Community Forums

Sammie · 10-31-2011, 07:04 PM

Is this something new? I just received my Registration Renewal Notice yesterday and it says I need a smog check (I live in California). I have gone around and around and can't get an answer. Do I really need to have my 2006 Freightliner / Caterpillar chassis smog checked?

Sammie

powerboatr · 10-31-2011, 07:26 PM

CA= anything is possible
I would call the dot and ask....

DaveyD1 · 10-31-2011, 08:12 PM

I am a smog check tech. if your coach is over 14k pounds then no you do not a smog check done.(this applies only if it's a diesel,if its gas then yes it does require a smog check)Good luck

sandcar361 · 11-01-2011, 08:24 AM

In Arizona I have to smog test my coach. I have an 06 Fleetwood with a cat c-7. The test in Az is you have the engine in neutral and you do 3 wot runs and the collect the soot out of the tail pipe. The 1st time you do it is a little scary because you don't like bouncing your engine off the rev limiter.

doorguy · 11-03-2011, 08:29 AM

Post#3 is correct. When I brought my 04 Cat into CA from AZ to register it, the mindless clerk at DMV gave me the temporary paperwork and said when I get the smog check, just return for the final paperwork. I told her I didn't think it needed smogging and she gave me a funny look and checked her puter and said, "Well, it is not showing up as needing a smog check", as tho she couldn't believe it. So, she processed the final paperwork. I would have DMV run a search on your VIN and they will find out it is over 14K lbs.

mr300ce · 11-03-2011, 08:49 AM

X2. I run a smog test station. Under 14,000lbs gets them. GOOD LUCK DEALING WITH THE DMV.

Our usual comparison with them is: nazis. Like in: They are seperate from the rest of Calif. and the workers follow whatever guidelines they feel like at the moment. Poorly trained. Each worker has his'her own answer to a question. Often 3 trips there will be needed to get things in order.

I, myself had had numerous problems with them, and sometimes going to a "supervisor" has no improvement.

And please....DON'T LET THEM GET YOUR $$$$ IN ERROR....AS YOU MAY NEVER GET THE CREDIT BACK.

Poptop · 11-10-2011, 07:50 PM

Colorado requires an annual smog test for diesels (autos, pick-ups, and motorhomes).

bluepill · 11-10-2011, 07:57 PM

DMV: Where asking 5 clerks the same question gets you 8 different answers.

The good news is that if you have the time, you can shop for the one you want.

Mr_D · 11-10-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandcar361

In Arizona I have to smog test my coach. I have an 06 Fleetwood with a cat c-7. The test in Az is you have the engine in neutral and you do 3 wot runs and the collect the soot out of the tail pipe. The 1st time you do it is a little scary because you don't like bouncing your engine off the rev limiter.

Same here in WA. Even with the Banks kit I'm well under the threshold. The only real problems are that the drive in isn't made for 41' MH's and I run over the curb everytime and the bays are only about 2" wider than my mirror span.

cbeierl · 11-10-2011, 09:12 PM

Somebody else recently posted with a similar question--it turned out that the California DMV had his coach listed as 'gas' instead of 'diesel'. As diesel he was exempt because his GVWR was over the cutoff limit (14K?). You should be exempt as well.

Sammie · 11-11-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbeierl

Somebody else recently posted with a similar question--it turned out that the California DMV had his coach listed as 'gas' instead of 'diesel'. As diesel he was exempt because his GVWR was over the cutoff limit (14K?). You should be exempt as well.

Chris, Your the winner of the question I posted. After going to several smog check stations and getting no good answers, I finally called the DMV and they said I needed to register my coach as commercial because it weighed over 14,000 lbs. I thought bulls**t this can't be right. I finally contacted the BAR ( Bureau of Automotive Repair). They said to go to the DMV and have them call the BAR.

After spending a full day including three trips to the DMV (one with the coach) I finally got a supervisor that found out that my motorhome was originally registered as a gas vehicle and not diesel. The only good part was that it didn't cost me anything to have the typo corrected just the $588.00 registration fees and a tank of gas.

Thanks to all for your input.
Sammie