"Test Only" refers to a facility which only performs smog testing. The alternative is a service station/repair shop that offers both smog testing and repairs. I think the concern was that unscrupulous mechanics would claim that a car failed, then charge the customer to "repair" it. With a "test only" facility there is no incentive to have the car pass or fail, since the facility is paid the same regardless, and cannot charge for repairs.

BTW- Both my 89 2wd pickup, my 99 4Runner and my wife's 99 Celica were sent to Test Only.

-Scubaduck

 

I had to go to a Test Only with my '93 Truck, 3VZ. It cost $20 more than the test and repair station I mistakenly went to first.

 

my 93 didnt have to go to test only =D
still failed badly and took about 3 days to repair
but im registered now!

 

that means you will go to "test only" station next time bro.

 

you should always pre test it to make sure it will pass

 

My '93 pickup (3VZ) has never failed a single smog. I had non-op'd it over the last 2 years though. When I needed to register it for use again, I had to go to the Test Only smog check station. I wonder if the non-op is the reason I had to go to a Test Only station. They really gave it a workout at the Test Only station, including a simulated road test on the rollers.

 

50/50 for 'test only'
except for the 02, i only have pre 1975 = no smog required
and the last registration for the 02 was a test only notice.

from what ive heard, they were initiated to prevent the places from ripping off customers.
once a place tried to charge me $75...to adjust the idle!!!

find a free retest shop!!!

bring your tools and make the adjustments in the parking lot.
ive even talked the shop in letting me make the 'adjustments' while it was still connected...they still 'only tested' it

 

Had an interesting visitor today! A guy from the CA. state smog board called me and wanted to check if the shop that does work for the state smog program actually installed the parts. He came to the house and looked at the paper work than looked under the hood for the new ERG solenoid. That was a first for me!

 

Three of our four are older than 95 and I think there have been maybe two times that it wasn't test only.

 

Most Test only stations, at least in San Diego, retest for free if you fail.

Frank

 

My 90 Acura is in the always test-only phase of its life. It has never failed smog, so to say I'm a wee bit irritable with the DMV would be an understatement.

My 97 4runner had to go to one once, failed because of O2 sensor, but the guy at the test center told me he could not tell me what was wrong, or even likely wrong. All they are legally allowed to say is "it didn't pass".

My Acura was close (same guy), but passing, and he gave me a very knowledgeable analysis of what I could do to improve it, look out for etc, but only because it passed.

I sorta kinda understand the motivation behind the test-only program, but in my mind it ends up hurting more than it helps.

 

In 1995, vehicles became OBD-II compliant (with a few very minor exceptions).

OBD-II vehicles have a much more involved system for self-test, storing error codes, and determining system faults. Vehicles that pass the On Board Diagnostic tests are much more likely
to pass smog than older vehicles without OBD-II.

For you guys that have to pass the sniffer test, I'd like to know what the limits are for your particular vehicle.
I'm in Texas and they just instituted smog sniffers.
The limits for a 1987 4runner are 200ppm for hydrocarbons

How's that compare? Wonder if they adjust it for older vehicles?

After 25 years vehicles are exempt here...

 

Just had my '94 3VZE done this morning at a mandatory "Test only station". $60 buxks. Prices are coming down. $100 3 yeats ago... $80 last year. $60 this year, and they gave me a $20 discount coupon for my next vehicle test. Unlimited retest, although I've never used it.

California tests HC, CO, and NO (among other things) at 2 rpms, both under load. Under load means on rollers. Don't know if they have a load friction to them, but I suspect yes.

Here is the reading for mine for HC in PPM:

15mph @ 1559rpm: Limit = 88, Average = 18, Mine =24
25mph @ 2554rpm: Limit = 53, Average = 12, Mine = 9

This kind of result is shown for all three parameters.

Average means an avearage of all similar vehicles.

I was actually amazed at my numbers.... very good despite no tune-up, no oil change, no "run it on freeway crap", no additives.. nothing (well half a quart of lucas oil added last year). Just drove it in and had them test it. Same thing last year (just after I bought it). Although last year I did switch to my favorite fluids, fixed a vaccum reversal on the egr valve, and set the timing. Don't know why they had me retest this year, but it will be the same test every other year, from no one, until its 25 years old, same as Texas.

The other numbers were even better.

Anyway, thats your answer... limit for Smog2 on a "high emitter profile" vehicle, for HC, is 88/53 underload for 1500/2500rpm respectively. Much tougher than your 200ppm limit in Texas.

 

If the vehicle has ever failed by a lot, it is flagged as a "gross polluter" and will be restricted to test only forever after. Oh and you have to get smogged every year instead of every other. That is why it is a good idea to have it pretested if you're not sure it will pass. Yes the state wants older vehicles off the road, they pollute more. There are programs in place that will buy your car off you if it fails, some pre-75 models can fetch over a grand even though those 5hitheaps are barely worth the $100 a junkyard will give you. Around 1976 electronic ignition became standard on almost all models, emissions went down a bunch at that point, that's why there are incentives to get the pre-75's off the road. Around 1989-1992, fuel injection became standard on almost all cars, another big step in cutting emissions. Clean air is the objective, so FI vehicles probably won't be tageted by these programs. Toyotas age really well and have always been one of the cleaner, greener makes, our consiences can rest easy.

My 93 4Runner hasn't had to go to test only so far, but it is supposed to random. I had to take my GF's 94 Camaro to a test only, I think it was only about $50 bucks. The test only thing is supposed to keep ppl from getting scammed by a dishonest smog tech. It works, some test onlys won't charge you if you fail or retest for free.

 

Cali used to have a rolling 25 year old exemption, but when Arnie got in office he stopped it. I have heard that they are going to start it back up but who knows. Personally I would rather that it not go back to a rolling exemption. The program works, when I was a kid you couldn't see Mt Baldy (10,800') that is 8 miles from my house due to the ever present thick grey smog, except on windy days. Nowadays it's pretty darn clear 365. I'd like it to stay that way for my daughter.

 

What I hate about smogging in California is that no matter how bad our "test only" vehicles are there are thousands upon thousands of cars in califorina with BAJA-Mexico plates that are spewing out blue clouds of smoke every day into our air and nobody seems to care about them.

I say B.S., we need to stop these vehicles from polluting our air somehow.

 

Actually the cops do have the ability to give some kind of fix it ticket for bad emissions, they just rarely ever do it. I remember when the law was first passed for that emissions fix it ticket they were setting up emissions test checkpoints, similar to the drunk driver checkpoints, but that didn't last long as it was just for PR. But anyways there must not be much city revenue in it because they don't enforce it much. Seems to me the only thing the cops are ever strict about enforcing are the things that bring in revenue for the city/county/state etc...

 

Donut breaks?