Hey Cali. diesel guys, are you ready for smog inspections?

[VdanielW]

I am a Smog Tech here in SoCal and I just took the On-line Diesel Smog Check Inspection Training.  Just wanted to make some of the regulations known: Smog inspections will be required every 2 years (no 4 or 6 year old excemption like the gasoline vehicles) & transfer of ownership.  Visual inspection of engine for all emission control devices and aftermarket parts (require carb EO #), cold air intakes do not require an EO # as long as no factory parts were modified for the installation.  A Crankcase smoke check & tail pipe smoke check is required (no visable smoke @ idle).  The BAR Snap Test is required: rev engine to between 2000-3000rpm and let it return to idle for 3 seconds and repeat this process 3 times.  After the 3rd time watch for a ploom of smoke from tail pipe: smoke cannot linger for more than 3 seconds. There will also be checking for diagnostic trouble codes using the smog machine (CAN vehicles are excempt from this portion) & also making sure the MIL works properly.

[axm48ida]

I thought that was for 2006 and later vehicles???

[VdanielW]

Diesel Smog?  It is for all diesels 1998 and newer under 14000 GVWR.

[kingsburgphil]

At the rate were going in a few years you'll be putting the probe in the registered owners tailpipe also. 

As Calif. residents we're at the mercy of the....AQMD,Cal OSHA,BAR,CARB,EPA,DOT,PETA, a Liberal Legislature,
a Liberal Judicial system and a turncoat Gov. Did I leave anyone out?

It's a sobering thought to know that everything aircooled VW could go away with the stroke of a pen!



If we're not careful this could be your next ride 



 

[axm48ida]

I guess I will keep my old 95 ford.......

Diesel Smog?  It is for all diesels 1998 and newer under 14000 GVWR.

[VdanielW]

I really dont like the failure for aftermarket parts.  If it passes the sniffer in the tail pipe, it shouldn't matter, but the amount of money that must be paid out by a company to get there products CARB approved is big.  Unfortunately, if I get caught letting a non carb approved item pass, it's my ass.

[David Ward]

That's been my beef with the CA legislators on smog checks.... shouldn't it only matter what comes out of the tail pipe?!?!?!!?  They shouldn't even have to lift the hood.   

[Bruce Tweddle]

The reason they ban mods is because they can't test for all operating conditions during the bi-annual smog test.

[VdanielW]

There are no real operating conditions being tested for on the diesels.

[turbo_bob]

As Calif. residents we're at the mercy of the....AQMD,Cal OSHA,BAR,CARB,EPA,DOT,PETA, a Liberal Legislature,
a Liberal Judicial system and a turncoat Gov. Did I leave anyone out?

It's a sobering thought to know that everything aircooled VW could go away with the stroke of a pen!

I think you got all the usefull idiots in there.

There is a new law in CA starting 7-1-10, mandatory tire pressure checks.
The 40,000 service providers subject to the regulation include smog check stations, engine repair facilities and oil service providers. Which will pass the FEE onto YOU !
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr032609b.htm
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/tire-pressure/tire-pressure.htm
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/04/new-california-tire-inflation-rules.html
http://www.cncda.org/email/May_2009/article_9.html
 
Also in CA which is another done deal, "Green Building Codes".
The story says this proposal is part of an effort to find the most efficient way to change consumer behavior.

California is expected today to adopt a  green building code that would reduce water use, mandate the recycling of construction waste and step up enforcement of energy efficiency in new homes, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings, the Los Angeles Times reports.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/01/cash-for-saving-energy-california-considers-this-and-new-green-building-code/1

Oh, don't forget about the black color paint jobs that CA are looking to ban on autos, unless you buy an approved reflective coating and apply it to the paint job.

[Bruce Tweddle]

Oh, don't forget about the black color paint jobs that CA are looking to ban on autos, unless you buy an approved reflective coating and apply it to the paint job.

Don't you remember, this "story" hit the news last April the FIRST!

I think the tire rule is a good one.  Plenty of people are running round with near flat tires.  But of course, I do check my tires, so I wouldn't want to pay for something I've already done.  Then I saw this in your link:  "though drivers can decline to have it done."  So it will cost YOU nothing.  Why oppose this?

[kingsburgphil]

Only when we all realize that the state and feds rule by fiat (not the car) and that incrementlly our society
is being warped, can we stop the damage being done.

