How was your California SMOG test?

[apaterso]

Kind of weird, I have a 2009 and have not had to do a smog yet. Just renewed registration for 2011 and still no smog needed. VIN ends in a zero

[Derrel H Green]

Originally Posted by apaterso

Kind of weird, I have a 2009 and have not had to do a smog yet.
Just renewed registration for 2011 and still no smog needed.
VIN ends in a zero

Perhaps some dumb clerk didn't know whether that zero was an odd or even number and therefore
did not know how to tell the computer which year, odd or even to order a smog inspection.

They have some real dummies working there.

I recently received a refusal for a enviromental plate for mine.

Seems they consider 'TDI NUT' to be offensive! Can you believe that?



D

[Fixmy59bug]

Also, If diesels are anything like their gasser counterparts when it comes to smog requirements, they should be exempt fromrequiring a smog for the first 4 years of the vehicles "life". So my 2009 should not need a smog until I go to register it for the 2013 year.

[ebbnflow]

I'm put my 2003 TDI for sale a week ago. It is posted in the for sale / wanted section. Took is to get smogged yesterday because I have an interested california buyer. It has nozzles, gauges, a KERMA TDI tune and an egr delete kit. It passed with no questions asked. It took about 15 minutes and cost me $45. I hope this gives some other TDI'ers a little confidence that theirs will pass when the time comes. I was a little nervous, but I think the shops just want your money. A diesel smog is easy money for any smog shop. Those are my 2 cents.

[OnePutt]

Originally Posted by ebbnflow

It has nozzles, gauges, a KERMA TDI tune and an egr delete kit. It passed with no questions asked. It took about 15 minutes and cost me $45.

ebbnflow - Care to share with us where you had your SMOG done?

How did your EGR delete kit get past the visual inspection?

I am generally not a proponent of eliminating emissions control parts for various reasons, but I have an EGR delete kit on my car only because my EGR cooler keeps coming lose from the manifold resulting in a cracked lower EGR pipe. I burned through 3 lower EGR pipes in a few months. I've tried replacing the bolts that bolt the EGR cooler to the IM, but they keep coming loose. I'm guessing there is something wrong w/ the threading on the IM. Never-the-less, I felt it easiest and cheapest to just install a DG EGR delete kit and be done w/ it till I have to get SMOG cert.

I received a registration renewal notification last month, but did not require any SMOG certification...so I'm cool till next year.

[ndamico]

Got my 03 dmax and my 03 tdi smogged last week..both passed w/o incident.. the vwmikel tuning didn't have a problem with the obd2 test. i did have a cat present on the tdi and they did look for it. dmax has no cat or EGR but it came that way

[ebbnflow]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

ebbnflow - Care to share with us where you had your SMOG done?

How did your EGR delete kit get past the visual inspection?

I am generally not a proponent of eliminating emissions control parts for various reasons, but I have an EGR delete kit on my car only because my EGR cooler keeps coming lose from the manifold resulting in a cracked lower EGR pipe. I burned through 3 lower EGR pipes in a few months. I've tried replacing the bolts that bolt the EGR cooler to the IM, but they keep coming loose. I'm guessing there is something wrong w/ the threading on the IM. Never-the-less, I felt it easiest and cheapest to just install a DG EGR delete kit and be done w/ it till I have to get SMOG cert.

I received a registration renewal notification last month, but did not require any SMOG certification...so I'm cool till next year.

The EGR valve is still present on the car. I sold the car yesterday. It just has block off plates on it. So I believe it passed the visual test because of this or maybe they did not look for it. I'd rather not say where, but it was a shop in Chico.

[ARO]

Originally Posted by Sideoiler

My renewal notice came in the mail the other week (smog cert required) and is due 6/08/10....Lucky me...
Fortunately, I found a place a place a couple miles from me called Sunrise Smog (3501 Sunrise Blvd, Rancho Cordova). The owner was very professional, thorough, and his price was hard to beat (Thanks, Rancho Cordova Pennysaver).
The smog shop owner explained to me the unique circumstances surrounding the smogging of a diesel car that other smog stations in my area had no clue about.
Also, this smog shop owner has a sarcastic sense of humor, which I appreciate since it's coming from a good person with friendly intentions.
This guy is honest and knows his stuff.
I recommend anyone with a diesel car (thanks a lot, California...lol) or gasser in my area that needs a smog check to go visit Sunrise Smog.
I think you'll be pleased.

. Thanks Sideoiler, I took my father's stock 2002 wagon to this shop. Passed. Vin # ending with 4. Nice guy, and knows his stuff. He showed me and explained what he's doing on his computer, and what he's looking for. Next year I'll have to do smog on my 2001 Tdi (vin # ending in 9). I'll have to install a muffler and go back to same place. I recomend him as well.

[Volkstraktor]

My experience has to be the best so far. I just got my Renewal Notice
and it doesn't call for anything but the $$$. My county (Sonoma) isn't
required to get Bi-Annual Smog Tests, so I am not required to either.
Only if/when I transfer title...

Now about that chip after I get the chain done -

[Turbo D]

I just got my 2000 Jetta smogged today. I passed with my PP520's and factory tune. I was surprised (not really) when he did the snap test twice and it blew out huge clouds of black smoke and stained the asphalt black under the tail pipes. He looked out the passenger window instead of out the back window. He said he would have failed my car because I had my Scangauge still hooked up, and he said it could alter the computer data. I will disconnect the Scangauge at home next time when I need a check. It was done in about 15 minutes, and the print out didn't say 1.9 engine, but the 2.0 AEG engine, maybe they don't have it as a pull down option yet? I had a coupon for Quality Tune so out the door was $49.95

[SoCalTDIGirl]

I am rolling my eyes over this new requirement.

I took mine to the local smog test only place with a coupon. They stated they tested diesels. The tech hooked up the scan, and checked the tailpipe exhaust. Then he tried to take the engine cover off without using a tool. I put a stop to that and he went and found his mirror.

I am thankful that my Passat wont need this.


Shari

[Jamos]

A couple weeks ago I got the paperwork in the mail that I need to Smog my '06 Jetta TDI for the first time.

Will report back here after I get it done...probably this weekend.

[temporaptor]

I got my smog renewal notice in the mail yesterday. My car is all stock except no muffler. I went to AA Smog shop @ 9199 Arrow Route, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. Took about 10 minutes to do, in and out real quick. He pulled it in hooked up the computer, popped the hood took a look around. Then he closed the hood and was done, No snap test. My car has no smoke. Cost me $50. Then i went to AAA to get my tags but they said it was too soo to come back in 13 days because the earliest the computer will let me pay is 77 days before my tags expire.......... I guess ill just pay online.

[02AutoWag]

We recieved smog notification for the 2002 Wagon.
Wife took the DMV paperwork and mistakenly took the 2000 Golf to the smog shop.
She walked out with a smog reciept stating that the 2002 Wagon had passed.

How's that for a CA diesel smog inspection!!!
We got passing results and the correct vehicle wasn't even at the shop!
I guess they weren't going to turn away the $50 inspection fees.

[Jamos]

/\/\/\ That's hilarious!

I took our '06 Jetta in yesterday to the quickie Quality Tune up place in our neighborhood.
They charge the lowest price I could find: $29.99 + 10 for paperwork.

The tech inspected the engine while it was running, and very briefly looked under the car. That was it. No snap test, on OBD.

You're all good, that will be $40 please.

What a joke.