Mark VIII in the top 15% of polluters in CA

L

logres

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Not only do I have to get a smog check again, I have to go to a TEST ONLY center...reserved for the top 15% of polluting models on the road (not volume weighted). I can understand why they required my old 85 5.0 T-Bird to do this, but why a Mark VIII?

They should put swastikas on these places. $100...pass or fail, and the test is basically a full body cavity search for cars. If you fail, you get no money back, have to go elsewhere to get your car repaired, then come back to fork out another $100 to test again, hoping you pass. If not, go back to step 2 above.

I'm really hoping they don't get me for the AFPR. It is illegal to even HAVE these in Orange county, though the regular smog guys don't ever seem to 'notice' them.
 
man am I glad that Minnesota doesn't do this anymore..
 
I don't understand, I just had to have mine tested also ($50) and it passed way under state average with 125k+ miles on it.

We have test centers also, but we have test and repair centers too. Why is it different in Orange County?
 
It quit being about the environment long ago and is now more about revenue, revenue and more revenue.
 
Well it depends on year/make/model. My crown Vic got the test only thing also. Just find one in the ghetto they still look the other way.
 
logres said:
Not only do I have to get a smog check again, I have to go to a TEST ONLY center...reserved for the top 15% of polluting models on the road (not volume weighted). I can understand why they required my old 85 5.0 T-Bird to do this, but why a Mark VIII?

They should put swastikas on these places. $100...pass or fail, and the test is basically a full body cavity search for cars. If you fail, you get no money back, have to go elsewhere to get your car repaired, then come back to fork out another $100 to test again, hoping you pass. If not, go back to step 2 above.

I'm really hoping they don't get me for the AFPR. It is illegal to even HAVE these in Orange county, though the regular smog guys don't ever seem to 'notice' them.
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I bet the Nazi oranges are behind this... :p

Just tell them you have a two mode hybrid...
"off" and "as fast as possible"... :D

Or do what I do sometimes, grease the wheels a little bit to make sure it passes... :D
 
Be2lose said:
I don't understand, I just had to have mine tested also ($50) and it passed way under state average with 125k+ miles on it.

We have test centers also, but we have test and repair centers too. Why is it different in Orange County?
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Good questions.

I expect mine to pass emissions (it did VERY well two years ago), but he can fail me for the AFPR. So I would need to buy a regular FPR, put it on, and retest. I though about doing this pre-emptively, but then decided not to.

The test and repair centers seem to have bad reps - charging exhorbant amounts for the convenience of not driving all over town.

As for Orange County, I thought the CA smog test procedure was universal, but it appears the individual counties can ADD more restrictions. THE AFPR is legal in LA county.
 
HOTLNC's emission inspection is due in July. I already have the XRP and the SeaFoam.

As I approach the inspection station, the Iranian owner holds his head and starts shaking it.

"Not HOTLNC again!"
 
I've always thought with all those cat's on the exhaust that these things would pass pretty easily. But I've never done an inspection.
 
The problem is, the cats get plugged up (carbon) and it's hard to keep below the NOx limits.

SeaFoam helps a lot.
 
Logres the last time I tested in October, I took my Mark over to a Test Station on Lemon and Orangethorpe. The entrance is on Lemon right next to the Sonic Burger Joint. The guys seemed cool there so you might want to give that place a try. Fullerton College has a Referee on staff too if the car needs to be looked over and checked off.
 
I have to get my Mark inspected at the end of the week. It has an emissions test, but for our area, they just plug it into the ALDL connector and make sure it is all working correctly. They still test levels, but it is pretty simple. My older 1994 Cutlass Supreme convertible they actually drive it on a dyno to test the emissions under load, but the OBD2 cars they just plug it in.

I am NOT looking forward to this run. I already failed once due to the CHECK ENGINE light being on. That is an automatic fail here. I got that taken care of, but still kinda scared.

LOL
 
Ca did this to me also last time I paid my registration - forced to go to a test only.

The guy there was actually pretty cool - and he was impressed with the Mark and actually knew about them.

He said that the Mark's were flagged as being potential high polluters....I guess a lot of people don't maintain them.....:confused:

He proceeded to tell me about how the EGR tube usually breaks back against the firewall and causes it not to pass - and that it is a pain to repair it.

I explained that I was well aware of that - as I had replaced it.

I passed with flying colors.

Doug
 
J said:
Really? According to the SMOG laws, ANYTHING adjustable is "illegal".

I just found out that you don't have to SMOG your cars in Susanville, where my parents live.... :)
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Their is a place in Ca where you don't have to SMOG your cars?

Doug
 
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