The Smog Check Fiasco: Part Two

[rltilley]

Since my van is over 5 years old now I need to get is smogged every two years here in CA. Two years ago was the first time I had to take it in and it did not go well. That story is here:

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/fo...sco-29731.html

This year I expected everything to go smoothly since I really had not driven the van much in the time since I last took it in due to family issues preventing us from travelling. On this inspection though they checked the aftermarket fuel tank & basically said it was illegal due to the CARB sticker only being valid on model years up to 2011. My van is a 2013 model. So Sportsmobile handed over the van with an invalid CARB sticker on the gas tank.

The inspector did not fail me but told me to go out & see if I could get additional info that would make me legal. I contacted Transfer Flow and they were very quick to email me the correct CARB # to give the smog station and mailed me out a new sticker when I inquired if that was an option. I went back today and got the van passed with no issues.

So if anyone has a model 2012 or 2013 van and is registered in CA you may run into this problem. My sticker has D-288-105 which only goes through 2011 model years. The updated CARB # you will need is D-288-129. You can get a copy of that here. It is a good idea to have that on hand just in case.

https://arb.parts/Executive-Order/D-288-129

[Big_ern_101]

Stupid question but what would stop a guy from peeling the sticking off and acting like the van has a factory tank on it? Maybe install some skidplates to cover the tank so its less visible?

How many CARB inspectors know what an extended range tank on an 10 year old van looks like compared to factory?

[N147JK]

Originally Posted by Big_ern_101

Stupid question but what would stop a guy from peeling the sticking off and acting like the van has a factory tank on it?

Knowing how State DOT people operate, I'll venture a guess... they would fail the tank because there is NO sticker on it!

As it has been said, the motto is.. "We aren't happy until you are unhappy"

[Jack K]

I had the same exact issue with sticker conformance a couple of years ago, same year van, 2013, converted by SMB Fresno. When contacted, Transfer Flow promptly provided the correct sticker, as they did in your case. Passed smog w/o problem afterward. Yeah, the emissions control regime here in Calif. is strict!

Also had a similar problem as described in your previous post with gas tank venting some time before that; while filling up on fuel, the gas pump nozzle would keep shutting off. Very confounding for a while. Turned out a spider had taken up residence in the vent tube, creating back pressure during fill.

[Orv]

Originally Posted by Big_ern_101

Stupid question but what would stop a guy from peeling the sticking off and acting like the van has a factory tank on it? Maybe install some skidplates to cover the tank so its less visible?

How many CARB inspectors know what an extended range tank on an 10 year old van looks like compared to factory?

You could very likely get away with that at a normal smog check station. I've been successfully smogging a Honda with the wrong engine in it (D15B instead of D16Z6) for years and no one has even bothered to wipe off the grime and check the block number. Once you're at a referee station, though, you're in the hands of people who actually know what they're looking at, and it gets a lot harder.