California-Smog Testing Madness Story & Possible new laws-The Nightmare

[WhiteKnight]

S13 KA24E engine

I went to test only--passed visual--failed High Nox

Applied to CAP--got letter for $500 of repairs

Went to Gold Shield station--left it for 2 days

Failed visual at Gold Shield--the tech wanted to remove all my gauges / reroute all vacuum lines / remove Air Fuel gauge wire from the Oxygen Sensor. It failed Visual at Gold Shield because he said the CARB number on my INJEN intake was invalid. I have the ARB website link with the Executive Order. The EO number is valid. I picked up the Car and the shop kept my CAP letter.

I took the car to my mechanic and replaced 2 leaking injectors, the MAF, spark plug wires, EGR solenoid, and cleaned out the EGR passages inside the manifold. CEL turned off and car ran perfectly.

Note- I had replaced the IACV and the Oxygen sensor and the PCV valve months earlier. CAT is 2 years old.

The original Smog Test Only shop which would do a retest for $11 had been closed for 2 or more weeks--so I went and paid $38 to another Smog Test Only shop.

I passed the visual inspection even though the Gold Shield shop had written that I tampered with 8 things and they said my "Timing" was off because my idle was off. No Timing degree numbers were listed in the Smog paperwork. DMV refused to give me temporary operating permit [TOP] without the original CAP letter.

Called CAP--they told me to pickup the letter at the shop. CAP put me back into their program because the 3rd smog test had passed my car on visual inspection.

Returned to DMV with CAP letter and got a 60 day TOP [temporary operating permit] DMV wanted $50 for it if not in the CAP program

I called BAR and they sent out an inspector directly to me to photograph my engine. BAR has reviewed the photos and said I should take it to a BAR referee. The inspector said to tell the next Gold Shield shop to call him personally.

I went to a new Gold Shield shop on Nov. 13...it was a friday. The Master smog tech there said I tampered with the Oxygen Sensor and didn't like my silicone vacuum hoses. He said the CARB number on my INJEN intake was invalid. I have the ARB website link with the Executive Order. The EO number is valid. He asked me for a CARB sticker for the air cleaner on the Injen Intake.He said that his shop won't work on my car and told me to go to the BAR referee. He refused to call the BAR Inspector. He said he wanted to work fast and not spend the day inspecting my car in order to repair it.

My 3rd failed smog test I had High Nox and the CO was a little high only at 15mph.The car runs better than new. But the emissions are over the limit.

The Gold Shield shop told me on Friday the 13th, that California now requires an OBD2 Cat on all cars even though I have an OBD1 and it will cost $300. Is this true?

The next step is I am seeing a BAR referee for a complimentary visual inspection.

I will update this next week.

Modified by WhiteKnight at 12:52 AM 11/14/2009

Modified by WhiteKnight at 1:37 AM 11/14/2009

Modified by WhiteKnight at 2:35 AM 11/14/2009

Modified by WhiteKnight at 2:35 AM 11/14/2009
Modified by WhiteKnight at 3:20 AM 11/14/2009

[DaniMike]

OMGWTF?!?! I'm glad I don't live in Cali even tho I still do emissions test here. Good luck!

[matthenny]

jesus i never wanna own a car in caliNEVER

[andy107]

OBD2 cat??? you mean a newer style converter? There are several types of converters depending on however many different types of materials used in it, to help efficiently brake down exhaust gases. Most newer converters are more better at cleaning exhaust fumes than earlier model converters. OBD2 style cat has 2 o2's and I don't see how an obd1 ecu can suddenly read a secondary sensor. As vehicle ages its harder and harder to maintain a good clean running daily driven vehicle that can pass emissions, without shelling out good amount of money to keep up with inspections. Good luck.

[WhiteKnight]

I believe the tech was crazy as you really can't read 2 oxygen sensors or plug off the usual one in the exhaust and expect the Cat O2 to work with the ECU. I will know after I talk to the BAR Ref.
Modified by WhiteKnight at 3:24 AM 11/16/2009

[liquid_cool]

this is why i moved form CALI...there friggin batty over the save the planet crap...thats just crazy man..you need to move out of there like everyother normal person...and leave that s***hole to the leftist enviromental wako's...i wish cali would break off and float out to sea..and claim its self as its own grean nation of retreads!..

