Hello folks. Long time subscriber here, but I don’t think I’ve ever posted before. I have a 1991 standard p/u with the 22RE engine with 155,000 miles that is running great, thanks to all the posters on here. I just have a question: Does anyone know how we California owners will be able to smog our vehicles after 2025? I understand we will have to go to a “state” smog station. I didn’t even know they existed. Is this the state referee at community colleges like in the past, or something entirely different?

Any insight appreciated.

 

Ok, I can’t find any information online about this other than what could be rumors. If I jumped the gun here, I apologize… the intent was not to spread disinformation.

If anyone has any insight as to any changes occurring with smog regulations for 1990-1995 model years in CA, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks.

 

The only thing I'm aware of is smog techs had to get specially certified and fingerprinted recently. The smog equipment now has finger print ID so they know who's doing the test and they're registered with the State.
One of the biggest issues BAR wrestled with was a tech "tail piping" while running the test. A tech would hook up to the vehicle needing the test, but put the tailpipe probe into another vehicle that has clean emissions. I heard the State actually might mandate video so they can watch a test being run if they have doubts about a tech or station.

I can't see CA requiring smog tests be performed only at State-owned stations. They actually did that 40 years ago and i think it became rather expensive to run. And the State-approved smog equipment currently being used by smog shops is awfully expensive and a significant investment. They'd have some issues if they told the shop owners their recent purchase was now worthless.

 

Thanks, Jimkola. I agree with your opinion that the state smog stations would be too expensive to set up and run, especially now that the state has a massive deficit. I vaguely remember the state stations from years ago, but fortunately didn’t have to interact with one.

My truck has always passed smog, but I always worry about any changes coming, because they’re never positive for older vehicle owners.