SOCAL/CA Question for those who have sold a 240SX in Cali.

[iseenem240SX]

Hello my Nico brethren,

I live in Socal and have recently contemplated selling my baby, she's a 1998 240SX SE that I picked up in GA, with a check engine light that has been on ever since the Auto to 5-Speed swap. I know that light can't be on when selling a car in California because it is an automatic FAIL for smog, and that it is the seller's responsibility to make the car pass the smog check. Has anyone ever dealt with this? Can I just have it registered as PNO (Planned Non-Operation), then not worry about the check engine light when I sell it? Although buyer would have to bring a trailer. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

[badbob2121]

so is the car registered in CA or GA? im confused

if in CA, then yes you could reg it as no-op.. but that would make it an extremely difficult sale... and you probably wont be able to sell it honestly

if in GA, then you would be signing over a GA title and wouldnt have to worry about it and it would be on the buyer to register in whatever state and meet that states emission requirements

correct me if im wrong, but im pretty sure..

[iseenem240SX]

Thanks for the reply badbob2121,

I guess I could have elaborated more, the car is registered in CA, my friend's mechanic worked his "magic" and it passed. I guess he could do it again, but I have been reading some horror stories of people selling cars in CA by clearing the CEL, then when it comes on, being sued by the buyer (with the full support of the California law) to get the car fixed, and paying a boat load more than what they originally got from the buyer. It'd be nice if I could put "check engine light is on" in the vehicle description when I sell it, but apparently that doesn't fly here in the great state of California, it is impossible/illegal to sell a car that can't pass a legitimate smog check. I plan on being in Cali for a long time, I might sell it to an out of state buyer, then I think my next car will be a pre-1975 Datsun Z car to avoid this issue altogether

[atcdrifter]

u can also sell as is just like if it had an sr swap its eligal in ca wont pass smog so u sell as is

[the converted]

What is the CEL for? why not just fix it?

[iseenem240SX]

u can also sell as is just like if it had an sr swap its eligal in ca wont a$$ smog so u sell as is

You can't sell an operational car in California at all if it can't pa$$ a SMOG check 90 days before the sale, I could sell it if I registered it as non-operational, but then as Badbob2121 said it would make it very difficult to sell since the buyer wouldn't be able to drive it home, they'd have to get a flatbed or trailer.

What is the CEL for? why not just fix it?

Last time I checked, there was a code for a bad CPS (Crankshaft Position Sensor), and then one related to my Auto-to-5-Speed swap which read as "R D 1 2 3 O/D" if I recall correctly when I got it scanned at Autozone. I don't know if the latter is even fixable. I am still using the A/T harness, but with a '97 5-Speed ECU that I picked up off of someone on Nico.

[CornyKorn21]

iseenem240SX, PM me about the car.

[CornyKorn21]

Well that sucks... I can't even reply to your PM because they are disabled on your account.

Was going to ask for some details about the car if you're actually considering selling it. I'm looking for another '98 to swap the functioning parts of my currently rusting '98 into... so passing smog isn't really a concern with me.

[iseenem240SX]

Haha sorry about that CornyKorn21,
I think I should be able to receive them now, my bad.