Detlev,

I suspect you are correct. My smog check technician said the same
thing happened to the Honda guys. I always have to take my
girlfriend's Honda Civic to a Test Only facility.

It was in the cards. Lawmakers have been threatening diesel
inspections for a long time. Now that it is here, I'll bet this is
only the beginning. I'm glad this came up before I decided to try a
Zetec install in my 88 Doka which is still registered as a diesel.

In a sidenote, it seems to me that 1985-earlier Vanagons should now be
more desireable

Sent from my mobile device

On May 5, 2010, at 10:40 PM, Detlev Hanschke wrote:
>
> Hi Ben,and Diesel owner.
> Here is the scoop.
> The DMV for years now pulls Diesel vehicles in to see if they are
> still Diesel (no tail pipe ,just visual)
> New law : Since 01/01/2010 all Vehicle 1998 and younger will need to
> have to go through  a Smog test.
> NO TAIL PIPE TEST.
> It is mainly a VISUAL inspection.Done at time of Registration renewal.
> New to me is that a Diesel(or not any more Diesel) has to go through
> a inspection.
> Btw. The new Diesel emission inspection is geared to Chip tuner -
> Veggie converter and every one else who try to get more power and
> more smoke out of there Diesel engines. So the inspection is to find
> Vehicles they smoke and/or have alteration.
>
>
> So thanks to the extrem : I CAN BLOW OUT BLACK SMOKE AND DON'T CARE
> (Ford/ Chevy/ Dodge  Pick Up,jacked up big tires and so on) people
> we have this inspection.
> JUST MY THOUGHT
>
> From: BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com>
> Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 10:04:29 AM
> Subject: Re: California Bienniel Inspections 86-later
>
> Hi Peter,
>
> I knew about new inspections on newer diesels. I didn't know until
> yesterday that the new law reaches all the way back to 1986. Have not
> spoken with a smog check techinician yet. The woman at the San Mateo
> Office of DMV said she was told it was a simple tailpipe test.
> "Tailpipe"?! You might be right. Maybe a baseline is being
> established. For now. No doubt the program is going to snag a few
> scofflaws who converted from diesel to gas.
>
> Cheers,
>
> BenT
> Sent from my mobile device
>
> On May 5, 2010, at 6:54 AM, peter shaw wrote:
> >
> > Ben,
> >
> > I heard about this some time ago from an old friend and vw shop
> > owner, and sure enough my wife's 2005 tdi jetta needs to be smogged
> > (is that a word?) this year.
> >
> > I dont know if they are looking at any particular levels or just
> > testing to see what the levels are and collecting baseline data.
> >
> > peter