Smog Question
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Elder User
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Smog Question
My '91 Prizm is due for it's bi-annual smog test here in CA and it's only firing on two of it's four cylinders, poor thing, and barely running. Is this likely to cause it to fail the emissions test? I should think it would, but I'm not knowledgeable about the criteria. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Frequently frozen MN
It should fail. All of that gas getting dunped in the cat converter from the misfires should have killed it -- unless your injectors are just plugged.
If your injectors are plugged and no fuel is getting to those cylinders -- well, I suppose it's possible that it will pass.
Good Luck!
ford2go
If your injectors are plugged and no fuel is getting to those cylinders -- well, I suppose it's possible that it will pass.
Good Luck!
ford2go
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If the injectors are plugged, it may pass or maybe too much air to the cat...
If you are double the standard, you are a "gross polluter".
Google search it out, or talk to a smog guy. From what I can tell, you have to spend up to $450 fixing the smog, after the test.
It also seems like the buyback is back, and if you fail, you might be able to get $1000 to scrap it.
What is a Gross Polluter vehicle? HEP. High Emitter Profile. How do cars become gross polluters. My car is a HEP. High Emitter Profile. Failed smog. GP vehicle. Hybrid. Why is my car a Gross Polluter? How can I pass the smog inspection? Do I need a T
A car running on two cylinders out of 4 shouldn't be on the road anyway. What's your top speed, 35?
If you are double the standard, you are a "gross polluter".
Google search it out, or talk to a smog guy. From what I can tell, you have to spend up to $450 fixing the smog, after the test.
It also seems like the buyback is back, and if you fail, you might be able to get $1000 to scrap it.
What is a Gross Polluter vehicle? HEP. High Emitter Profile. How do cars become gross polluters. My car is a HEP. High Emitter Profile. Failed smog. GP vehicle. Hybrid. Why is my car a Gross Polluter? How can I pass the smog inspection? Do I need a T
A car running on two cylinders out of 4 shouldn't be on the road anyway. What's your top speed, 35?
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, TX
How is that thing still running? Most likely it will fail, but it really depends on what is preventing the cylinders from firing. I wouldn't waste my time trying to keep a car like that tagged.
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It's a "spare" car and not driven on the road. It is drivable but the tranny is toast. I'm afraid she is a candidate for the Vehicle Retirement Program. She just needs to fail smog. All other requirements are met. Getting $1000 for an otherwise worthless car...that's a good thing. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the good folks that pay vehicle registration in CA (me included) for subsidising this program. One love, ya'll!
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It's a "spare" car and not driven on the road. It is drivable but the tranny is toast. I'm afraid she is a candidate for the Vehicle Retirement Program. She just needs to fail smog. All other requirements are met. Getting $1000 for an otherwise worthless car...that's a good thing. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the good folks that pay vehicle registration in CA (me included) for subsidising this program. One love, ya'll!
One more reason your state is continually crying it's broke. What a joke...OMG
it's gonna spread east
!! Here, we just dole the cash out to the ne'er-do-well's, they don't have to bring a car in for a handout.
Oh, here we have something called scrapyards...where you take a old car (or they come and get it) and they crush and grind it up for recycling. It's called an independent business...don't you have any of those in the People's Republic anymore?
With all seriousness aside, isn't there anything that state of yours isn't dabbling in?
I apologize for hijacking your thread.
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No apologies necessary, Mud. CA has some screwy programs, fo' sho'. A lot of people are paying into the system just to fund those that are "working" the system, if you know what I mean. In my case, I've paid in long enough that I don't have any reservations in taking the money. This particular program has requirements to combat abuse, however, so that just any rusting junker won't qualify. In fact, the "independant" scrapyard actually gets the vehicle. Subject, of course, to their contract with the state. Gee, I wonder if the scrapyard is "working" the system?!
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The way this USED to work, and I'm not sure it does it any more, is a company like say, Chevron or anyone making "pollution", would get "pollution credits" for pulling cars like this off the road. It was cheaper and as effective as fiddling with their refinery or whatever. So it WAS not directly funded by the state, but I'm not sure how it's done now.
The big beef was "classic" going to the crusher under the program. Not likely at this stage I would think.... But hey, wouldn't it be worth seeing a Boss 429 crushed if you know 10,000 Prizms would go too?
As anti-smog programs go, not the worst idea ever to cross the line...
The big beef was "classic" going to the crusher under the program. Not likely at this stage I would think.... But hey, wouldn't it be worth seeing a Boss 429 crushed if you know 10,000 Prizms would go too?
As anti-smog programs go, not the worst idea ever to cross the line...
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Don't know about company vehicles or smog credits, 85, I'm just a regular guy. (ok, maybe irregular) Yeah, the retirement deal can be pretty sweet, if you qualify. For the owner and the state. Otherwise, however, CA makes it pretty easy to keep an old car on the road...even polluting ones. But, hey, don't be hatin' the Prizm! She's been a sweet ride and I'll be sorry to see her go.