We can do nothing and let diesel owners get screwed, "after all they smell & make smog" or we can
VOTE CONSERVATIVE and stop the socialist bastards where ever we can.

Their plan has been effective...divide and conquer, demonize the opposition and the populus will support you.

But who will support the gross polluters (us) When they demonize old or modified cars ?

All it takes is the stroke of a pen, and your IDA's could be book ends, your cal-look joy ...a backyard kiddie playhouse. 

Something to think about when you're buying that next goodie for your car




Please feel free to opine

[efi67vw]

have had to do it in nevada for the last 5 years every year and its a dyno test. they love that $$$. they just keep upping the weight brake so more and more have to pay the $50 fee.

[Ian M]

Some counties of Virginia (all the areas currently requiring emissions inspections), have been testing diesels under 8500lbs GVW for about a year now,its a plug in OBD II test. No visual smoke,gas cap,or underhood inspection.

[Cyclone]

Diesel Smog?  It is for all diesels 1998 and newer under 14000 GVWR.

When does this start?

[VdanielW]

It was supposed to have taken effect on January 1st, 2010.  I haven't had any diesels come in for a smog yet.

[turbo_bob]

Don't you remember, this "story" hit the news last April the FIRST!

I think the tire rule is a good one.  Plenty of people are running round with near flat tires.  But of course, I do check my tires, so I wouldn't want to pay for something I've already done.  Then I saw this in your link:  "though drivers can decline to have it done."  So it will cost YOU nothing.  Why oppose this?

It is still something that their pondering, but now after all the blowback I think they will not dare, at least until CARB has full controll of the masses.

The latest about the tire flap:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/14/carb-caves-forces-reason-triumph/

And here is the new info of what caused all of this diesel mess in the first place, just like the global warming fruad:

A year ago, high officials of the California Air Resources Board learned that the author of a statistical study on diesel soot effects had falsified his academic credentials.

The researcher, Hien Tran, acknowledged the deception and agreed to be demoted, but after his data were given another peer review, they remained the basis of highly controversial regulations that will cost owners of trucks, buses and other diesel-powered machinery millions of dollars to upgrade their engines. The Tran study concluded that diesel "particulate matter" was responsible for about 1,000 additional deaths each year.

Shortly thereafter, just one day before CARB was to act on the truck rules, board officials learned of the false doctorate after a University of California professor who's critical of the rules told them that Tran lacked the degree, but only a few board members were informed. Although reports of Tran's deception circulated for months, including a couple of brief media mentions, it wasn't until recently that CARB officials publicly acknowledged it.

As Telles says, the apparent cover-up casts a pall over the legitimacy of a very important, and very costly, state policy.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tran-222324-board-carb.html

April 30, 2009
Thornhill University: Where the air board's diesel expert got his Ph.D.

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/afb/archives/033291.html

John & Ken bringing this to light:
http://www.kfiam640.com/pages/johnandkenshow/index.html

[turbo_bob]

Why oppose this?

I hate Socialism, Fascism, Communism, Marxism, did I forget any, oh the way my govt has become over the years too.

I check my own tires, change my own oil, wash my own car on my terms, not on some nar-do-well hacks time line and price.

[VdanielW]

Well, I just performed my first Diesel Smog, 2008 f250. That was easy.  Performing that smog inspection reminded me of the old guys talking about doing smogs in the '70's with the booklet of certs- a hole lot of trust in what the tech has to say.

[kingsburgphil]

How long is the Statute of Limitations regarding smog certificates?  

My Bad!!!!!!!!!

[Bruce Tweddle]

I hate Socialism, Fascism, Communism, Marxism, did I forget any, oh the way my govt has become over the years too.

I check my own tires, change my own oil, wash my own car on my terms, not on some nar-do-well hacks time line and price.

You forgot FREEDOM.  The way the new tire inflation rule is written, you have the FREEDOM to decline the service.

[turbo_bob]

You forgot FREEDOM.  The way the new tire inflation rule is written, you have the FREEDOM to decline the service.

Yes, CARB got the word from the peeons.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/14/carb-caves-forces-reason-triumph/

[Bruce Tweddle]

Wow, democracy sometimes really works!

[madoski]

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1642

Self interest (greed) is a two edged sword, it drives capitalism, and also can cause stuff like this to happen.  I think people have brought all the environmental crap upon themselves.  I know California goes way overboard, but the air in LA is cleaner now.  The same people that will buy the cheapest junk they can find to bolt onto their car (and you guys know all about those in the VW hobby) will dump their used oil down the gutter, drive an SUV a block to buy a diet coke and a bag of ho-hos, burn trash in the back yard, take out an adjustable ARM that will reset to 200% of their monthly income, and cry about how unfair CARB is....and there are plenty of those around.  Sad, but there's plenty of ignorance and stupidity to go around...right up to the CEO's thinking that they can take $1B bailouts and then pocket $400M bonuses.  IMO CARB's crap is just the tip of the iceberg, and I'd go so far as to say that half of it is well deserved.

[turbo_bob]

Self interest (greed) is a two edged sword, it drives capitalism, and also can cause stuff like this to happen. 
I think people have brought all the environmental crap upon themselves.  I know California goes way overboard, but the air in LA is cleaner now.

The same people that will buy the cheapest junk they can find to bolt onto their car (and you guys know all about those in the VW hobby) will dump their used oil down the gutter, drive an SUV a block to buy a diet coke and a bag of ho-hos, burn trash in the back yard, take out an adjustable ARM that will reset to 200% of their monthly income, and cry about how unfair CARB is....and there are plenty of those around.  Sad, but there's plenty of ignorance and stupidity to go around...right up to the CEO's thinking that they can take $1B bailouts and then pocket $400M bonuses.  IMO CARB's crap is just the tip of the iceberg, and I'd go so far as to say that half of it is well deserved.

Hi Steve, what has caused all of these problems with the over the top pollution measures that have been plaging California for years and now the rest of the world is big government, special intrests, non stop expansion. There is big money to be made by declairing a disaster, (this is what we must do, oh by the way it will cost lots of money, the products will not work as good and the value will be less for more money). Once a government bureaucracy starts, they never shut it down after the problem was fixed. It just keeps expanding, and to rationalize their exsistance they find new targets, or lower the threshold of the numbers. Because to shut down a govt. program would be lost jobs, votes.
Yes, I think alot of people got hoodwinked, alot of people want to control others, alot want power, money, votes. And alot of elected repersentivies did not stand up to the BS, did not want to ruffle feathers and loose votes.
California has a major problem, non stop state expansion even in a recession, failure to balance the state budget, constantly billions in debt from month to month. But at the same time driving out jobs and businesses out, there goes more tax dollars.
Yes the air is fantastic compaired to what it was in the 60-70's, the skys blue, does not stink, lungs do not burn anymore, no more smog alerts. So what started out to fix the air quality, a Federal standard, and Ca being one of the worst pollution problems made there own state bureaucracy with even tighter limits. Instead of looking at what they acompleshed and saying great news, no, they are going to drive out all because they want a ZERO pollution standard, and that my friend is not possible.

I see alot of trash and garbage dumped in fields, and every once in awhile you hear on the news some ahole dumped some toxin down the gutter, but that is becomming less of a problem compaired to the older days, and that is a good thing.
The creative financeing deal should never have been allowed in the first place, that is a govt. feelgood measure, because everybody needs to own their own home, ya right, many cant wipe their own butts.
The wallstreeters, big bankers, big three auto, all did a disservice to America. And now that the $hit hit the fan, they have been paying back the loan money to the Feds. Too bad they cant pay back what got stolen from Joe Investor, thats you and me.
Now with this administration the new word is trillions, not billions anymore, who will pay back this?
I am not just picking on CARB, it is the whole govt. that is out of control with the tax money, when it is somebodys eleses money one does not value that money.

[madoski]

I agree...the pendulum's swing too far to the left.

[madoski]

They were going to put a cellulose ethanol plant....turning grass clippings and brush into fuel...in north of Palmdale.  They finally got fed up with the permitting process and political BS and moved the whole operation to Mississippi.  Here's a quote from the company president  “There is a lot of favorable push from the DOE to [develop these programs]…, from California’s standpoint, they were just obstructionists all the way through,”

Pretty sad that we can't even permit a plant to turn trash into fuel, and we're supposed to be so green here in CA...

http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=6074

[turbo_bob]

The problem in Ca is just too many hoops, red tape, payoffs, connections to get anything done, and that is a disservice. So many jobs have left, not started, relocated to other states with a job friendly environment.
It will get much worse before it gets back to where it should be, if ever?