Las Vegas Smog test on CR diesels

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Has anybody had to do a smog test on an '09+ CR diesel in Las Vegas yet? I got my renewal notice a few weeks ago and it said that I had to get a smog test. Today I went to one of the (few) designated diesel smog test sites (Jiffy Smog on American Pacific in Henderson) and I was told that they can't test my car. They said that I had to go to the DMV "Emissions Lab" at their Sahara office and get an exemption. According to the guy at Jiffy Smog, the traction control on these cars (even with ESP turned off) prevents the car from getting up to speed on their dyno type tester thing.

If my car cannot pass their emissions tests, why do they require me to go to the DMV office just for a piece of paper that says I'm exempt from testing? They could have told me that in the beginning and saved them and me the hassle of trying to get a test and then driving across town just to get an exemption.

I am curious if anybody else has had to jump through these hoops just to renew your license plates.

Have Fun!

Don
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Update

I went to the DMV Emissions Lab today and got my "exception" (waiver) paper today. The only downside to this exception report is that it is not entered online, therefore, I cannot renew my registration on the internet or at a kiosk. I must either renew in person at a DMV office (aargh!) or by mail because some human has to actually read the piece of paper. I talked to the guy there and asked whether this issue was going to be fixed or whether I was going to have to go there and get a waiver every year from now on. He said that VW decided to make their traction control (the ASR, I presume) work in such a way that they can't do the emissions testing the same way that they use on all other light duty diesel engines. He said that the DMV has plans to change the way they test our cars, but the legislature has to change the law before they can implement the change. He hoped that this would be done before next year, but you know how politicians work. It could happen next month or it could take years. Only time will tell.

Perhaps I am the first Clark County resident who has had to smog test an 09+ TDI. Normally new cars do not have to be tested until they are registered for the third time. I bought my car almost 2 years ago, but this is my third registration because I got personalized plates after I renewed the first time. Therefore, this is my third registration. Anyway, now everybody else is pre-warned. When it is time to smog test your '09+ TDI for the first time, I would recommend you call one of the diesel testing stations first and ask whether or not they can test your car. At least that way you will not waste a trip to the smog testing place like I did.

Have Fun!

Don
 

TDI X3

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Location
Las Vegas, NV
TDI
98 Jetta, 05.5 Jetta, 06 Jetta, 09 JSW
Don,
I have always enjoyed your posts for information, this post I enjoy for entertainment!
Are you really complaining about saving a minimum of $45 a year ($75 if you would have been able to do the smog @ JS on American Pacific) on your registration?
FYI: According to the DMV website our cars are supposed to be smog checked on the first registration and every year after that. I'm happy they don't enforce that and I am ecstatic that my car won't work on their dyno!
Thanks for the heads up.
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Don,

Are you really complaining about saving a minimum of $45 a year ($75 if you would have been able to do the smog @ JS on American Pacific) on your registration?
LOL. I'm not complaining about saving money (good point). What I am complaining about is that they sent me a card that said I had to get a smog test when in reality they can't test my car. You would think that the DMV would be smart enough to know that they can't test my car and not tell me it needs to be tested.

That said, you point is well taken - there was no charge to get the exemption paperwork and I didn't have to stand in line for hours at the DMV. I just had to drive to the DMV "Emissions Lab".

Have Fun!

Don
 

TDI X3

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Location
Las Vegas, NV
TDI
98 Jetta, 05.5 Jetta, 06 Jetta, 09 JSW
Don,

Just registered my SW. Thanks for the tip! Saved me lots of time and $$$!!!
Hope more Nevada owners read this to save themselves some frustration.
 

Dariof

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Location
So. Nv & So. Ca
TDI
2011 JSW TDI
LOL. I'm not complaining about saving money (good point). What I am complaining about is that they sent me a card that said I had to get a smog test when in reality they can't test my car. You would think that the DMV would be smart enough to know that they can't test my car and not tell me it needs to be tested.

That said, you point is well taken - there was no charge to get the exemption paperwork and I didn't have to stand in line for hours at the DMV. I just had to drive to the DMV "Emissions Lab".

Have Fun!

Don
Great post.

My Mercedes Diesel is also exempt, because the state can't test diesel's with all wheel drive.

Fine by me...seems like I'll have two exempt vehicles now!!!! :D

No fees except the postage stamp to send the paperwork to DMV. THe wait at the exemption station on Sahara is also nothing. :cool:
 
Last edited:

talltacoma

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2004
Location
Nevada
TDI
'09 Sedan Manual
One benefit to living in the middle of nowhere: no smog requirements! Hip Hip Hooray for the cow counties.
 

dieselpower04

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Location
Outside Tampa, FL
TDI
2004 Golf GLS TDI (sold)
Hey fellas, I am moving to Las Vegas this month. What sort of loop holes do I have deal with to get my diesel to pass emissions out there?
 

