California Smog Check Program Laws & Regulations California Smog
Check Program

Law & Requirement
How to Pass the Smog Check. It's a Easy 3-Part Test! How to Pass
the Smog Check

3-Part Smog Test!
FREE Smog Check Coupons. Station Photos & Details Free Smog
Check Coupons

50% Off Deals!
STAR Smog Check Program STAR Smog Check
What is a STAR
smog station?
VIR Reports - FREE Online Smog Check Diagnosis Tool Free Online Smog
Test Diagnosis

ASE Repair Advice
Get $500.00 Smog Repair Assistance Program (CAP) Free $500 Smog
Check Repairs

CA CAP Assistance
Vehicle Buy Back Program - Cash for your Car CA Recycling
Vehicle Buy Back

Cash For Your Car
DMV Vehicle Registration CA Registration Laws
Dept of Motor Vehicles
registration requirements
Does My Car Need a Smog Check? Does My Car Need
a Smog Check?

Exempt Vehicles
Under Your Hood - The Visual Smog Inspection Visual Smog
Inspection

Under The Hood
FAQ's - California Emissions Questions & Answers Smog Check Q & A
California Emissions Questions & Answers
OBDII Check Engine Light Trouble Codes Check Engine Light Trouble Codes
OBD-II Code Chart
Ask-A-Tech - Do you have a Smog Check Question? Get a Response in 24 hours. Help? Ask-A-Tech!
ASE Certified Smog Test Assistance
Smog Test Only - What is a Test Only Smog Station? Smog Test
Only Centers

What are Test Only Smog Stations?
Remote Smog Check Sensing CA Roadside
Emission Test

Remote Smog Test Sensing Device
Home Page HOME



My Car Failed the Emissions Test

Review your vehicle's smog check Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), and select the emissions category which your vehicle failed.

A. Failed the emissions test due to high HC

B. Failed the emissions test due to high CO

C. Failed the emissions test due to high NO

Download our FREE Illustrated Top 10 Smog Check Failures poster in PDF.

Why did my car fail the emissions test?

Failing the emission test is not a pleasant experience, but it's not the end of the road either. In fact more then likely, once you repair the faults which caused your car, truck, van, SUV, or RV to fail it's emissions test, your vehicle will be running better, more efficiently, and wasting less fuel then before; saving you hundreds in gas dollars.

Think of failing the emissions test as a positive experience rather then a negative one. Where you may have not noticed your vehicle is or was not performing at it's best and wasting fuel, failing the emissions test will identify this condition and allow you to fix the problem. You will absolutely save money on the long run.

The smog technician who performs the emissions test will give you a Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR). The VIR will indicate which of the three harmful emissions (HC, CO, NOx) caused your vehicle to fail the emissions test, as well as include the results of the entire smog check inspection.

The VIR is a common diagnosis tool used by emissions test repair technicians to ascertain where to start their diagnosis.

Above we indicate the top reasons for emission test failures. To use this guide, have your vehicle's VIR at hand. If you have not yet performed your car's emissions test, you will not have a VIR to follow, and can use the links below to educate yourself before hand.

Toward the bottom of your vehicle's VIR you will find "ASM Emission Test Results". This section will indicate the emission results your vehicle produced.

"MAX" indicates the maximum emissions allowed for the particular pollutant, based on your vehicle's year, weight and engine size.

"AVE" indicates the average emissions produced by vehicles of the same year, make and model.

"MEAS" (which is circled on the image below) indicates the emission results your vehicle produced, and it is the measurement you need to be concerned with in relation to the maximum limits allowed. Measured "MEAS" amounts above the state's cut-off, or maximum limits, will cause a failure.



Mile: 
Which Type Should I Choose?
 


 

CO2 and O2 - Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen are measured as well. However these emissions do not determine a passing or failing emissions test.

Online VIR Diagnosis - SmogTips can diagnose your vehicle's emissions test results online.

If your smog test was conducted at a SmogTips certified emissions test center, this service is free. Failing the emissions test may require a hands-on diagnosis.

Online VIR Diagnosis

Vehicle Inspection Report Clip