[WhiteKnight]

Today went to BAR referee station...

90 minute check and test....I have passed the Visual but failed emissions for the 4th time.

Now I can go to Gold Shield--and maybe get a new cat.

[Wc240]

the new cat law is this... since there were no standards for aftermarket cats, they n=mandated some standards. on OBD@ vehicles, you need a OBD@ certified cat. only applying to cats bought after january.

obd1 cats dont have 1 o2 sensor and obd2 doesnt have 2. the exhoust in an obd1 car has a o2 sensor pre cat. the obd2 has one pre and one post. the sole perpose of that second o2 is to run a cat efficiancy monitor, just to make sure the cats doin its job. OP, i talked to you about this on another forum, let me know how it goes

[WhiteKnight]

I then went to a Muffler shop and spent $90 on a Resonator and exhaust repairs to increase the exhaust backpressure. NOTE: THE CAR RAN GREAT UNTIL I TOOK IT BACK TO IA FOR THE 2ND VISIT! 2nd Visit-Intl Auto 4 days-I dropped off the car again on 12-8 and L. said he was sending my fuel injectors out for testing and calibrating. 2 Injectors were running rich. #2 & #3. My mechanic had replaced #1 & #4 and none had color dot marks which possibly meant all injectors are wrong. [Note: the KA24E that came with my car were all truck engines. And truck engines didn’t have color marked injectors.] 4 New injectors would be $600. A new cat with CALIF numbers would be $225. Also L. said I had no increased backpressure. Dec. 8-Left the car with Gold Shield Shop-they removed 4 fuel injectors and sent them out for calibration. Adjusted TPS. Replaced 4 fuel injector harness wire pigtails. L. said I need backpressure. Bill was $535.00. Over the $450 waiver limit. The Tech wanted me to go and install some type of exhaust restriction or muffler at my expense and then return for another Smog dyno test which I may or may not pass. And by this time the CEL was on. Friday Dec. 11-Gold Shield shop called and said pickup the car and take it to a muffler shop to add more exhaust restriction. I went to the shop to get my car and the idle was bouncing from 800rpm to 200rpm. It was undriveable. I had the tech raise the idle on the IACV and then I drove out of there. The first week they had it for 2 days after the diagnosis said they didn’t want to do the repairs.This latest smog repair attempt was during the second week that they had my car-about 4 days because CAP said to return it to the shop. Dec. 11-I made an appointment with the BAR referee for a 2 year waiver for Dec. 15th Saturday-Dec. 12 I returned to IA to pickup my papers for BAR and L. said he must run more tests before giving me the papers. And he said I must go to a muffler shop again and add more backpressure to the exhaust system. My bill with his Gold Shield shop was at $535. And I had paid him $60 out of my pocket to fix the EGR a week prior. So far the total I spent at Gold Shield is $595. Dec. 12-Oil change $24.15 after new injectors Dec. 13-Sunday - I was driving and 1 or 2 cylinders stopped firing. The idle was dropping to 200rpm and surging. Sometimes the car would just die while attempting to drive. The CEL “check engine light” has been on since I left Gold Shield shop on Friday Dec. 11th Dec. 13-Sunday Now the car is undriveable. Dec. 14-Monday . I must now postpone the appointment and waiver application. I may need to tow it back to the Gold Shield shop on Monday if it doesn’t drive on it’s own.

[Klits562]

holy crap man.....Is your car mostly stock? If so honestly i would just sell it its not worth all the repair bills.And again honestly it sounds like they are screwing with you i would do more research on all this crap they are telling you to do.

[matzinm2]

Dude,

OMFG. That sucks dude I feel bad for you bro. They fcuked your car and still gave you s*** after all that. This makes me worried as to how I'm gonna get my SR20 to pass... or maybe I'll be able to get it to "pass".

[WhiteKnight]

It has an Injen intake and they claim the muffler is too "free flowing".

