So tell me about California Smog Checks and Registration...

[ExpatMJGuy]

Well, the plan is still on for us to move to Australia, but seeing it's been DELAYED and DELAYED and DELAYED due to all kinds of things outside of everyone's control.  Mainly due to closed borders because of COVID and now even with things just starting to open the backlog in Immigration Applications due to Australia's extended closed borders is pretty hefty. A conversation has come up about how my wife has not been able to take her promotion due to everything going on.  So now her company wants to temporarily put her in a role that is on the West Coast that is a liaison between her future team in Australia, her home office, US regulators, and other Asia Pacific Regulators.  The only thing is the USA office that deals with APAC is in wonderful Alameda California!!!  They don't seem interested in letting her take the promotion and stay here.  No word yet but it's a go but it's a serious conversation and paperwork has been submitted to HR.  So it looks as if we could be headed to Sunny California!  I've never been to California outside of LAX so I said I wouldn't mind seeing some of the west coast before we leave the country.  As of today it's temporary but life can throw curve balls.

 

SO...  what the hell is the deal with California Emissions?!?  This looks like a cluster F^$k!  Of course so I want to know, what are the rules?  I've gone on the CARB site and that's trash.  No answers.  Tells you nothing on what it really takes to pass.  It's just a bunch of very vague and generic information.  Things like get an oil change, drive for 20 min, blah blah blah before inspecting.  No hard rules.  Articles and threads I've read basically say it's so convoluted no one knows what the heck is going on or what the rules are.  But I'm used to a system where you can go online and get the specifications on what is passing and what isn't so you know before you even go if your wasting your dang time.  And tailpipe emissions for pre96 is a new thing for me and the MJ will require it.  I just need to know where I need to get it to be so that it can be properly registered.

 

Even the California DMV website for registration is confusing.  It's not very clear and works in circles or sends you pages that don't load properly.  I was trying to find information on bringing my non-CARB vehicles with me from GA.  It gives information on newer vehicles but not much information on out of state transfers or used vehicles.  Not much information on the initial registration process for new residents.  What happens when I try to sell my 49 state emission car when I try to leave the country in a year or two?  Will no one want it because it's 49 state?  Again hardly any info on used cars.

 

As ridiculous as this all sounds if it's temp I think I'm going to attempt to try to keep things registered in Georgia.

 

Help me make sense of this ya'll 

[MiNi Beast]

Michigan has no smog inspections..

[Pete M]

just drop it by my house and I'll take good care of it while you're gone.  

[ExpatMJGuy]

10 minutes ago, Pete M said:

just drop it by my house and I'll take good care of it while you're gone.  

I have another option.  My parents have 50 Acres just north of Chattanooga.  If things get too difficult I'll take it up there and put it in the Barn until I'm ready to get around to shipping it internationally.  If this goes down and living situation permits me to have a place for storage, it will actually be cheaper to ship it from the west coast than from the east coast. 

[fiatslug87]

Does it have a cat?

For our year vehicles, the CA smog test measures Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen oxide (NO) emissions at 15 and 25 MPH. The gas cap is also tested to ensure it can hold pressure as is the whole evap. system by pressurizing the gas tank with nitrogen. The table below has the limits for HC/CO/NO highlighted for your 88.

 

p.s. we would be neighbors!!!

[ExpatMJGuy]

 

10 hours ago, fiatslug87 said:

Does it have a cat?

For our year vehicles, the CA smog test measures Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen oxide (NO) emissions at 15 and 25 MPH. The gas cap is also tested to ensure it can hold pressure as is the whole evap. system by pressurizing the gas tank with nitrogen. The table below has the limits for HC/CO/NO highlighted for your 88.

 

p.s. we would be neighbors!!!