Dariof

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Location
So. Nv & So. Ca
TDI
2011 JSW TDI
Hey fellas, I am moving to Las Vegas this month. What sort of loop holes do I have deal with to get my diesel to pass emissions out there?


Smog tests are a breeze. They cannot test all wheel drive or front wheel drive diesels at a smog test facility. So, you just bring the car to one of the state smog test facilities, (DMV emissions lab) and they will give you an exemption. It takes all of 5 minutes at the facility, and it is totally FREE.

Then you just mail the exemption into DMV and you're done. No cost (except a postage stamp), no smog check, and you're good for another 2 years.

I love this system, and hope it continues.

BTW, you make it sound like your back is against the wall here.

This is one of the best states to live in......absolutely no state income tax, no heavy tax burdens, lower cost of living, very pro people as opposed to pro-government (I.E. Calif). Aside from 3 months out of the year, the weather is fantastic. Of course, there is always the entertainment and the outdoors...that is if you like those things. :)

With your PhD, there would be great opportunity for careers out here, including teaching at UNLV. I think you'll love it out here,,,,,I do, and I have a house at the beach in Cali and prefer to be out here. It's just more peaceful.

Don't get fat at the buffets. :) $4.99 or $7.99 for all you can eat breakfast/lunch at most of the local casinos.
 
Last edited:

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Hey fellas, I am moving to Las Vegas this month. What sort of loop holes do I have deal with to get my diesel to pass emissions out there?
I'm not certain that the emissions exemption thing is true for older TDIs. I am only certain about the newer CR diesels. When you get here, call one of the testing stations that do diesels (there are only a few) and ask them. They can tell you if they can test your car or not. Even if they can test your car - it's only running it on a dyno and looking for smoke. If your car doesn't smoke too much, you pass.

Have Fun!

Don
 

dieselpower04

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Location
Outside Tampa, FL
TDI
2004 Golf GLS TDI (sold)
I am really looking forward to living out there! But just wanted to be prepared for what was in store for my TDI and having to de-mod it to pass laws!

Thanks fellas! You will have to tell me about local car gtgs!
 

Dariof

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Location
So. Nv & So. Ca
TDI
2011 JSW TDI
I am really looking forward to living out there! But just wanted to be prepared for what was in store for my TDI and having to de-mod it to pass laws!

Thanks fellas! You will have to tell me about local car gtgs!

Great car show every Saturday on Eastern just South of Serene. Hundreds of cars and vendors. Best of all, it's FREE!
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)

JungleDeath

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2005
Location
Reno, NV, USA
TDI
00 Golf_11 JSW
I am really looking forward to living out there! But just wanted to be prepared for what was in store for my TDI and having to de-mod it to pass laws!

Thanks fellas! You will have to tell me about local car gtgs!
Up here they get on their hands and knees to look for a cat. They do a visual and a light tug on EGR hoses. I got popped for an EGR delete. He saw the cap over the port on the exhaust manifold. So-I-fixed-it....and passed with no problem again; B100, PP520's, 10mm pump, RC3e, IQ~4.8ish and my opacity comes out at 1% every year.

Don, thanks for the heads up. Good to know.
 

dieselpower04

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Location
Outside Tampa, FL
TDI
2004 Golf GLS TDI (sold)
Up here they get on their hands and knees to look for a cat. They do a visual and a light tug on EGR hoses. I got popped for an EGR delete. He saw the cap over the port on the exhaust manifold. So-I-fixed-it....and passed with no problem again; B100, PP520's, 10mm pump, RC3e, IQ~4.8ish and my opacity comes out at 1% every year.
Don, thanks for the heads up. Good to know.

My car is so low they won't be able to see underneath it...:cool:
 

jba2nd

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Location
las vegas nv
TDI
02 beetle tdi/09 jetta tdi
wish i had read this sooner i just smoged and registered my 09 jetta cr tdi (just brought so it was first time registered) and the wife 02 tdi bug (registered it on the machine had to scan the smog paper) in late nov of 2011 did i get stiffed for 70dlls (had a coupon for 35dll each smog) but i did get the smog paper and did the dyno run and everything for both also dmv did not say anything when i was registering the 09 for first time or when I showed them the smog paper. or maybe they changed the rules does anybody know for future ref?? thanks also sorry dont mean to hijack but im new to this site and am from vegas too nice to meet you all.
 

ALBOB

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, NV
TDI
2010 Jetta Sport Wagon
wish i had read this sooner i just smoged and registered my 09 jetta cr tdi (just brought so it was first time registered) and the wife 02 tdi bug (registered it on the machine had to scan the smog paper) in late nov of 2011 did i get stiffed for 70dlls (had a coupon for 35dll each smog) but i did get the smog paper and did the dyno run and everything for both also dmv did not say anything when i was registering the 09 for first time or when I showed them the smog paper. or maybe they changed the rules does anybody know for future ref?? thanks also sorry dont mean to hijack but im new to this site and am from vegas too nice to meet you all.

