Re: Passed! Passed! Passed! Woohoo!!!
 

There was some text written in the engine bay by the air intake. There's supposedly a difference between a car build for CA vs a car than can be legally sold in CA. I would need to do a search to see if I can find it again, but I remember reading a post in these forums that said all the ZR-1s were the same. There were no special ones made specifically for CA. Maybe others with more knowledge in this area can shed more light on this topic.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Maybe in the 70's the CA car was quite different, but these days the certification thing is mostly a bribe to the state to be able to sell cars here. Many manufacturers choose to have two types to save on that fee while others with less complex distribution channels often just make the cars 50 states and pay the fee for every single one. Remember some NE states adopt CA regs... but anyways... it isn't important to this discussion because the federal vs CA status on the CA smog check system doesn't matter. Mine came up as a federal car and got the low limits.

It would seem more likely that the model designation 'ZR1' is more important to the limits as it had an extra 100hp and low production count which deserves the higher limits imo.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

I'm going to check my certs later when I return home. When I bought it from the last owner, he lived in an unenhanced zip code. This would be the other reason for higher limits... but maybe not- maybe these guys aren't selecting the proper sub-model if what you say is true. You didn't change your mailing address in the last couple of weeks did you?

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Another point: look at the test weight- 3500 lbs vs 4000 lbs. That will elevate the NOx so they adjusted the numbers. more resistance on the rollers basically. probably included full tank of fuel and passengers (gcwr probably).

This is an awesome find for CA ZR-1 owners

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

LOL. No.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

I did happen to have a fairly full tank of gas. I also had my second top in the trunk. I had the second top for the failed smog too.

Or could the state have just happened to change the limits in between the two tests?

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

They don't weigh your car- the weight designation comes from their vehicle database and affects how much resistance the dyno provides the rollers. Basically makes the car have to push what it weighs. The ZR-1 is heavier and it seems that they have a special set of parameters for these cars that would be in our favor if you can bring it to the attention of the smog guy before he starts the test.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

After having lived here since I could drive.

The State tests cars to the manufacturer's certificate. Not the fact that the car just happens to be in the State. Now all the parts the car came with must be there and working in addition to passing the tail pipe test. And they can be sticklers about the parts. The cut off for smog testing is ’75, pre cat cars do not get tested (except maybe upon transfer.) As for the test levels having been reduced, I have a hard time believing this, unless it is related to the fact that we use oxygenated fuel, not available when older cars were built, and there is an adjustment for that fact.

As a practical matter, no one doing tests is likely to know what a Z even looks like. So if it looks stock, it will likely pass the visual test. I run a C5R in the ’99. It passes. And I looked up ’89 Z’s for my engine swap. The motor is listed in the CARB books for ’89 so a legal swap.

What I cannot legally do is go off the Las Vegas and buy a car to register it in California unless it is certified for California. They will not give me plates. But they will give me a ticket for keeping it in California without California plates. If I bought the car for my girlfriends use then brought it into California after 6 months it is now a used car and they will let it in.

What we do not have is yearly operational tests nor traffic cameras on the freeways in the middle of nowhere. There are not a lot of toll roads. The roads in most places are well maintained. On the freeways, the highway patrol officers are usually good natured. There is a lot of traffic in the main cities, no doubt. But when there is no traffic in Orange County, I commonly drive just under 80 and that is the flow of traffic. It is a big state with a lot of cars, unless you drive like a jerk, an idiot, or are talking on your cell phone without a seat belt, you are not likely to be pulled over for much of anything.

It is also interesting to note that driving styles change from community to community. LA I would rate as third world. Most of Orange County as civilized except around Newport Beach. In Newport I do not use my blinkers because the BMW’s and MB’s speed up to cut you off. San Francisco itself is a carnival. Most of the rest of the Bay Area people drive rather slow compared to SoCal. In the farm land a lot of hard working people. Most drive carefully, no extra money to pay for a ticket. As for the way north region where the marijuana grows, never been there but can imagine like a Cheech & Chong movie. Where I have constantly looked over my shoulder the most are in the states of Arizona and Ohio.

