Attention California VX's

[frankd14321]

Hey Frank, which college did you go to? Was it Victor Valley?

Yes

[frankd14321]

I got mine smogged last month with ZERO issues, questions, etc...

Did you have a STAR smog?

[Maddawg]

California.... driving laws as lame and under thought as Maryland gun laws.

Its not only driving laws, its all others as well including gun laws. They're saving us from ourselves, lol.

[TheGanzman]

Did you have a STAR smog?

No; wasn't required to do a STAR smog...

[frankd14321]

No; wasn't required to do a STAR smog...

Hopefully you never have too.. It's a "random" selection draw, or they require it if the make/model of car is known to pollute more.

the STAR Smog requires smog techs to run the car exactly as the manual says while the ECU is hooked up to the computer and it records the run live so they cannot lie. (the Smog tech told me this)

[TheGanzman]

Hopefully you never have too.. It's a "random" selection draw, or they require it if the make/model of car is known to pollute more.

the STAR Smog requires smog techs to run the car exactly as the manual says while the ECU is hooked up to the computer and it records the run live so they cannot lie. (the Smog tech told me this)

Ah - NOW I see what you were talking about! I've never HAD a STAR smog test, and I never WANT to have one AGAIN!

[frankd14321]

Ah - NOW I see what you were talking about! I've never HAD a STAR smog test, and I never WANT to have one AGAIN!

The new STAR requirement was recently implemented so that is why you haven't had one in the past. So again, hopefully you never will but if you do be prepared for the above to happen.

[Maddawg]

Did you try more than one smog station Frank? Sounds as if you encountered some bozos that don't understand the vehicle has full time 4WD. If the test is a dyno, why can't the front wheels be jacked if they cant be unlocked?

[frankd14321]

As stated in the OP, I went to a smog shop that is also a state inspection shop and they do things by the book. And STAR smog's are serious business and very hard to fake because the shops are watched much more closley than a normal smog. They went off their manual which is given to them by the state, and the state manual says our cars has a TOD disengage switch from the factory.

Look i'm just giving my experience to give everyone a warning of what you might encounter and so you all aren't sitting there scratching your head saying "duh, what shall i do George" Because if a smog shop does not smog your car they will tell you NOTHING. I had to call the state, stay on hold for 2 hours, talk to 4 different people for them just to tell me to go to the Ref.. Than I had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment with the Ref and than had to wait 2 hours for him to do "his own research" on my car to find out that indeed the TOD cannot be disengaged.

As time goes on with this rare vehicle I see more things like this happening and this is why I created this post.

[Espritmike]

Sorry for the late reply to this thread. ----- I own and operate a STAR smog station in Pomona Ca. I've been in business for 20 years and am, like you guys, a true car guy. I am familiar with VXs (now that I have one that I tore apart and put back together) and can test and pretest any vehicle just give me a call @ (909)596-5502 - Mike - Quality Auto Service ---cell (909)576-4337

[Espritmike]

Just informed from a smog station who is also a cert station where I am... If you are going in for a SMOG (probably just a STAR SMOG) you will NEED to have locking front hub's.. California updated their database to show that we are a 4WD car but can disengage the front... so the rules require them to use a rear wheel dyno on our car... Just letting everyone know.. This is new just THIS YEAR!

Hope this helps everyone!

UPDATE:

So if you have the problem stated above, you must take your car to a State Ref Station (normally at a local college) From there they will take a long hard look at your car to determine that YES INDEED you cannot disable the TOD system. Than they will sniffer your car and when/if it passes you are in the clear.. They do not charge for smogging, but charge 9 dollars for the cert.

Our local ref said he would tell the state that their information about the car was wrong but he said that smog shops don't update their manual's often so we will probably have to go to the ref from now on to get the car smogged.. I guess it's ok, it ends up saving 50+ dollars in my area..

BTW this is wrong. While testing you enter in as AWD/full time 4wd. There is an exemption for our cars. Like I said I smogged mine.

[Espritmike]

Finally, starting next year, 2000 and newer vehicles will get a OBDII test only. No dyno or tailpipe test. Still in beta testing

[Maddawg]

Finally, starting next year, 2000 and newer vehicles will get a OBDII test only. No dyno or tailpipe test. Still in beta testing

That's a good thing for us??

[FlyingV77]

simple solution. Move to TX

Unless your a hippie

[Beavertractors]

Tagged mine in Vermont..Smog test was done with a hand held OBD .. at a local shop..No computor hookup to DMV(like NY).. They write the results on a Paper Form....They are Very strict on the Saftey and rust/thru rules,which are much more important than Silly smog tests.....Also the Best gun laws(NONE)