Emissions questions

B

bigsky

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Victorville, Ca.
I will be moving to Fort Irwin California in Feb from Germany, I have no idea how strict emissions laws are in California so I figure I better find out now so I can register the heep when I get there.

Here is a little info on my Jeep and why I think I am going to have issues:

My Jeep is an 88 XJ (Renix), however I am in the process of replacing my motor with a HO motor (non Renix) from a 94 xj. There aren't provsions for the egr on the new block, which seems there might be a problem with a smog inpection station.

I don't have alot of time to fart around with this thing before I ship it so I am basically just trying to get it running before I put it on the boat.

Basically I need to know what the emission requirements are and if I should bother messing around with trying to bring my Jeep to California or get it running and sell it to someone in Germany and then start with a newer XJ when I get there.

Any guidance you can give will be appreciated.

~Eric
 
Are you just replacing the block, or are you going to wire it up as an HO?

Ca law states that an engine swap on a smog controlled vehicle must be the same year or newer. I'm not sure how the egr issue affects that, but a call to a referee station may help.
 
I've lived in california for 31 years now. Honestly, if I'm being a friend, I would say the least hassle would be to sell and re-purchase.

There are MANY rust-free, mildly built examples available in the $2500 - $4500 range, that would be great for you.

I just bought my 1992 with 160k on the clock for $2000.00 about 5 months ago, for example, and there were like 10 others to choose from on craigslist, most saying "just smogged and registered" (those words are like gold here in cali.) Its the sellers responsibility here in Cali to have the truck smogged, and that inspection does include more than just being plugged into a sniffer.
 
Last edited:
SanDiegoOverland said:
I've lived in california for 31 years now. Honestly, if I'm being a friend, I would say the least hassle would be to sell and re-purchase.

There are MANY rust-free, mildly built examples available in the $2500 - $4500 range, that would be great for you.

I just bought my 1992 with 160k on the clock for $2000.00 about 5 months ago, for example, and there were like 10 others to choose from on craigslist, most saying "just smogged and registered" (those words are like gold here in cali.) Its the sellers responsibility here in Cali to have the truck smogged, and that inspection does include more than just being plugged into a sniffer.
Click to expand...

This would be a much safer bet. If you brought it here and had problems, you would end up with a lot of hassle when you could just buy here. This is assuming you don't have any major mods to yours that makes you want to keep it.
 
If you include all of the emissions equipment from the '94 (this could include the evap cannister and possibly even the gas tank) then you will be O.K. That being said, like was said above, you might have a bunch less hassle to sell it to a German (chances are you will get more than selling it stateside) and find a good example here to buy. With the economy taking a dump lot's of people are selling built rigs for relatively little money. BTW I spent 3 years in Germany at Hanau. It was a great place to be stationed.
 
Hey I don't know how much it costs, but fullerton community college automoive department is a referee station, you can call and speak with them about what you need, and they can certify your junk there, if you really wanted to keep it, however I would olny be a friend to tell you to sell and buy one here. Oh yea, the web address for the college is www.fullcoll.edu hope i could help

peace
ted
 
Thanks to everyone that responded, I realized that I can register the vehicle in my home state of Montana because I am on Active Duty. So basically I won't have any issues.
 
bigsky said:
Thanks to everyone that responded, I realized that I can register the vehicle in my home state of Montana because I am on Active Duty. So basically I won't have any issues.
Click to expand...

You might want to check into that a bit more. I know some of the marines out at 29 palms had to have a smog cert (even owith out of state plates) just to get a base sticker. This is Kalifornia......common sense doesn't apply so don't even ask. :confused1
 
very true story there!
silverslk said:
You might want to check into that a bit more. I know some of the marines out at 29 palms had to have a smog cert (even owith out of state plates) just to get a base sticker. This is Kalifornia......common sense doesn't apply so don't even ask. :confused1
Click to expand...
 
OK so after that las comment I called vehicle reg in Fort Irwin and found out that I DO infact have to have an emissions test even if the vehicle is registered in Montana. So I guess my next question should be who works at a smog testing staion? Actuall my question is, do they do a visual inspection of the engine or just a tail pipe test. Also is the tailpipe test hard to pass? Last time I was living in Calfornia I remember seeing all kinds of beater driving around smoking. Basically what do I need to do here. Now I am getting worried again.
 
I put my rig up for sale over here in Germany on the stars and stripes website for $4000 in hopes that I may get a few offers but I don't really want to sell it anyways ( hence the high price) . Hopefully I can make something work.
 
Put your HO block and head into your rig, but keep the renix intake, exhaust, and smog gear.

The only thing the HO block doesn't have that the renix block has is the port for the knock sensor. The hole is there, but not tap'd. Tap the hole, screw it in, and go.

Don't try and convert it to HO electronics, you'll have a nightmare trying to get that legal in most states.

As far as the inspection itself, there is a pretty strict visual, as well as tailpipe, and an evap canister test.
 
One last question and then I will stop cluttering up the SoCal thread until I arrive. How how hard is it to sell a vehicle that will not pass smog or maybe is there a way to get it to pass smog? I am pretty confident the motor that I am putting in it right now doesn't smoke or anything, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it will pass ( I think). I have a buyer here in Germany that said he is willing to pay me $4,000.00 tomorrow for my Jeep. I don't want to sell it because I have put alot of time and money into it but I am really worried that I am gonna have emission issues when I get to California. Am I just worrying too much. I keep seeing all of these adds on craigslist that have all these highmileage vehicle that pass smog, which makes me believe there is a chance I shouldn't have any problems. I am just sooo confused right now.
 
Tell us about your rig. If it is not locked front/rear with 33's or bigger and a really nice suspension (shocks/springs/lift) I would say sell it and take the $4000.
 
Yeah, honestly I would sell it and get yourself a '91 or newer (HO engine) and build it up. Yours has a D35 (not good) and a renix motor (not ideal). You can pick up an HO with C8.25 (good axle) in good condition with some mods for the $4K.
 
bigsky said:
One last question and then I will stop cluttering up the SoCal thread until I arrive. How how hard is it to sell a vehicle that will not pass smog or maybe is there a way to get it to pass smog? I am pretty confident the motor that I am putting in it right now doesn't smoke or anything, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it will pass ( I think). I have a buyer here in Germany that said he is willing to pay me $4,000.00 tomorrow for my Jeep. I don't want to sell it because I have put alot of time and money into it but I am really worried that I am gonna have emission issues when I get to California. Am I just worrying too much. I keep seeing all of these adds on craigslist that have all these highmileage vehicle that pass smog, which makes me believe there is a chance I shouldn't have any problems. I am just sooo confused right now.
Click to expand...



If it runs decent, its not hard to make a renix rig pass emissions. o2 sensor, coolant temp sensor, and a cat. That said, its technically illegal to sell a vehicle that won't pass smog - it has to have a current smog certificate to be sold, and that is the burden of the seller.


If you move here with it and cant get it to pass, look me up. I'll give you a weekend of my time and we WILL fix it. =)


An HO rig on the other hand, once it decides not to pass, is a bear.
 
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