Your location shows "West Coast" If you are in California you are exempt from smog testing. Smog Information
That's right NO SMOG Test in California!!!! That will save a few bucks, and our time.... Tom, that was Baaahhhooggged
It depends on the state. Georgia requires that the Prius be smog tested. California won't require testing until at least 2010. Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Exempted From Initial Smog Check
Well I got a little excited until I read 2010. Darn I thought in California we would never be smogged with the Prius. Well I guess California is hard up for every penny.
It is possible that they may postpone implementing testing. Besides the Prius, Camry and Lexus HSD system, they will have to figure out the procedure for the Honda IMA hybrids, the Ford Hybrids and the GM mild and two mode hybrids. I could see this taking another decade or so at the rate the state moves on anything. :madgrin:
Since Toyota hybrids can enter Inspection Mode, what is the big deal about smog testing? Is the CA BAR concerned that it is not feasible to use dynamometer testing since Toyota does not recommend driving the vehicle in Inspection Mode? Should that be the case, it would still be possible to test the vehicles like in the "old days", where emissions are tested at idle speed and at 2,500 RPM with the shift selector in P...
Hi Patrick, I have a Ford Explorer that can't be tested on the dyno, and they do test it the "old way", but I'm always worried that the smog tech will accidentally try to test it on the dyno anyway. I would speculate that the big deal would be the modification of the software that they use at all of the stations to test and send the results directly to DMV. They will need to accommodate the Toyota hybrids and the other hybrids as well. I hope they don't require dyno testing for the Prius, or I will then have to worry about the smog tech damaging the Prius every other year as well.
2010 is the soonest for CA. Fortunatly, our Prius' are not smug tested ... in that regard, they really spew.
With the advent of OBDII in 1995 or so there was really no reason for dyno or even just tailpipe testing. Any malfunction of the emission system sets a code and it can be read at the testing station. Any other testing is just political boondoggling IMHO. Rod
Arizona does in fact only do OBD II diagnostics on 1996+ cars. 1995 and earlier still get the dynamometer test.
It may apply in that manner in Tennessee, also, I only know that I have to be "smogged". Oh, well, I guess I'll find out. :smokin:
Anyway, I'm not in favor of an exemption for the Prius -- it does have a gas engine that can malfunction and spew pollution. People will drive around forever with the "check engine" light on if you let them.
Hi Rod, This might be true if the emissions control hardware is left undisturbed. However it is possible for an unscrupulous owner to bypass a sensor in order to make the engine ECU think that malfunctioning hardware is in fact operative. I think it is in the public interest (assuming the public cares about clean air) to have periodic inspections, including visual inspection of the hardware, and while the car is there see what emissions come out of the tailpipe.
