The I hate California thread

[zer0c123]

I've lived in CA since I was born, but damn these new laws and regulations are F*&#(%#$King lame

My 1993 240sx failed smog today because of high Nox and it turns out that this year the Nox restrictions have become even stricter. In 2009, the limit was 704 ppm for 15mph and 738 ppm for 25 mph; however now it is 493 ppm and 516 ppm ,respectively.I was borderline last year on NOx but still passed; however, I failed this morning because of the new limits.

Since I re-registered my car from non operation status with included smog check in march 2009, the dmv has required me to do ANOTHER smog check this month. It's not even a freaking 2 years yet and they are asking for it. From googling, it seems everyone on some rotation for smog check. If your Vin ends in a odd # or even #, then that's your smog rotation. Since I re-registered my car out of rotation, they asked me to do a smog again.

O yea, I believe the non-operating vehicle law has been changed in the last year or so. I left my car at home, while I was away for college. My parents decided it would be cost saving to register my vehicle on non-operation with the dmv and not renew the insurance. Therefore from 2006-2009, my car was basically in storage and my dad started it up a few times a month.

Recently, both my mom and aunt bought a new car. My aunt wanted to hold onto her old car in case one of our other relatives needs a car. The car was a real POS, so trade-in would not have given her a lot of value. She wanted to the same as me and just put the car in storage under non-operating. Well now, it seems even if you register under non operation with the dmv, you still have to buy insurance for that car. My aunt was thinking , so she just traded it in.
UPDATE: It seems the law never changed. You can put your car on non operating with the dmv and not have to buy insurance.

I'll be posting in the 240 section for smog help.... damn where is NISTECH these days....

[4cefed]

My standard advice is to move to the United States of America and out of the Socialist Republik of Kalifornia.

[Infinitiguy19]

N/A

[Razi]

California's smog laws are indeed incredibly restricting and frustrating.
Never had a problem with any of our cars passing, until I turbocharged my car of course.

[dre1507]

[Infinitiguy19]

N/A

[zer0c123]

My standard advice is to move to the United States of America and out of the Socialist Republik of Kalifornia.

For some reason the voice of arnold was in my mind when read the last 4 words

California want to get rid of old cars!

I would move to a more friendly state such as North or South Carolina or Florida if it were me.

Like a racist trucker once told me "If the USA changes its cars to be more "Environmentally friendly" and China keeps there cars "Non environmentally friendly" Well that doesn't help much"

Well i'm job hunting at the moment, so maybe I'll get lucky and take a job out of state. Not looking forward to driving my 240 cross country though...

[4cefed]

Kalifornia, (who has the fifth largest economy in the world,) is about to declare bankruptcy. Maybe it's a good time to get out. Worried about the 240? Get a AAA membership.

[dre1507]

Maybe we could breathe more if the hippies would stop smothering the trees to death.

[Jesda]

Oregon is a good compromise if you can find work there. The people are friendly, even the dirty hippies. They aren't rabid and angry like the ones in California and Western Washington -- more peace-loving than communistic. The beaches aren't quite as nice as California's, but they're less crowded.

And no sales tax!

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Yeah..but property taxes that will rape you. The beaches are quite nice...they are just a different sort than California's. More rugged and...cold.

[wingFeather]

That's what you get when you vote liberal Democrats into office. Their mantra is s*** like this. Vote Republican or Independent & tell government to keep their laws off your body (and car)...

[C-Kwik]

I've lived in CA since I was born, but damn these new laws and regulations are F*&#(%#$King lame

My 1993 240sx failed smog today because of high Nox and it turns out that this year the Nox restrictions have become even stricter. In 2009, the limit was 704 ppm for 15mph and 738 ppm for 25 mph; however now it is 493 ppm and 516 ppm ,respectively.I was borderline last year on NOx but still passed; however, I failed this morning because of the new limits.

You're probably making a bigger deal of it than it is. 700 ppm of NOx is very high. Tune-up your motor. Check your EGR system operation. My CRX ran similar numbers 3 years ago when I bought it. 2 years later, with nothing but good regular maintenance, it passed with more than 50% better results in NOx emissions and saw significant improvements in every measured value. As long as your motor seems to be running smoothly, chances are it will be a simple fix to bring it back into within the current standards.