They also wanted the production date of the engine so they can pick out the injectors for the month that the engine was produced.Every 3 months they changed the KA24E in 1990. And Injectors #1 and #4 are supposed to be different than #2 and #3.

Also; the CAT has to have a special Number on it for California and this is new for 2009. So the new Cats are coded.

If you have high NOX-they will go through the EGR with a microscope.

[Klits562]

Dude,

OMFG. That sucks dude I feel bad for you bro. They fcuked your car and still gave you s*** after all that. This makes me worried as to how I'm gonna get my SR20 to pass... or maybe I'll be able to get it to "pass".

your best bet is to get it to "pass"smog techs are very picky because the laws are picky themselves.They could get in huuuuuuge trouble. You'll probably fail visual inspection right off the bat.

[WhiteKnight]

Dude,

OMFG. That sucks dude I feel bad for you bro. They fcuked your car and still gave you s*** after all that. This makes me worried as to how I'm gonna get my SR20 to pass... or maybe I'll be able to get it to "pass".

SR20 in Cali? Maybe if you remove the turbo and tell them it's a KA24DE

[sx moneypit]

I would of had stroke by now or killed somebody!

[WhiteKnight]

I got the 2 year waiver....BAR said next time it must pass or they won't register the car.

BAR Said; In California; you can install a VQ35 V6 from a 350Z or a Corvette V8 or a Skyline V6 and ARB will approve it because they are newer engines.

So in 2 years..........time to swap engines

[Klits562]

skyline v6? you mean the r35? that'll be fun and expensive.an sr20det can be legal if it has appropriate emissions equipment hooked up to it and it passes smog.

[WhiteKnight]

BAR said there is no US engine equal to an SR20 and that is the reason they won't approve it.

[danmansil80]

BAR said there is no US engine equal to an SR20 and that is the reason they won't approve it.

what do you mean? the Sentras have non turbo sr20s and they pass smog.... and everything that just happen to you is amazingly ridiculous. i would have burned the gold smog place ...i feel really sorry for you dude. you had to pay ALOT for a simple smog.

[RustyShackleford]

wow california has some retarded liberals. hey i live near la puente!

[audtatious]

Imagine how much money the Gold place is making off cars. I'm sure you are just one of many. I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't have the money to get their cars fixed due to the economy and no job and are now without a car to even consider traveling for a job.

Great job Cali. Just wait until Cap & Trade is pushed forth and the Feds mandate all states to follow Cali's lead.

[sx moneypit]

Yeah that will be f**king marvelous!

[liquid_cool]

Imagine how much money the Gold place is making off cars. I'm sure you are just one of many. I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't have the money to get their cars fixed due to the economy and no job and are now without a car to even consider traveling for a job.

Great job Cali. Just wait until Cap & Trade is pushed forth and the Feds mandate all states to follow Cali's lead.

i agree..if cap and tax passes..we will all br riding bicycles to work...Cali is just off there rocker nuts ..its just another way they use to part you from your money..thats all it is.taxation!

[FAST-DATSUN]

what do you mean? the Sentras have non turbo sr20s and they pass smog.... and everything that just happen to you is amazingly ridiculous. i would have burned the gold smog place ...i feel really sorry for you dude. you had to pay ALOT for a simple smog.

RWD verus RWD on the SR20 is the problem...BAR/EPA makes the list and there sererate listings...

[spooled240]

It's not about "saving the environment" and "clean air for all!" it's about money. If CA was really concerned with air pollution they would be regulating pollution from factories chuggin black smoke into the air...a few little ka's and sr's aren't gonna turn the planet into a desolate wasteland

[seang]

Can't we vote on s*** like this?

[danmansil80]

Can't we vote on s*** like this?

in this government you can do anything... the thing is that cali & bar is the government.lol soo..... yeah good luck winning that fight hahahaits true. whatever little 240s are out there they are not going to cause a huge amount of pollution. so "spooled240" is right... plus if cali really wanted to put their foot down they would ban all pre74 vehicles for good....damn maybe i should just build a 72 240z huh??? that would be niiiiiice