Where is this info found so I can read up on my other vehicles?  Yes it has a cat, but I need to get a muffler on it.  The check engine light is on, but I haven't investigated it yet.  I've been trying to handle some more basic things first.  Like brakes...  I got them right last weekend!  I need to get information on pulling codes from a the Renix setup and figure out the purpose of the emissions timer.  Again things I've had as lower priority.  In GA anything over 25 years old is emissions exempt.  Heck when I got it the CEL didn't even have a bulb!  

 

This is all provided I don't have issues with CARB.  As the oldest vehicle, it will most likely be trailered behind the moving van if it doesn't go into storage. I think the factor for that will be the parking situation where we live and the space I have to work on it.  Obviously we haven't looked at housing yet outside of prices for homes on Zillow. OUCH!!! Things seem to start at 1 Million!!!  I don't want to go too hard outside of window browsing until HR says it's a go and they give us the details on the full moving package and we accept, and I don't really want to buy because it should be temporary.  At a minimum I have to move 3 cars.  The daily drivers for myself, my wife, and my son.  I have the MJ and the XJ as well so that's a lot to store.  Unfortunately I won't store the XJ at home and it will be the first to go and it was bound to happen eventually.   I'm trying to get in overdrive and finish disassembling my parts MJ and XJ as well!  I have to do all this on top of prep the house and go though everthing in it.  So busy!  I've needed to get off my tail and do it all regardless anyways, even if this falls though.

[fiatslug87]

That info is from my ‘88’s smog testing. You might have to get a CARB compliant cat, I’ll see if the person I know that works at the DMV knows. The check engine light is nothing more than a timer for changing the O2 sensor, either pull the timer box (see picture) under the driver side dash or the bulb. There is no real check engine light in the Renix, your 2001 XJ has one. No codes are stored in the Renix, you should get a REM https://nickintimedesign.com to monitor real-time status. If you put it on non-operational status it must be stored off the street.

[ExpatMJGuy]

3 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said:

You might have to get a CARB compliant cat, I’ll see if the person I know that works at the DMV knows. The check engine light is nothing more than a timer (see picture) for changing the O2 sensor, either pull the timer box or the bulb. There is no real check engine light in the Renix, your 2001 XJ has one. No codes are stored in the Renix, you should get a REM https://nickintimedesign.com to monitor real-time status. If you put it on non-operational status it must be stored off the street.

Thanks, that would be good info!  I need to order a muffler anyways so it would be nice to know if I need to go all the way with the exhaust.

 

I used to be an auto tech and have done all kinds of emissions requirement work when I lived in NC.  I'm quite aware of what it takes to get an engine light out for a 96+ vehicle.  Of course I didn't see many pre OBD vehicles at the actual dealership.  And if they were there emissions wasn't what they were worried about.  I would think pulling the CEL bulb would be an automatic failure.  In GA and NC for OBD emissions checks it's a requirement when starting the inspection to see if the CEL illuminates before starting the engine.  If it doesn't it's an automatic failure.  In fact, undercover emissions employees look to see if you look for that and they also ensure you put a mirror under the vehicle to check to see if the CAT is installed.  If you don't you could loose your inspection license.  I have to see if there a way to reset the emissions timer.  Seems too complex to the a disposable part.  I'll look in my shop manual later tonight.  I've seen those real time kits but they have been sold out since last summer due to chip shortages according to his website.  Again it's been the bottom of the list as the engine itself "appears" to be running well.  

 

My 01 XJ believe it or not was bought new here in GA but has California emissions.  Actually can be a PITA because of it.  I've never checked my newer cars.  Never had emission problems with them and have been under warranties.  I've been meaning to look.

[fiatslug87]

In the Renix system there is no CEL to illuminate before starting the engine. Trust me, I have three of these in CA, one since 1990.

Here is the timer reset procedure. https://nickintimedesign.com/renix-emission-timer-teardown/

[ExpatMJGuy]

15 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said:

In the Renix system there is no CEL to illuminate before starting the engine. Trust me, I have three of these in CA, one since 1990.