Just as a referance, my Titan, which was smogged for the first time this May, measures 5 ppm and 31 ppm of NOx at 15 and 25 mph, respectively. This was with just over 100K miles on the odometer, so its not like the truck's smog equipment is brand new or anything. Certainly, I don't expect your car (or my CRX) to reach those kinds of numbers but it helps put things into perspective.

Its after the fact, but last I checked, no insurance is required on a car that is declared non-operational. and according to the DMV website:

"Must I keep my vehicle insured if I am not driving it?

No. If it is time to renew the registration for a vehicle that you do not plan to use, you may place your vehicle on Planned Non-Operation (PNO) status. Vehicles with PNO status are not subject to suspension.

If your vehicle is currently registered and you decide not to use it, you must maintain insurance or notify DMV that you will not be using it by completing an Affidavit of Non Use (ANU). Upon receipt of a REG 5090, DMV will cancel the registration. The vehicle cannot be driven or parked on California streets, roads, or highway until proof of insurance is received by the department. A reinstatement fee is not due when the registration is cancelled.

Vehicles with a PNO or ANU on record are not subject to suspension. "

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/vrir/vr_sb1500qa.htm

[Bwana]

Also, make sure you don't have any exhaust leaks. They'll make your NOx go through the roof.

[Jesda]

They stopped testing cars made before 1996 in Missouri. It was proven that the cost of administration and maintaining testing facilities offered little in return in terms of air quality. Old cars age or get wrecked, which means they eventually die and go to the scrapheap. Newer cars eventually become older cars, and newer cars are cleaner and more efficient.

Its a problem that resolves itself with the passing of time. State intervention isn't necessary, and the handful of enthusiasts who choose to keep and enjoy older vehicles don't contribute enough to air pollution to make a real difference.

California is awesome, but it sucks.

[zer0c123]

I've lived in CA since I was born, but damn these new laws and regulations are F*&#(%#$King lame

My 1993 240sx failed smog today because of high Nox and it turns out that this year the Nox restrictions have become even stricter. In 2009, the limit was 704 ppm for 15mph and 738 ppm for 25 mph; however now it is 493 ppm and 516 ppm ,respectively.I was borderline last year on NOx but still passed; however, I failed this morning because of the new limits.

You're probably making a bigger deal of it than it is. 700 ppm of NOx is very high. Tune-up your motor. Check your EGR system operation. My CRX ran similar numbers 3 years ago when I bought it. 2 years later, with nothing but good regular maintenance, it passed with more than 50% better results in NOx emissions and saw significant improvements in every measured value. As long as your motor seems to be running smoothly, chances are it will be a simple fix to bring it back into within the current standards.

Just as a referance, my Titan, which was smogged for the first time this May, measures 5 ppm and 31 ppm of NOx at 15 and 25 mph, respectively. This was with just over 100K miles on the odometer, so its not like the truck's smog equipment is brand new or anything. Certainly, I don't expect your car (or my CRX) to reach those kinds of numbers but it helps put things into perspective.

Its after the fact, but last I checked, no insurance is required on a car that is declared non-operational. and according to the DMV website:

"Must I keep my vehicle insured if I am not driving it?

No. If it is time to renew the registration for a vehicle that you do not plan to use, you may place your vehicle on Planned Non-Operation (PNO) status. Vehicles with PNO status are not subject to suspension.

If your vehicle is currently registered and you decide not to use it, you must maintain insurance or notify DMV that you will not be using it by completing an Affidavit of Non Use (ANU). Upon receipt of a REG 5090, DMV will cancel the registration. The vehicle cannot be driven or parked on California streets, roads, or highway until proof of insurance is received by the department. A reinstatement fee is not due when the registration is cancelled.

Vehicles with a PNO or ANU on record are not subject to suspension. "

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/vrir/vr_sb1500qa.htm

Thanks for looking up the DMV law for PNO. I just knew what my aunt was saying sounded like B.S. Non- sense to have a car on PNO but still have insurance.

As for the the NOx and other stuff, motor is fine from regular maintenance. I'm looking at egr, code 34, and vacuum leak as the culprit. I've already posted in the NIssan Online Mechanic forum for help.
1993-240sx-manual-failed-california-smo ... 99749.html

if anyone is interested in my other smog history since 2005
post4604146.html#p4604146

[AZhitman]

CA touts itself has having the strictest smog laws, and has spent MILLIONS (or more) implementing CARB.

However, here's the problem: You can go down to Cooter's Garage for your inspection, and if he's having a slow day, and you can afford to "distract" the tester, you can get a pass.

