looking for a good diesel smog place local in oc

[Lonzo]

I am looking for a diesel "friendly" smog shop somewhere local in garden grove/cypress area. The last place that I took My dads 04 into tried to hassle me about having a air-ride spring switch under the dash, He said you cant have that its aftermarket, So I looked at him like as if he was retarded and asked what the hell that had to do with my smog check. And then I proceeded to show him what it actually is used for.

I am not going to take my 05 over there cause he will probably fail me since I have a Banks intercooler w/ high ram intake & no carb sticker. Anywhere in oc would be fine.


Thanks in advance

[PatriotHaulingServices]

Try The Diesel Shop in Mission Viejo.

[new2deisel]

OC Diesel Shop does smogs too?

[PatriotHaulingServices]

oops. missed the "SMOG" in the title.

[deb0650]

I'm curious about other's experience with smog checks. I have an 05 F250. I bought it in October 2009. Renewed registration twice so far and so far have not been selected for the smog check. It is a sure thing next year or is it hit and miss? Thanks.

[Samuel1941]

Hit and miss?...I think it's going to be more hit than miss!!
I'm surprised you haven't had to smog yet???

I had to smog my 2005 last year and this year I had to smog my daughter's 2006.

The smog shop I go to in Glendale is reasonable and doesn't go out of his way to find things wrong...and the check is easy because both the trucks are basically stock.

He was telling me that the rumor is that diesels will soon have to smog yearly. Seems the Air Resources Board wants to smog the big rigs (which they don't do now) and are working toward that by beginning more testing with the light truck diesels. Hey, it's just a rumor at this time...but, when I bought my 2005 there was no smog required. Nothing would surprised me at this time!!

Here is an overview of the law:
Diesel Vehicle Smog Check Inspections Workshop Report - Bureau of Automotive Repair

Here is a CA web site with a chart with what the smog tech will be looking for and requires a CARB approval:
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARRe...24_2009_gc.pdf

And, here is a SoCAPS thread with the members' experiences:
http://www.socaps.com/1999-2003-7-3l...periences.html

[deb0650]

Excellent reply. Thanks a lot for the info. My truck is stock other than a coolant filter.

[deb0650]

I checked my registration. I bought the truck in October 09, renewed the registration in April 10 and again in April 11. My VIN ends in 4, so I guess it should be a sure thing in 12?

[deb0650]

Another question. I looked at the smog check links you included and it indicates that a cat back exhaust does not have to be checked and air cleaner and air horns do not get checked. Does this mean that I can replace my air box and filter with one of the cold air systems and not be failed? Or does the air cleaner only include the actual Ford filter element and not the associated air box? Thanks.

[Samuel1941]

Does this mean that I can replace my air box and filter with one of the cold air systems and not be failed?

First off, I'd tell you that the stock Ford Filter is possibly the best filter you will find for your truck. Ford got it right this time and unless you have done major changes to your engine like bigger turbo, bigger injectors, and the like, there is no after market filter that will give you any benefit for the money.

Re: Smog check...The way I read the chart in the above link is that you don't need CARB approval to change the filter and air horn intake as long as the stock air flow sensor is in place. But, that's my read...you're up against smog guys who may read it differently. I don't think you can get an answer here...that answer will probably have to come from the individual smog guy (his interpretation) you go to for the test.

[Lonzo]

Hit and miss?...I think it's going to be more hit than miss!!
I'm surprised you haven't had to smog yet???

I had to smog my 2005 last year and this year I had to smog my daughter's 2006.

The smog shop I go to in Glendale is reasonable and doesn't go out of his way to find things wrong...and the check is easy because both the trucks are basically stock.

He was telling me that the rumor is that diesels will soon have to smog yearly. Seems the Air Resources Board wants to smog the big rigs (which they don't do now) and are working toward that by beginning more testing with the light truck diesels. Hey, it's just a rumor at this time...but, when I bought my 2005 there was no smog required. Nothing would surprised me at this time!!

Here is an overview of the law:
Diesel Vehicle Smog Check Inspections Workshop Report - Bureau of Automotive Repair

Here is a CA web site with a chart with what the smog tech will be looking for and requires a CARB approval:
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARRe...24_2009_gc.pdf

And, here is a SoCAPS thread with the members' experiences:
http://www.socaps.com/1999-2003-7-3l...periences.html

Thank you very much for the info!

[Desertstroker]

Took my 04 to a smog guy that I know. I have a banks intake, no cat or muffler and had my tuner set on the lowest level. I told him that I have all the stock parts and could put them back on if it made him feel better. Since it is a 04 he said that he did not have to hook up to the port under the dash. I asked him what would make me fail the smog test since he does not hook up to the port and no tailpipe sniffer either? He said it is a visual smog test only, so I made my $40.00 donation to the state of california and went on my way. Too bad this guy is in the High Desert where I live, because he is very diesel friendly, if you know what I mean. I think he said that he had to hook up to the port under the dash on different years though. This is just my two cents worth, but I was there like less than 15 minutes.

[deb0650]

Who can understand CARB when it comes to smog checks. My wife commutes in a Honda Civic GX with the CNG engine. It's billed as the cleanest internal combustion engine in the world. I get my registration in the mail the other day and it says, "smog test required". Smog test and CNG. That's a new one on me.

[Samuel1941]

Who can understand CARB when it comes to smog checks. My wife commutes in a Honda Civic GX with the CNG engine. It's billed as the cleanest internal combustion engine in the world. I get my registration in the mail the other day and it says, "smog test required". Smog test and CNG. That's a new one on me.

Hmmm! Does seem odd!! Read below.........

Here is something to check.....
Years ago I bought a new diesel truck and a couple of years later got a registration renewal with "smog test required". This was before smog was required for diesels!!! I called DMV and to my surprise, discovered that the pink slip and registration had my truck coded as a gasoline powered vehicle, not a diesel...it's a simple letter code in one of the boxes on the pink/registration. Appears when the dealership filled out the form, they put the wrong code in and, I never checked that entry...who does??

Anyhow, I had to take the truck to DMV and have them inspect it to verify it was a diesel and then change the registration. Did it and haven't had to smog until now!!

The story is to illustrate that your CNG vehicle may be coded wrong on the DMV registration.
Just something to check.

[xman]

Took my 04 to a smog guy that I know. I have a banks intake, no cat or muffler and had my tuner set on the lowest level. I told him that I have all the stock parts and could put them back on if it made him feel better. Since it is a 04 he said that he did not have to hook up to the port under the dash. I asked him what would make me fail the smog test since he does not hook up to the port and no tailpipe sniffer either? He said it is a visual smog test only, so I made my $40.00 donation to the state of california and went on my way. Too bad this guy is in the High Desert where I live, because he is very diesel friendly, if you know what I mean. I think he said that he had to hook up to the port under the dash on different years though. This is just my two cents worth, but I was there like less than 15 minutes.

Hi Desertstroker,

I need to get my trucked smog and live in Pinion Hills, can you give me the name and number of the smog guys us used?

Thanks