California Smog Check Sucks!
The CA Smog inspection is a total racket here in California, especially Los Angeles County.
If you own an older car, the bi-yearly smog inspection can be a nightmare! Say you have a car that is 10 years old or older that runs great, spews NO smoke, etc. However for some reason they always find something wrong when you go for the gut wrenching smog check test.
- Most problems are:
Timing is off, gas pressure leak, bad catalytic converter, visually something is wrong, or anything really. Every year the state implements more silly tests as to make sure you fail the smog check.
But hey, the car runs fine, right? Well… in my experience there is always something stupid that has to be “fixed”. Meanwhile diesel cars and trucks are exempt?! Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t they spew out black polluting smoke all the time?! But no, its YOUR car that seemingly runs great that is the cause of all this smog in Los Angeles, right?
The smog repairs are always expensive, even if you qualify for state assistance, the “certified” crooked mechanics will find a way to exhaust all the state funds and still squeeze a few bucks out of you at the same time (our tax dollars at work, folks). Even after all that it seems your car runs worse now, even though you have dropped a “kings ransom” on it to finally be CA Smog compliant!
I got to be honest, most mechanics in Los Angeles suck! They do not know what they are doing, don’t care, and just want to rip you off cause they are a “struggling business”. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of good mechanics out there, but hard to find. Avoid the big chains (big crooks!) or any place that is empty (meaning no repeat business). There are honest shops out there, however a lot I have had the experience with do real sloppy work, c’mon!
Seems everything involves sloppy work here in LA, ever walked into a new apartment lately? Sloppy work all over the place!!
As you can tell I fall victim to this every 2 years, or if your car is a “gross polluter” its every year. It just so happens I brought my car into one shop in Sherman Oaks where it failed the smog inspection, they did some work and ran the test again only to be a “gross polluter” now! Eventually it got fixed, but the CA DMV tagged my car as a “gross polluter” for that one test, so I get a “must smog check” every year on my registration renewal notice.
I can fight this right? Ha! Have you ever tried to fight a parking ticket here in Los Angeles, it’s like dealing with the Mob! The whole thing is disorganized on purpose just to get money out of you. Parking tickets in LA are a whole other story… Even my friend who is an attorney said “you can’t beat them”.
Hey California, if you want to clean up the smog, get rid of all your diesel city vehicles and go hybrid and also make everyone else with a diesel car go for a nice CA smog inspection. Oh I know, the state of California is broke, right? (in a 3 part harmony) …Bullshit!!!
So you ask, “how can I avoid this”? Save yourself a LOT of headache and just buy a new car or one a few years old still under factory warranty. Even a cheaper new car will save you a lot of grief! Living in Los Angeles you have enough crap to deal with, so try and avoid the California smog inspection… 
A random “Smog Check” inspection & repair “secret shopper” audit, ethanol cap and elimination of dual fuel CAFE credit can cut California car impact over 50% in 2010. (Prevent Over 2000 tons per day of sulfur, HC, NOx, CO & CO2.) Improved performance of AB32 at reduced cost. (support H.R. 1207)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/energy/program.html
For years the Tom and Tom, Sierra Research report, funded with tax dollars, has been used to develop public policy and withheld from public view.
California spends tax to promote fraud against small business behind closed doors.
49% Smog Check fraud?
August 26, 2009 Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger and Legislative Leadership
http://www.imreview.ca.gov/correspondence/governor_49percent_report_8.25.09.pdf
Clean Air Performance Professionals
Friday, January 29, 2010
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )
C/o Lisa
RE: Sierra Research Report SR 2007-04-01
Dear Mr. Governor
California Air Resources Board (CARB) and The Department of Consumer Affairs/ Bureau of Automotive Repair DCA/BAR have contracted with Sierra Research for a Report of Smog Check performance.
Sierra has informed me the report was final in March 2009 and released to CARB.
CARB, BAR, IMRC, and the California Legislature are using the Report for public policy but refusing to release the publicly funded Report.
Mr. Governor, I’m confused, can you refer me to someone who might help?
Cc to interested parties
From: Charlie Peters
Clean Air Performance Professionals
cappcharlie@earthlink.net
(510) 537-1796 – fax: (510) 537-9675
CAPP contact: Charlie Peters (510) 537-1796 cappcharlie@earthlink.net