California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 33 - Bureau of Automotive Repair
Chapter 1 - Automotive Repair Dealers and Official Stations and Adjusters
Article 5.5 - Motor Vehicle Inspection Program
Section 3340.42 - Smog Check Test Methods and Standards

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 3340.42

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

Smog check inspection methods are prescribed in the Smog Check Manual, referenced by section 3340.45.

(a) All vehicles subject to a smog check inspection, shall receive one of the following test methods:

(1) A loaded-mode test shall be the test method used to inspect 1976-1999 model-year vehicle, except diesel-powered, registered in the enhanced program areas of the state. The loaded-mode test shall measure hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen emissions, as contained in the bureau's specifications referenced in subsection (a) of Section 3340.17 of this article. The loaded-mode test shall use Acceleration Simulation Mode (ASM) test equipment, including a chassis dynamometer, certified by the bureau.

On and after March 31, 2010, exhaust emissions from a vehicle subject to this inspection shall be measured and compared to the emissions standards shown in the Vehicle Look-up Table (VLT) Row Specific Emissions Standards (Cutpoints) Table, dated March 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference. If the emissions standards for a specific vehicle are not included in this table then the exhaust emissions shall be compared to the emissions standards set forth in TABLE I or TABLE II, as applicable. A vehicle passes the loaded-mode test if all of its measured emissions are less than or equal to the applicable emission standards specified in the applicable table.

(2) A two-speed idle mode test shall be the test method used to inspect 1976-1999 model-year vehicles, except diesel-powered, registered in all program areas of the state, except in those areas of the state where the enhanced program has been implemented. The two-speed idle mode test shall measure hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions at high RPM and again at idle RPM, as contained in the bureau's specifications referenced in subsection (a) of Section 3340.17 of this article. Exhaust emissions from a vehicle subject to this inspection shall be measured and compared to the emission standards set forth in this section and as shown in TABLE III. A vehicle passes the two-speed idle mode test if all of its measured emissions are less than or equal to the applicable emissions standards specified in Table III.

(3) An OBD-focused test, shall be the test method used to inspect gasoline-powered vehicles 2000 model-year and newer, and diesel-powered vehicles 1998 model-year and newer. The OBD test failure criteria are specified in section 3340.42.2.

(b) In addition to subsection (a), all vehicles subject to the smog check program shall receive the following:

(1) A visual inspection of emission control components and systems to verify the vehicle's emission control systems are properly installed.

(2) A functional inspection of emission control systems as specified in the Smog Check Manual, referenced by section 3340.45, which may include an OBD test, to verify their proper operation.

(c) The bureau may require any combination of the inspection methods in sections (a) and (b) under any of the following circumstances:

(1) Vehicles that the department randomly selects pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 44014.7 as a means of identifying potential operational problems with vehicle OBD systems.

(2) Vehicles identified by the bureau as being operationally or physically incompatible with inspection equipment.

(3) