Hey guys! Back after a long summer of finishing up my undergrad degree. I'm off to medical school next fall, so I decided to move to California to get settled and make some dough for med school.

I went to register my car and get emissions and failed every test. My car is apparently a "gross polluter." Wth? Any one got any ideas on this on? I have the CAI, which the guy said might be screwing with the MAF sensor. Umm...maybe, but the car still runs great. Ugg, anyway, stock exhaust, etc etc. Should I check O2 sensors (how?). The car seems to be running pretty rich and does smell a bit.


I just replaced fuel pump, too (finally gave out after this summer, so I used the trap door method [1.2 hours replacement time ]).

 

What exactly did you fail and how close where you? Raw fuel will hurt you a lot. Even if you blow out black smoke, I have heard of people passing. Plus I assume California is tougher than most states.

 

California emissions are different than 49-state cars. The 95 California cars got 2 cats.....49ers got a single. Compare the test results with what your car should give to see if you can ever pass the CARB test.

 

When you move to CA, they test your car against 49-state standards, not CA. At least that was the way it was back in 1993 when I moved there. They made you pay a $300 fee to register a car that was not CA emissions compliant, but I think someone took them to court on that one and they had to stop.

If you are high on HC, CO and NOx, good chance its the cat. If it was running rich, HC and CO would be high, NOx would be low.

 

I believe this has changed. The cal trans website mentions that it may not be possible to register a car without CAL emissions. I'm not expert, of course...

 

If the car has less than 7500 miles, it is considered new, and can not be registered in CA; http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr9.htm.

I just did my smog and CA emissions for 1995 are: 15 mph: HC-58ppm; CO-.48%; NO-483ppm and at 25 mph: HC-34ppm; CO-.46%; NO-706ppm. Check the smog report and see what test levels they used. Also you are a "High Emitter Profile", I believe as a result of the smog pump recall. Do not know if it was a CA only or all of the US recall but without an operating smog pump I don't think you will ever pass. There is an exemption program for cars that fail and cost too much to repair, you go to a DMV referee and beg for mercy.

And good luck with the DMV. You may want to try smoking crack before you go into the DMV so you can relate to the employees, they are absolutely useless. I had non-opped my car and it took me 5 trips to the DMV to get it re-registered.

PS: 1995 CA A4s had dual cat, M6 have a single cat.

 

"And good luck with the DMV. You may want to try smoking crack before you go into the DMV so you can relate to the employees, they are absolutely useless. I had non-opped my car and it took me 5 trips to the DMV to get it re-registered."


LMAO!!!!!!!!!! Thats one of the funniest things I've ever read.

 

But this vehicle wasn't made in california, I'm assuming (I'm pretty sure I only saw one CAT under), so does that make it impossible to register? Oh yeah, and the guy at emissions just said that for all the chemicals it was tested for it came back as over-producing each one.

 

Go to the CAL-TRANS website. They're insane. It appears no to matter where it was destined for....

 

FastandBlue -- You will be able to get the car registered, eventually. First, make sure the emission system is all there. If so, worst case you can get a cost waiver from the dmv referee, provided all the emissions parts are there (while the CAI is doing nothing to affect emissions you will still need a CARB EO sticker, contact the manufacturer as they have to send you one). Here is a link to the DMV referee, http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARRe...e_Centers.html. Also if the cat is bad, replacement CA cats need to have special tags welded to them so make sure you are getting one approved for CA. Oh, and welcome to California.

 

When I was there (01-04) my fed cars had to meet CA limits.


They should have given you a printout. You paid for that printout, so I'd go back and ask for it.

For future reference - (1) get a pre-test w/o hookup to DMV computer (2) use a test-only center. Test-only guys are very helpful with diagnosis because they aren't allowed to make money fixing your car. Most of the regular smog places in CA, especially the ones that advertise low prices, are looking for a way to screw you on repair costs.

Now that you're a gross polluter you'll be required to use test-only in the future anyway...


If your car is stock and all parts in good condition, it should pass. Probably not with flying colors. My federal cars were always close to the limits in CA. Even the ones with very low mileage.

 

Just thought I would update anyone interested. I am indeed in medical school. I sold the car without finishing looking at this post for pennies compared to what it is worth. Probably to a guy who'd leave it sunbaking in San Diego. Still miss that car like crazy.

Currently looking at a z28 I may part out, actually. I part cars in my spare time (which is sparse in school) to fund a down-to-the-shell restoration I am doing myself on a datsun 260z. Come a long ways since the z. Currently drive a 1982 BMW 320i I rebuilt the top and front end on. Fun little car.

 

Best of luck to ya !!!

KW

 

....look into the possibility of registering the car as historical or collector......my 92 rs was high on n.o......after miles of red tape , i succeeded in getting collector plates with no further e-check required.....collectors here- only stipulation is that a daily driver car is also plated.....never mind the 'gross pollutor' label.....thousands of usa factories violate epa laws and get by with bribing officials and by paying nominal fees....as regards your penchant for being dr frankenstein and parting out cars- i vehemenly oppose your actions....