AZ has the same emissions standards, but we go to a state-operated facility, where its impossible to bribe a testing official.

With that said, which one makes more sense?

One more reason why CARB is a joke.

[Razi]

How is your vert allowed on the road, Greg?

I had to "distract" a tester to get my KA-T passed.

[krash]

I had to "distract" a tester to get my KA-T passed.

Greg's vert' is too awesome to NOT be on the road. Thats how it passed.

[Hussain]

Yeah..but property taxes that will rape you.

I want to move to out of California and into southern Oregon when I finish school. I looked up Ashland since its right on the border and according to wikipedia, its pretty much the same sales tax my family is paying in Elk Grove, CA. maybe slightly higher but barely. California sucks now.

[zer0c123]

CA touts itself has having the strictest smog laws, and has spent MILLIONS (or more) implementing CARB.

However, here's the problem: You can go down to Cooter's Garage for your inspection, and if he's having a slow day, and you can afford to "distract" the tester, you can get a pass.

AZ has the same emissions standards, but we go to a state-operated facility, where its impossible to bribe a testing official.

With that said, which one makes more sense?

One more reason why CARB is a joke.

I agree CA smog is joke since some testers can just easily be bribed to overlook certain things under the hood and emissions. I really think the whole system is flawed. People run all sorts of things in their cars, such as straight pipes for like 22-23 months. Then when smog comes up they just either bribe the tester or slap back on the CAT for a few hours. Sorry if I offended anyone that just run straight pipes...

I have a degree in mechanical engineering and during my undergraduate work I took this laboratory course. One experiment was to measure the emissions from a ford engine, where we installed sensors at different parts of the engines exhaust system. I was totally surprised at the difference in emissions numbers before and after the CAT.

[Jesda]

We have the same problem with Missouri safety inspections too. Some shops are honest, some let their buddies put their swerving heaps on the road, and the rest try to overcharge people and sneakily call every stupid thing a "state inspection issue."

Its a f*** scam.

[AZhitman]

How is your vert allowed on the road, Greg?

I had to "distract" a tester to get my KA-T passed.

It's insured / plated as a collector car.

[Jesda]

[stockbee]

You would think that California of all places would realize that if they would step back and let capitalism do it's thing, the situation would take a turn for the better almost immediately. Reagan would be throwing up in his grave if he they hadn't removed what was in there. It's really pathetic that you elect a bunch of people to go to bat for you and all they do is serve themselves in a roundabout way. This is exactly what happens. What happens you say? I say California.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I want to move to out of California and into southern Oregon when I finish school. I looked up Ashland since its right on the border and according to wakopedia, its pretty much the same sales tax my family is paying in Elk Grove, CA. maybe slightly higher but barely. California sucks now.

You mean property taxes? And of course property values in a small town like Ashland will seem low enough. But get anywhere near the metro areas...

[4cefed]

We have the same problem with Missouri safety inspections too. Some shops are honest, some let their buddies put their swerving heaps on the road, and the rest try to overcharge people and sneakily call every stupid thing a "state inspection issue."

Its a f**king scam.

I think every state has it's shops of questionable morals. Vermont isn't too bad, it's primarily a safety inspection, I've been caught with the occasional wheel bearing and ball joint that I didn't know was going bad.

When I still had my racecar it was "street legal." I tried keeping it that way because I didn't have a truck and trailer at the time. It was nowhere near legal but a shop down the street did a light bulb check and an occasional look around and gave out stickers. I even took out the e-brake to accommodate the rollcage. I was in a race one week where I ditchooked a corner and ripped off my exhaust. They guy that did my inspections was actually working that corner and later handed me the remains of my side pipe. The next week my sticker was up so I freaked out over fixing my exhaust. Flex pipe is the only way to get a 3"on a Shadow, and it's not legal. The guy didn't even look, I don't think he even checked the lights, just pulled in and got my sticker.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

CA touts itself has having the strictest smog laws, and has spent MILLIONS (or more) implementing CARB.

However, here's the problem: You can go down to Cooter's Garage for your inspection, and if he's having a slow day, and you can afford to "distract" the tester, you can get a pass.

AZ has the same emissions standards, but we go to a state-operated facility, where its impossible to bribe a testing official.

With that said, which one makes more sense?

One more reason why CARB is a joke.

We have a winner!

His name is Greg!

[AZhitman]

That pic says it all.

[dre1507]

mhmm. that plate speaks the truth.