And the smog levels are very much reduced. So a tradeoff.

George

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Congrats, Okiedoke!
I know how great it feels to finally pass.
Plus, hopefully now your Z will run even better
with new O2 sensors, etc.
And you don't have to pucker up for another 2 years!
Ted

PS And yes, I have old smog test sheets from years ago
for the exact same car (my Z) that prove the limits for
all parameters have been LOWERED. Same car, harder
to pass. Welcome to California!

Re: Passed! Passed! Passed! Woohoo!!!
 

The window sticker on my '95 lists "California Emissions Requirements" at $100, just below the Roof Package at $950. I believe the CAR was primarily an A.I.R system (which for me in Illinois is now in a box). --Bob

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

I thought it might be informative to show what has changed over time in Ca for those of us who have to deal with it.

My car is a 1990 Ca delivered car that I have owned since 1995. It has always passed the smog test, albeit, marginally sometimes. It has always been entered as a California spec car and with just Corvette as the model.

Below are the results from 2008 and 2010. Sometime between these two tests the limits were reduced by about 1/3 as you can see from the max allowable columns.

2008
http://zr1.net/forum/attachment.php?...0&d=1424968217

2010
http://zr1.net/forum/attachment.php?...1&d=1424968217

Additionally for 2010 the test required that the 25 MPH test be done in second gear, causing the car to essentially lug along at very low RPM. This does not represent real world driving and, while I'm not an engineer, it would seem this could contribute to the poor readings. My car, as a 1990, has no EGR valve, so trying to obtain the required results is difficult at best.

In the near future I will go to a smog station and see if they can do the test using the "Federal" as the certification, along with "Corvette ZR1" as the model designation, and if so does it makes any difference. I really hope so as it would make life a lot easier.

Stay tuned.

Gary

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Move out of California.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Let's see, today is sunny and 71 degrees as I take the Z on a drive to lunch, Mi is 15 and cloudy. :)

I'll deal with the bureaucracy.

Gary

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

So I looked up my 2011 smog paperwork from when title transferred and it was tested properly as a ZR-1 submodel. The limits are exactly the same as the 2015 sheet posted earlier in this thread so curious that our cars caught a break on the ever lowering NOx standards. So we only need to get it under 700 ppm NOx and it's good.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Wow, that is really good news. Until this thread started I never really thought about how the model was listed. Just let the smog guys do it.

It will be interesting to see what happens when I take the car for a smog and ask them to enter it as a zr1.

Thanks for your feedback.

Gary

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

I would be curious to know what the limits before 2011 were because that is about the time the hammer dropped on the standards to squeeze out older cars. I've only had this car 4 years.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Thanks! I hope so this time! It was only 1 year since I bought the Z when they sent me the smog check notification...

Yeah. I believe they lower them every 2 years. Although I heard that the DMV gives out a limited number of 5 year smog check exemptions at the beginning of each year. I've yet to look into this...

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

The table isn't showing up for me. I just see the two years.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

I might be able to make it too. I've never been to that plaza. Will it be obvious where the "upper lot" is?

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

It has held steady for a few years. They only lowered the limits in 2011 I understand. I think they were well above the allowed limits to what cars was originally certified to, but they had a margin. That margin is gone now, that's all.

If you take the exemptions, after a couple of test cycles they expect you to crush your car. The gov't isn't your friend in these matters.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Now that's way beyond unfriendly!

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Yes it will be obvious. I will try to be there at 7 in the upper lot. Currently there is a 20% chance of rain and I won't be there if it rains.

Can you see the two tables that posted earlier now. They showed up in the post you sent saying you could not see them.

Gary

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Nope. I don't know if it's just me.

Re: Just Failed CA Smog. Now what?
 

Neither did I and my car failed twice. What sucks here is once it's on the cars history it's pretty much written in stone. Next year I'll remember this.