- Jul 11, 2001
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I live in Berkeley, CA and I have two cars. One of them's a 1983 Chrysler Town and Country wagon and I keep it only to do the occasional run to Home Depot, etc. to get stuff too bulky for my 626 Mazda coupe. I use it sparingly - averaging 220/year for the last two years. Most of those miles are 20 mile runs I do every couple months or so just to give it a spin to keep its systems functional. It's got less than 119,000 on it, has a 2.6 liter Mitsubishi engine with a Mikuni carboretor.
Two smog checks ago (2003), I brought it to a local gas station/smog test facility and the mechanic mistakenly diagnosed that it had a bad EGR valve and I then had to bring it to a test only facility. Here's what my notes said: "Their report said the EGR failed, that the timing was off, the idle fast and the CO 4.0 with permissible 1.50, ergo gross polluter."
I brought it to a gas station recommended by my mechanic and they wanted $200 just to look at it (my mechanic said he wasn't approved, himself), so I went to a second place where they said they'd diagnose it for $88. They did that and it covered their adjustments, as it turned out!). They said my EGR was fine and they adjusted the timing, idle and carburetor.
I then had to go to a test only station because of the original failure. The mechanic there said my EGR was bad! I was incredulous. He saw the phone number of the place that had done my adjustments and he called them to ask them about the EGR and they schooled him about my car, why he thought the EGR was bad when it was actually fine. These mechanics are often lazy and don't do their homework on the cars that come in - information readily available to them if they go to the trouble to find it.
I go back to my mechanic and tell him the story and he tells me intensely that I should call the state and complain about the original smog shop/station that diagnosed a bad EGR. So, I do that and a guy from the state comes over my house and interviews me and tests my car.
Well, the thing is that now every 2 years when I need a smog check for this car (for example, right now!), the letters I get specify that I have to go to a test only station. Is this because the car is so old or is it because I had that failed report in 2003? That report was erroneous, and I think I might be getting the shaft. Last time it was checked two years ago it passed quite handily with very low emissions. Honestly, I'm spending more for smog checks (test only stations cost more) than I'm spending for gas on this car!
Two smog checks ago (2003), I brought it to a local gas station/smog test facility and the mechanic mistakenly diagnosed that it had a bad EGR valve and I then had to bring it to a test only facility. Here's what my notes said: "Their report said the EGR failed, that the timing was off, the idle fast and the CO 4.0 with permissible 1.50, ergo gross polluter."
I brought it to a gas station recommended by my mechanic and they wanted $200 just to look at it (my mechanic said he wasn't approved, himself), so I went to a second place where they said they'd diagnose it for $88. They did that and it covered their adjustments, as it turned out!). They said my EGR was fine and they adjusted the timing, idle and carburetor.
I then had to go to a test only station because of the original failure. The mechanic there said my EGR was bad! I was incredulous. He saw the phone number of the place that had done my adjustments and he called them to ask them about the EGR and they schooled him about my car, why he thought the EGR was bad when it was actually fine. These mechanics are often lazy and don't do their homework on the cars that come in - information readily available to them if they go to the trouble to find it.
I go back to my mechanic and tell him the story and he tells me intensely that I should call the state and complain about the original smog shop/station that diagnosed a bad EGR. So, I do that and a guy from the state comes over my house and interviews me and tests my car.
Well, the thing is that now every 2 years when I need a smog check for this car (for example, right now!), the letters I get specify that I have to go to a test only station. Is this because the car is so old or is it because I had that failed report in 2003? That report was erroneous, and I think I might be getting the shaft. Last time it was checked two years ago it passed quite handily with very low emissions. Honestly, I'm spending more for smog checks (test only stations cost more) than I'm spending for gas on this car!
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