Pinto Car Club of America

hello group i have a 77wagon 2.3 auto a/c etc and just finished getting my car smogged.for the folks in ca. that means a 15/25 mph treadmill and gas cap pressure test.the new test came as a fuel vapor leak test where they pressurize your fuel tanlk and the tells them if your system is leaking. my car is right at 80000 so it runs great and passed all the way to the vapor test which it read at .99 you need .40 or less to pass ouch. >:( so i checked fuel filler groumet and vent vapor valve and rubber hose connections. replaced all gromets and vent vapor valve from ssc entripes which was correct part even the correct diameter of hose for the vent vapor valve.took it to be tested it came in at .48 close but no cigar.next stop a smog repair station with a 75.oo inspection of the system. they have a special smoke machine that pumps smoke in your fuel tank and it will visually leak out where the leak is.all the work on the tank and lines where good. finally they found a hairline crack on the vapor line right at the drivers seat area where it makes a left and goes straight to the cannister.its legal to cut a 3 inch section and replace with rubber hose since its just a vapor line.so look out next time you have to smog you car for the nasty fuel vapor test coming to your area soon maybe.so instead of the regular 40 or so dollars for the test ihad to spend that plus 150.00for new test and inspection/45.00 for parts just to pass smog so ican drive it for 2 more years.it was touch and go until we fould the leak.if they keep coming up with new tests a 32 year old car might not make it anymore ouch :hypno:  i posted for help to orthers who might have to pass smog and where unawhere like i was that they had a new test. keep your pinto running and on the road have fun not everybody can have a pinto!!!  chris in ca.

Nice thing about AZ...if you can insure your car as a classic it won't have to be emission tested. I have 2 88 Mustangs and no emission tests. Some parts of AZ dont require testing but around Phoenix we do.

If your car is a '75 (or '76?) or older model you don't have to smog in CA. either. Thank goodness for small favors!  ;D

Quote from: chrisf1219 on July 03, 2009, 11:39:31 PM
  i posted for help to orthers who might have to pass smog and where unawhere like i was

Great info. Thanks

There is a California state senate bill that if passed will allow cars that are 25 years or older to be exempt from emissions testing if registered as historic vehicles.  Of course with all the attention Pintos are getting and having clubs established is a check in the block for being able to register as historic.  With a historic plate driving is very resticted.  No commuting to work type driving at all.  Sundays are OK along with driving to and from club events or shows.

But, if you sell your otherwise emission test required vehicle registered as historic you still have to pass the emissions test when you sell the vehicle.

At least that's one small step although still restrictive.

We Pinto owners in Cali need to fight this! It sounds to me that for your old car to be exempt it must be registered as a historic vehicle (ie more money, restricted driving. Why do we even have these cars!?) What a greedy state California is!  >:( >:( >:( :showback: :showback: Here you go governator!

Honestly, this smog thing sucks. It has since it's inception in 1986 in Albuquerque. Now, to find a car older than say 1995, you need to travel outside the city to the outlying areas. That's why these cars pop up in Santa Fe/Taos/Rio Rancho/Bernalillo/Las Cruces. The last time I took a smog test, they did a 'visual' inspection (only the human eye used as equipment) to check for presence of cat and smog pump, and a 'sniffer test' to test HC/CO. My HC was in the range of 50 (iirc) and no CO was measured. There wasn't a gas cap or vapor recovery test, and my car passed without the charcoal canister!

Chuck :afro: