Smog checks are here!! Those that have mods are screwed!

[leros]

I'm just posting this to inform all of you that don't already know about this and I'm not sure how far back in years they will go. I have been a member on here for a while but recently Lemon Lawed my Excursion back to Ford so I am Fordless (see my ad in the FS section).

I just picked up an 08 GMC Dmax last week. I went to AAA/DMV to register it and she gave me a piece of paper after I paid almost $3K in sales tax that said I still needed to get it smogged before she could issue my plates. I was told here that we don't smog diesels here in Ca yet and she showed me some literature that said after Jan 1, 2010 diesels require smog certs.

I left there, called the dealer and asked them and they were unaware that the law was in effect. He referred me to a place they use on gassers that was close to me so I called. Jose who I could barely understand said yes it is in effect and it is just a "visual" inspection. I asked him how much he was going to charge me to "look at" my truck and his reply was $58 plus the $15 for the certificate. I took it to him and the whole time during the inspection he was on the phone with someone that had done a diesel inspection before (Jose had never done a diesel and mine was his first). He looked to make sure nothing had been modded and that the cat and DPF were intact. He had a co-worker (Hose-B) stand behind the truck while he revved it a couple of times to check for smoke (smoke being the tell-tail sign of a tuner installed?).

After all was said and done, he gave the inspection and cert to me for $60 since it was his first diesel. I asked him about what he was looking for during his "visual" check and he replied that he was looking for any mods. He said that any modifications would be an automatic failure of the test unless the mod had a C.A.R.B. (our tree hugger organization) sticker. I don't know what will happen to all of you that have modded your trucks that don't have the OEM stuff to re-install. It's given me second thoughts about what I will do to this truck now. If I do mod it I will keep the OEM stuff to put back on for these damn inspections, which by the way according to him will be an annual event!

BTW, in the mail Saturday I received my renewal bill for the 2004 Ford Excursion that I just gave back. Guess what, it has a "Smog Inspection Certificate Required" stamp on it. This F'd up state is really getting bad.

[eboteilho]

What's up Steve O?

People have been talking about this for a while on one of the threads: http://www.socaps.com/showthread.php...highlight=smog and it's got quite a few people nervous for just that reason. They're going to be smogging all 1998 and newer diesels under 14,000 GVWR. So basically all F-250s and up. They picked 1998 becuase those are the trucks with the OBD-II system that they can plug into and check for mods. It's frustrating for those of us who made modifications to our trucks when they were legal and now are told that we're breaking the law.

You're right that if a part has a CARB EO (Executive Order) number, it's legal and will pass the smog test. However, looking online at the CARB website, they haven't updated their online database since September 2008. So some parts may be legal but not on the site, if they were approved by the government after that time.

We're all just feeling it out, hoping for the best. But I'm pretty sure it's going to be a pain in the neck until all the dust settles.

[06powerstroke]

I'm going to go for the first time with everything installed, just to see what they say and what they catch...

[2005F250]

Not that big of deal as long as your stock and the law is if you buy a used diesel in or out of state after Jan. 1 2010 you have to get it smogged but if you already owned one prior to the 1st of the year I think smog starts in April. If you have a build date 97 or prior you don't need smog. I've been threw both cases this year already.

[superDF350]

i have a friend with a smog shop in Big Bear. After i installed the hydrogen set up i took it over the him so he sould see the difference between the system being on and off. He told me he would not even try with his machine. because of the diesel it would clog the sniffer. NO MATTER WHAT.

[fords4life]

They aren't sniffing them anyway, its all visual.

[leros]

They aren't sniffing them anyway, its all visual.

Yes that's true, he looked under the hood with a flashlight then laid on his back and looked underneath. He then started it, revved it a couple times to look for smoke and he was done. I just have a feeling that this isn't going to be much fun with mods.

Here is a link from another diesel site to a petition to sign to try and stop this, you just have to type in your name and an email address. It's worth a try. http://www.petitiononline.com/8484/petition.html

[sportsdad]

I hate to say it but, there is no way in hell that a petition signed by a bunch of snaggle toothed, smoke breathing desiel owners is going to sideline the green agenda. (No offense, but that's how those boobs in Sacramento see us). This is really all about making $$$ anyway. I did already sign it though.

[06powerstroke]

Your right, it is all about money...

[6x6powerstroke]

I just got my renewal it's due at the end of may and I don't need a smog. So I don't know when people that already own a SD have to et the check??

[SteveBricks]

Vins that end in an even number are tested in even numbered years, odd numbers are tested in odd numbered years.

[yosemiddysam]

This is really going to suck. But quite honestly I think if it stay visual then it might be fairly easy to "pass".

[Lucy06]

It sounds like this will be purely subjective, based entirely on the tech and his mood or who you know. And what's a mod? Will an oil or coolant filter be considered a mod if the tech doesn't know what they are?

[mightywhity]

i dont think it is sac as much as the yuppies in san fransisco

[badlogin]

I just got my renewal and didn't have to smog mine either. I guess I must be one of the odd number vin's. I wonder if I fall under the same guide lines as every one els? My truck is a late 99 and was bought in Medford Oregon. It was the first short bed crew cab diesel in the valley, so the dealer said. They were so hard to find at the time the dealer had to buy the truck from another dealer in Canada and brought it down. The CA DMV says it is classified as a import and has Canada smog specs thank goodness a non cat truck.

On that note. I got in a a long discussion in a different forum in regards to if 1998-2003 7.3's trucks came with cats. My friend that owns a muffler shop tells me he has seen a lot of them with cats in those year's. So if you didn't buy your truck new don't be shocked if you find out it came with a cat. I hear prices being tossed around in the $1000 range for CA cat's.