my friend and I are kind of paranoid about failing the bi-annual CA Smog Check... he has a test only center requirement on his DMV Registration renewal (damn y are all these people I know getting this?.. its only supposed to be 15% of registered vehicles in a given area or something)... anyway we're wondering if advanced timing will affect or make him fail the smog check? I know they check your timing on a smog check... does having non stock timing cause the technician to fail you under some smog check guideline or whatever?

his car has just bolt ons and theres a carb EO#/sticker on his AEM intake, and theres the welded carb EO stamp/plate on his DC header, his catback exhaust system should be OK and his cat is in place... so it should pass visual.. any input/advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance...

 

should be fine. I wouldn't worry

 

I don't think so, I've gotten a smog check with my timing advanced, didn't come up as anything.

I too have to get my car smogged soon.

 

I got the same thing in the mail a few days ago. Test-Only station! What a bunch of BS. I gotta pay double the amount for a smog check now. 15% my ***.. they probably target older cars and newer Hondas/Acuras.. Is there a way to fake a carb sticker on my JDM DC header?

 

yeah it sucks... according to the DMV website its supposed to be 15% RANDOMLY selected vehicles.. but whats wierd is that among me and my friends a lot of us got it... not all of us have to smog THIS year.. so I guess we'll see next year.. but damn among us a lot of us got the "TEST ONLY" smog check requirement for our DMV renewal... anyway gonna try to get it smogged tomorrow...

haha he's all paranoid that he wont pass.. he's coming over to my garage (cuz he has no tools and jack stands) to do an oil change and spark plugs just in case Lolz.. and he's gonna drive around until the cat is hot b4 going to smog it cuz his is an older and high mileage teg n he's afraid it wont pass...

the usual place we smog is like $30 for smog + $8 certificate.. we took his car to the place we all usually go (gold shield smog station or whatever..not test only center).. n they said they couldn't do it cuz its "test only" on the DMV renewal... all the test only centers we called want $60


[Modified by GSRaCeRbOI, 12:35 AM 10/19/2002]

 

Yup, 60 bucks seems about right for the test only places i went to also. But if your friend is a student, some places give a $10 discount like http://www.smogtestonlycenters.com

About the advanced timing, i read that as long as it is within factory specs, you'll be fine. But if he isn't, he should know that they do check the timing and record it.

 

Smog centers normally gives you +/- 2 degree timing leway. I was at 14 degrees when I smogged!

 

How do you know if you have to go to a test only center, cause my parents mailed me the form from my house to my apartment, but they didn't send all the paperwork.

 

Kellindal,
It will say "Test Only Center" somewhere on the top of the form. You will need to bring the form when you get smogged.

 

the paperwork is only 1 page and the envelope... unless your parents only mailed you the bottom portion (the invoice that you tear off and mail along w/ the payment) if they mailed you the complete 1 page (like 8" x 11" sheet of paper from the DMV).. at the top it should say in BOLD lettering that a smog check is required at a "TEST ONLY" center... if you need a smog check you'll need the complete form/page and on the top of that page it'll say that you need a smog check at a "test only" center if you have to go to test only...

otherwise it'll say you need a smog check... and not say test only


[Modified by GSRaCeRbOI, 2:38 PM 10/22/2002]

 

i guess i'm ok then, it just says SMOG check station.

 

yay ohio! (21$)

 

i love florida! no emissions. people run theirs cars open header and never get any type of violation.

 

Florida!