^^This

I just had my 2010 JSW TDI smogged at Camino El Norte and Washburn. Wondering if they stiffed me the $$$. Also, ever since that "test" I've felt a vibration coming from the front end. I've taken it to the dealer twice and have been told they can't find anything.:mad:
 

dieselpower04

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Location
Outside Tampa, FL
TDI
2004 Golf GLS TDI (sold)
Up here they get on their hands and knees to look for a cat. They do a visual and a light tug on EGR hoses. I got popped for an EGR delete. He saw the cap over the port on the exhaust manifold. So-I-fixed-it....and passed with no problem again; B100, PP520's, 10mm pump, RC3e, IQ~4.8ish and my opacity comes out at 1% every year.

Don, thanks for the heads up. Good to know.

I have mine deleted...how closely do they look?
 

smoghut

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Location
2218 E. Cheyenne Ave. North Las Vegas
TDI
2004 Dodge 2500
Smog

You are exempt first two model years also if you have any questions on what cant be tested please feel free to call us. We have 2 diesel testing locations 2218 East Cheyenne in NLV and 1950 N Decatur at Lake Mead.

Steve
Smog Hut
210-0194
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
You are exempt first two model years
To be more precise, you are exempt for your first two registrations. In the middle of my first year, I got personalized license plates (another "registration"). When my plates came up for renewal (after 1 year), I had to get a smog test. Therefore, it is not based on time (2 years), but it is based on the number of times you have registered the car. Normally this would be the same thing (1 registration per year), but as above, there are exceptions to the rule.

smoghut - have you heard any information about possible changes to the way diesels are tested? As of now, diesel VWs with traction control cannot be tested on the smog test dynos - any idea if the state has any plans to change this? I personally like the idea of getting an exemption every year (because it's free) instead of having to pay for a smog test.

Have Fun!

Don

P.S. Both of your locations are inconvenient for me. Do you have any plans for a diesel testing station in the south of LV or in Henderson.

P.P.S. If you are going to be advertising your services here, you should really register as a vendor. Read this: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=214572
 
Last edited:

Gafrapster

New member
Joined
Jun 27, 2015
Location
Henderson, NV
TDI
2014 Q5 TDI, 2012 A3 TDI
Hi folks, wanted to let you know that I've found a place to get my 2012 A3 TDI smogged for $35. Smart Smog at 2965 E Sahara in Las Vegas can do a FWD TDI smog cert as long as the ETC can be turned off. (My A3 has an ETC ON/OFF switch on the dashboard.) Again, they can only do a FWD TDI, and only if you can disable the ETC. It will light a veritable Christmas tree of fault lights during the test, but a short drive clears them all. Used them twice now, and have been happy with the price and the results!
 

mnkypsycho

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Location
USA
TDI
2015 Passat SE 6mt
I feel your pain JSWTDI09 about going in person at the DMV. Just this week I had to endure a 6 hour 48 minute wait for a less than 5 minute transaction to register my 2015 Passat TDI. I couldn't do this online because the dealerships DSR did some thing to my name so it wouldn't verify me online.
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Hi folks, wanted to let you know that I've found a place to get my 2012 A3 TDI smogged for $35. Smart Smog at 2965 E Sahara in Las Vegas can do a FWD TDI smog cert as long as the ETC can be turned off. (My A3 has an ETC ON/OFF switch on the dashboard.) Again, they can only do a FWD TDI, and only if you can disable the ETC. It will light a veritable Christmas tree of fault lights during the test, but a short drive clears them all. Used them twice now, and have been happy with the price and the results!
I would suggest (now that testing is required) that you go to the only diesel testing location in town that will NOT light up your instrument panel like a Christmas tree. It is the only smog test dyno in town that can handle our full time traction control.
Straight from the DMV website:
Clark County
Smog Hut
184" wheelbase or less
2218 E. Cheyenne Ave.
North Las Vegas, NV 89030
(702) 399-3900


Have Fun!


Don
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Our Smog Test has gotten more expensive

I did the smog test on my 2009 TDI today. I went to the only place in town equipped to run our cars on a dyno (see previous post). Anyway the cost of the smog test on our cars has more than doubled since last year. IIRC, it was about $50 last year. Today it cost me $110.00 just for a quick run on a treadmill. For anyone keeping their TDI for a while, be forewarned. Your smog test will not be cheap.

Have Fun!

Don
 

BrBa

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2017
Location
Las Vegas
TDI
2010 Jetta - so long friend!
I did the smog test on my 2009 TDI today. I went to the only place in town equipped to run our cars on a dyno (see previous post). Anyway the cost of the smog test on our cars has more than doubled since last year. IIRC, it was about $50 last year. Today it cost me $110.00 just for a quick run on a treadmill. For anyone keeping their TDI for a while, be forewarned. Your smog test will not be cheap.

Have Fun!

Don
I had mine smogged in October, same deal $110. I just about choked.
 
Top