and it will be over before you know it....

Any of you other local guys have recommendations for shops to go to in that area for Gary??

 

[SY2455]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

I have a good one here, but I'm to far away. The tester loves these trucks and he's not a owner.

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

You're always talking all this crazy stuff about selling it :rant: AHHH, don't. I haven't even seen it yet. When things get tough, don't just think about selling it right away. After this is all figured out things will be good.....like 11's good :tup: If you get an STI or Charger, you'll just have another STI or Charger like everyone else. Just figure out some tricks/tips/cheats on getting it passed. I'm sure you don't have to go to that same place, because they'll be looking over every little thing. Go to a different one that won't care about the smog sticker and all that crap

 

[Mtn Z]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

That is why I keep my Camaro around. It hauls ass and when it has cats on it, it blows frickin daisies out of the tailpipe. Gives me ample time to sort out the truck. I know about smog stations though. I just did test only on the Sy. My truck is pretty much bone stock minus the RPM exhaust AFPR and fuel pump. The guy had never seen one and thought all the stuff on it was aftermarket. I spent an hour waiting for this guy to approve my truck as being stock. It failed on the first round because of worn valve guides, but the truck had just started up. He ran it up to like 2,500rpm for 3 minutes to heat the cat and it passed. What a pain in the ass that was.

 

[SeattleSy#1255]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

Unplug the pass side tan wire and go pass...it'll run like shit, but it'll pass.

 

[Syclone#892]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

I dont live in ca but I know around here they do the emission test and all I ever did was lower the fuel pressure to about 30-35 and take it in. My dad just took his in and he said he had it at 35 and it failed. So we went again, changed oil and plugs and lowered it to 30 and the thing barely registered on any of the tests.
Good luck sucks to have those inspections etc I wouldnt be able to deal with that junk.

 

[SeattleSy#1255]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

Gotta love the blue states! Nothing like big gov. controling your life. LOL Cal. is a f'n joke!

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

I was looking @ your mods, but did not see a cam.
Is it a stock cam?
You do need to enclose your air filter,along with a valve cover breather going to the air filter box ,for passing visual inspection.
You also need your EGR valve installed & hooked up.
Unplugged the tan wire. Cover up or unplug bulb "check engine" light.
If you have a high flow cat, that could cause it to not pass. High flow cat will cause the cat not to light off (get hot)
Put in some denatured alky.
195 degree stat
Run your engine @ 2500 RPM for five minutes before retesting again.
Set your idle to 1000 RPM,,, needs to be under 1100 RPM for them to test.

You can purposely set your idle to 1200 RPM,, test it, there,you will see if it was going to pass,but the idle would be too high for them to run a full test .
If it looked like it will pass turn the idle back down & run the test.

The machine will say you need to turn the idle down to do a complete test. If it looked like it would fail,,,,
Ask the tech if it would be OK for you to take your Sy back to your mechanic to lower the idle & then you will bring it right back.
Is this making any sense? I hope it is.
Goodluck.

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

One more thing.
If you do have a high flow cat,,,,,, have a small inlet & outlet cat made to bolt in,,, ,like 2" for when you go get you car smogged.

Running a 2" or smaller cat will be very restrictive & cause the cat to run very hot,, but will help you pass smog.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

I am dreading MA smog, I just hope I am not doing a stock turbo/IC swap to appease them. Good luck. If he has Vortec head his EGR is not going to be operational. If they are going to test the EGR by opening it at idle I have some ideas on how to get around that.

 

[TYPHOOL7]

Re: Rant: CA SMOG (long)

somehow I think hes gonna pass, lots of good ideas.