Here is the timer reset procedure. https://nickintimedesign.com/renix-emission-timer-teardown/

So essentially what you're telling me is you just use your real time monitor to see if both the o2 sensors are giving voltage, and whatever else it is your hunting before you go in because there are no codes stored in the computer.  

 

What happens when someone does something like a 3.6 Camaro Swap or Mercedes OM617 Diesel swap?  Since it wasn't born that way and would now be carbureted?  Or originally titled as gas?  Or does California not allow these types of swaps? Or go the other way and puts a High Output engine in the vehicle and does a complete engine and wiring harness swap?  I would think that going that way is more realistic seeing you're tightening your emissions compliance and the title still says it's a 6 cyl gas engine.  Not that any of these are on my agenda right now, but this just seems like a mess even though it's a classic car.

[Ωhm]

Take this with you. Might help DMV understand better. Maybe you'll have to buy O2S and PCV.

 

maintenance reminder light reset procedures.pdf

[Pete M]

as I understand Cali engine swappin', it had better be an originally diesel-equipped rig if you're going to swap in a modern diesel engine. 

[ExpatMJGuy]

I'd reset or remove it before I bought a new one, but out of curiosity are these emissions timer modules still available from Jeep?  

 

IF this transfer goes though, and we go west, the more and more I think about it I'm thinking I'm going to continue to try to keep everything registered here in Georgia since we should be there only temporarily. Too much red tape for a temporary arrangement.  Again I just want to know this information incase something happens and this temporary job ends up somehow becoming permanent or even longer than we anticipated.  I also want to know the deal so when we arrive in California I know what to expect when I sell my modern cars before we get on an airplane heading overseas.  

[jeepmjga]

20 hours ago, Pete M said:

just drop it by my house and I'll take good care of it while you're gone.  

 

I think Pete is closer to Buford, but we have plenty of room here in ATL if you need somewhere to keep it as well. 

[ExpatMJGuy]

Well Update...

 

HR came back and basically made it sound like she could take the promotion but they were only going to factor in an additional 15% for cost of living increases. 15%!  That's it!  After my wife and I talked about it, even with the pay rate increase of the promotion it's just not enough to justify a literal 100% cost of living increase going to the west coast.  It would be easier to downsize things if it was just us, but we have kids.  Both of promotion money and the 15% cost of living increase together is only about a 50% increase from what she makes now so essentially we'd be taking a 25% plus pay cut to move out west!  And the moving package is absolute GARBAGE! Worse than what they offered us when she accepted the position to Australia.  SO where does this leave us?  I don't know.  She still has all the signed paperwork when she accepted the position in Australia in Dec 2019.  We knew the cost of living increase was offset to the promotion which essentially had us break even with the move to Sydney and this was with 2019 economics.  After all the cost of living increases of the past few years we have figured that even if the job makes less selling our house and most of our stuff would pay off all our bills and essentially reset our budget.  And we figured the international experience was worth it.  But corporate politics come into play now.  Essentially she's declined a temp position that works with her own future team.  Guess we'll just play this ALL by ear and if it's not meant to be it's not meant to be.  While we have really gotten wrapped in the idea of moving internationally, and are in love with the idea nothing is happening till it's happening.  We make good money and there's nothing wrong with staying put but for today it seems we're back in limbo land.

[Pete M]

bummer.  

[Parei_doll_ia]

On 3/9/2022 at 2:55 PM, ExpatMJGuy said:

What happens when someone does something like a 3.6 Camaro Swap or Mercedes OM617 Diesel swap?  Since it wasn't born that way and would now be carbureted?  Or originally titled as gas?  Or does California not allow these types of swaps?

Those swaps are technically illegal on the federal level. A swapped engine has to be equal to or newer than the year of the emissions certification of the chassis. Most states just don't enforce it. An HO swap would be ok to the feds, I have no clue what Cali would think.

[Gjeep]

Cali is good with a HO swap. Already check as that’s what I’m doing with my 89 MJ when I get to it.