smog nazi's

[vettestr]

I took my old 3500 dually with a 12 valve Cummings to pay for smog test. I have had this truck (a 1996) for 9 years and have taken it to the same smog station all these years with no problem until today. They failed my truck for not having a Cat. Converter !!!!

The truck was not produced by Dodge with a cat. converter unless it was intended for sale in Ca. The truck was originally sold in Penn. so it did not require a catalytic Converter and the special exhaust system. Trucks intended for sale in Ca. had additional requirements my truck does not have. The California cat converter would not fit my truck without the other changes but it is no longer supported or available anyway.

Since the truck was produced by Dodge without a Cat. converter system to be in compliance with the laws of Pennsylvania would adding a system designed for compliance in California only to a truck driven in Arizona be altering an emission system be a violation of federal laws?

[Cobrabill]

Something is wrong with the SMOG station.And your info is bad.There was no smog devices on a Cummins untill real recently.My 2000 Cumminshas none and flies thru every year.

[Woodz428]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Something is wrong with the SMOG station.

I agree, I don't believe you can be required to "update" any vehicle to meet current standards. I'm pretty sure that they only require that it meet the standards for the year it was made.

[vettestr]

Thanks All,
The smog guy says it came with a Cat Conv. and I or somebody has removed it. I said I have had it for 10th year now and inspected the 9 years before at this STATION. All my print outs from them say (Cat Exempt N/A.) . Smog guy says they must have missed it because it needs to have one installed. Prove me wrong or install a Cat but I will not give you a PASS certificate. BTW it passed sniff with flying colors. I am being failed because of a equip. violation.

This is why I am asking Dodge ??? HOW DID IT LEAVE the factory?

So the BS begins

[Woodz428]

Let me present a possibilty. in the bike business, they made a larger percentage of the modles Ca. compliant..because Ca. is the largest bike (or were) buying state. We would, toward the end of a season or when someone wanted a previous model that was no longer produced, get bikes from warehoses that sometimes were Ca. ones. Those bikes came with all sorts of crap that the 49 state models didn't. Now, if someone removed that stuff because it wasn't needed here, the serial # would syill indicate it was a Ca. model. In this case it was usually evap. system. If the truck had been made for Ca. and was shipped to a dealer outside that state, it woulkd still be designated as having been built with what ever parts were needed to be Ca. compliant. If the dealer or some other entity had changed it to be more user friendly in the area it was sold in...that could be the issue. I don't know anything about what is or was required on diesel trucks of any kind, but that could be the issue. Now that they have computer links, maybe the serial # is for a Ca. produced model that was made 49 state. Might be worth looking into.
But vehicles of the era, I was under the impression, were required by law to have emission systems warranteed for 100K. I know Ford replaced the cats on my '89 5.0 GT with 90K+ miles for free. They were going to do it again about a year later when I went in to get an ignition or headlight switch update. My friend that worked the service dept. had not listed that they were installed in case I needed others later.So it would seem that the parts should be available somewhere. If you had a vehicle with less than that many miles and the system failed and a new part was needed, how would the mfg. be able to correct it?? That would make me think that IF those parts are needed they should be somewhere. there are now universal cat convertors that can be palced into any system, they just need the correct ends attached. That may be your only recourse if one is needed.
Not sure about the testing station, especially if it is a private enterprise. NJ had safety inspections begining in the early 70s and the inspection stations were run by...garages (that's what they were called then) and they seemed to be able to generate some extra income for themselves off the inspections. I believe that after I left the state that was changed because of ....fraudulent acts of the inspection stations. I know that I was failed twice. Once was for too loud exhaust (bone stock '69 428 CJ exhaust..untampered with) the other was because my aftermarket steering wheel was smaller diameter than the factory one. As you can see those were both EXTREMELY dangerous violations. There was no argument against the wheel, that's why I installed it, but when I pointed out that the exhaust was factory issue. They didn't care..it was too loud. I read in some publication at the time that the only way that car would have met the sound level was to stick a potato in each tailpipe. Call me skeptical, but I felt like they were trying to make some bucks off me. It could have been because I was in the AF and they thought I'd be an easy mark, I don't know. I re-registered it here and said screw 'em.

[dave from mesa]

Jeff
I feel for you. I have to take our motor home and my diesel truck in EVERY year to get it tested. Hells bells even Calif doesn't require testing of diesels. Anyway to get a dollar out of us.

[*13*]

It's gonna get a lot worse before it gets better. I'd also guess that they had bad information, though...

[DWRAT]

The first year Chevy had a cat on the diesel was 2004 and we all know Dodge's are way behind Chevy.
I also think they had incorrect info and would suggest you go elsewhere.




After some searching I found this : http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/ac...converter.html

Maybe it did come with a cat and knowing you, you **** canned it.

[vettestr]

I spoke with a Service Writer @ Bill Luke Dodge and he was very helpful. He confirmed my VIN was not equipped with a Cat. converter so just need to get documentation to prove it. He also gave me a number to call Dodge direct but it will have to wait until the normal 8/5 hours for more info.

[Car Nut]

I guess it pays to not go off quietly in the night. I wonder how many other people are quietly complying with "orders" and shelling out a grand or so just cause "they" said so.

Time to start working on your official complaint, or better yet "3 on your Side".

[rustyBob]

Sooooooo.the local Dodge dealer cant smog your truck ?????
that way you dont have to deal with an idiot that dosent know
what hes doing........

[vettestr]

Update ...
I contacted the Customer Service Center @ Dodge on their 800 # and after a couple of questions was talking to a Tech in the Escalation Department. I was given a case number and promised a return call with a determination of (did truck leave Dodge) with a catalytic converter, no later than 6PM Eastern on the 22nd.

Regardless of the answer given (was it original equipment) the folks at Cust Serv have made this as painless as possible. They seem to really care and appreciate it is a problem for me so hats off to them. Great customer service.

I will post the answer I get tomorrow by 6PM good or bad for me. Jeff C

[vettestr]

Thanks Mike,
I was hacking away with my 1 finger method when you posted. I will wait for the determination and documents from Dodge so I have something to present to the folks you mention. Having a contact will be a huge help, thanks again. Jeff C

[mikiec]

Jeff....

Years ago I knew everyone at this place. Not any more.

Go here: http://www.azdeq.gov/function/about/contact.html

Here is the corp office of the company running the inspection stations


http://www.gordon-darby.com/ContactUs.html

The area manager used to be a guy by the name of Oscar Jiminez. I don't know if he is still with them.

http://www.manta.com/c/mmnbclh/gordon-darby-inc


Call them and get the straight story.

Mike

[DWRAT]

How about an update?

[vettestr]

Well the praise I heaped on Dodge Service has dimmed a little only because they missed there self imposed deadline for calling me back before COB this past Friday was missed. After a couple of attempts to reach my contact person Ray I left 2 V/M's. I did reach him about 1/2 hour before they closed but he said he needed more time. Maybe today?

The question is ..... did my truck leave the factory with a cat or not?

[Car Nut]

Originally Posted by vettestr

Well the praise I heaped on Dodge Service has dimmed a little only because they missed there self imposed deadline for calling me back before COB this past Friday was missed. After a couple of attempts to reach my contact person Ray I left 2 V/M's. I did reach him about 1/2 hour before they closed but he said he needed more time. Maybe today?

The question is ..... did my truck leave the factory with a cat or not?

Just cat or would another animal do, say a chicken?

Yeah, I know, back to my corner.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by vettestr

Well the praise I heaped on Dodge Service has dimmed a little only because they missed there self imposed deadline for calling me back before COB this past Friday was missed. After a couple of attempts to reach my contact person Ray I left 2 V/M's. I did reach him about 1/2 hour before they closed but he said he needed more time. Maybe today?

The question is ..... did my truck leave the factory with a cat or not?

My 2000 did NOT have a cat.

[vettestr]

I hear ya Bill but after checking with the State they will not accept your post as proof mine was not sold with a Cat.

It is not them providing documents to prove it was removed . My burden is to disprove the statement of a 3rd party inspector contracting to state of Arizona. I don't like it but they make the rules.

[DWRAT]

Maybe you can put 2 cocks in it and that will pass.