California has a new emissions check system for vehicles 2000 and newer. No tail pipe probe or dyno regardless of the vehicle. Just visual inspection and plug in the OBDII reader. The OBDII reader checks the sensors for proper functioning and checks the ECU to make sure it hasn't been tampered with. Smog tech only really has to do the visual chek. Diesel trucks also get a snap test (step on the accelerator quickly and diesel smoke must dissipate within several seconds).
Vehicles 1999 and older still get the tail pipe probe and dyno portion as well as the OBDII (if they have OBDII).
Yea, they do get the tailpipe emmissions test. Most shops use just one reference book for the visual inspections.
The shop owner usually, almost always, buys the $100.00 Motor Emissions manual.
The cheap shop owner should buy OnDemand5(Mitchell Manual Smog Emission) subscription/publication. They don't because they are cheap, and CARB only requires one reference manual for customers, and technicians.
The problem is Motor Publications is filled with errors that send thousands of customers home with failed Smog Checks.
I have found so many errors in Motor publications, it's comical. I have numerous emails, where I am literally arguing with, I believe, a secretary, over errors in their manuals. I have one email when the person I'm communicating with doesn't know the difference between Naturally Aspirated(Carburated) v.s. Fuel Injection. It's beyond frustrating, and I hope they get sued!
If you live in California, and your car doesn't pass the visual smog check, it's probally not you--it's errors in Motor Publications?
I have found errors on older Toyotas, and Volvos. Just the two autos I happen to own? What are the odds of that? They failed my vechicles, until I went to a shop that had Mitchell manuals, and I presented the Techs with a Printout of the Correct Emmission information.
(Motor Emission manuals--If you are listening; please clean up your books? It's beyond frustrating to fail a smog test because of your sloppy research! I will show the world my frustrating emails--if necessary?)
(CARB--if you are listening, require every shop to have access to two (2) separate Emmission manuals from different entities?)
And no--1988 Toyota trucks, 2wd, naturally aspirated(Carburator) do Not require a MIL light.
I literally tore apart the dash looking for the missing light. There was no light. There was no plug for a light. I literally thought I was going crazy. I was so frustrated, I forget to set the emergency brake and the truck rolled out of the garage. I'm lucky I wasen't on a hill and no one got hurt. I did need to buy a $200 bumper though. I'm still thinking about taking the shop to small claims court, but don't think it's worth the effort?
So, if you live in California, and fail Smog--ask questions.
Don't just bring it to another Smog testing station praying it will magically Pass.
Naturally aspirated means the engine breathes air at regular atmospheric pressure - ie is not turbo or supercharged.
The type of fuel delivery has nothing to do with whether it is naturally aspirated or not. A NA engine can have fuel injection and a supercharged engine can have a carburettor.
Vehicles 1999 and older still get the tail pipe probe and dyno portion as well as the OBDII (if they have OBDII).
[0] http://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/New_Smog_Check_Test.html
[1] http://www.smogtips.com/new-smog-law-ab-2289.cfm