How was your California SMOG test?

Just received my renewal notice and as expected I have to do that joke of a test. I figure it will be even easier than my Jetta TDI since hybrids are exempt from the smoke test. Basically check the OBD II readiness indicators and a visual check to see if there are any emission components OBVIOUSLY missing.

Anyway, I thought it would be nice to have a thread where people can report what happened during their "test". I plan on doing mine with in the week so I'll report back what happened.

 

True, I've had smog techs tell me that they have checked OBD II cars using the non-sniffer test and they would pass. Next they repeated the test using the old style sniffer test, and were surprised at the number of cars that exceeded the standards and would have failed! However, CARB is now more focused on revenue generation than actual emissions, so it doesn't care.

Remember, I've already been through two of these tests with my Jetta TDI, and I've seen what they check - the visual is cursory unless you get an AR tech or piss the tech off! I'm heading out to get the test done this morning so I'll report what happens. As for the "much less time", I switched techs because the old place charged the same as for the more intensive sniffer test. The place I started going to back in 2014, charges much less even for my 1990 Miata that requires the sniffer test! I think I paid only $40.00 total for the Miata last month.

 

OK, here are the results: Passed, of course. Cost $35.00. I saw that this is the cost for 2000 MY and newer; older is $5.00 more (as reflected by my Miata test).