STAR Certified Smog Check Station In Kearny Mesa, San Diego
In order to keep vehicle emissions from harming California’s air quality, the State requires a smog check on most vehicles every two years as part of the registration renewal process. Vehicles brought in from out of state are also required to get a smog test, while cars manufactured prior to 1975 are exempt.
California Motor Works & Tires is a certified STAR smog test station, which means our testing process meets the California Bureau of Automotive Repair’s established performance standards. Our expert technicians perform smog testing on all foreign and domestic vehicles, and if your vehicle doesn’t pass, we offer professional repair services to ensure it passes the next time it’s tested.
In fact, California Motor Works & Tires has such a high reputation for smog check services and repairs that we’re the San Diego smog check station of choice for UPS and FedEx.
The smog testing process
The smog test technicians at California Motor Works & Tires are certified and continually monitored by the Bureau of Automotive Repair to ensure every test is performed properly and meets state standards. Smog checks are relatively quick, taking an average 20 to 30 minutes. The process is divided into three parts:
Emissions test - Measures the vehicle’s Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxides (CO), and Nitrides of Oxygen Oxides, the three chemicals responsible for smog.
Visual inspection - Verifies that all emissions components on the vehicle are present and properly connected, and that there is no visible black or white smoke coming from the tailpipe.
Functional inspection - Examines the On Board Diagnostic (OBD) system, which includes inspection for any fault codes in the vehicle’s computer.
When you come to California Motor Works & Tires for a smog inspection, don’t forget to bring your DMV registration form. Test results are sent electronically to the DMV. Contact us to schedule a biannual smog check!
Smog check failure
If your vehicle fails the smog check, it means a component or system is not functioning properly enough to meet the requirements set by the California Air Resources Board.
Occasionally, the problem is as simple as a Check Engine light that was recently on but is now cleared, or a battery that was recently disconnected. But in most cases of a failed smog check, a thorough diagnostic service will be necessary to pinpoint the problem.
At California Motor Works & Tires, our expert technicians will diagnose the cause of the smog check failure and recommend repairs to ensure your vehicle passes the next test. And as a certified STAR smog check station, we also offer repairs for gross polluters, which are vehicles with extremely high levels of smog-causing chemicals.