Getting A California 2019 Smog Check
I recently had a California 2019 smog check. I needed to have my car smogged in order to get my car registration renewed. I’ve gotten used to the no tailpipe sniffer/dyno check. Heck, I don’t even break a sweat that the engine oil is not changed and fresh. Also, I don’t care that the air filter has mileage on it and is not pristine. In the past, I had a car that failed a smog test. It was old engine oil and an old air filter that caused that car to fail the tailpipe sniffer/dyno smog test. When I changed the oil and air filter that car passed easily.
Now it is smooth sailing at the smog check. I make sure that I have not disconnected or jump-started my car battery for at least a week. This is important because your car’s OBDII will have its emission monitors checked by the smog tech. If they have been recently reset(by disconnecting or jump-starting your battery) the car will fail the smog test. More information on reset emissions monitors and the OBDII readiness for a smog test.
I know that my car does not have any codes in the computer and it will pass with flying colors. My vehicle is within the age range where the state of California will take the word of the computer as truthful and pass it without a tailpipe sniffer or dyno check.
What the smog tech does
So what does the smog tech check? It depends on the age of your vehicle. Let’s break it down so you know what to expect. There are four smog categories of vehicles. Thanks to Jordan from Freedom Smog Shop, Modesto, CA. for clarifying the following information.
- The first category is what is considered a new vehicle. No smog check required for the first six years.
- The second category consists of vehicles from the year 2000 and newer. These vehicles get a visual inspection of the engine compartment. The inspection is looking for missing or modified smog components. Then a scanner machine is plugged into the OBDII port and the condition is read. No codes and OBDII emissions monitors ready equal a passing grade.
- Third category vehicles years from 1975 to 1999 get the full smog testing treatment. A visual inspection, a tailpipe sniffer and a dyno test.
- This last category of vehicles from 1975 or older are not required to get smog checks.
Prepping for the smog check
In the past, my vehicle would have the oil changed and the air filter brand new before I took it to the smog shop. I would also put a quart of denatured alcohol in a full gas tank and run the car for fifty highway/freeway miles or more to burn out any deposits in the combustion chambers. The normal mode of operation now is simply to take the vehicle to the smog check center without prior maintenance.
The smog check
This year I have to take my vehicle to a Star station for its smog check. I arrive at the smog shop I have been using for a few years. A quick question about whether they are a Star station gives me the affirmative answer I need.
I like this smog shop because it gives veterans a substantial discount. If you’re still on active duty the only thing you’ll pay for is the smog certificate. They will provide the smog check service for free. I don’t need to present a coupon. Show them my VA card and hand them my California state paperwork and after completing the appropriate paperwork sit and wait for the results. I can see the tech get into my vehicle and pull it into a normal stall. Up goes the hood, there’s the usual looking around the engine compartment. The tech sits in the vehicle for a short time and then comes back to the counter. My vehicle has passed the inspection.
The test is a visual inspection of the engine compartment and a look at the car’s computer for error codes and reading the emissions monitors. No error codes and enough emissions monitors ready and the car passes smog. So if you have such a vehicle, older than six years old and sold after the year 2000 today’s vehicle technology has gotten good enough that it is the ultimate decision-maker on the battlefront of smog.
Related Article: Smog Shop Surprise in Modesto
Read More: California Smog Rules
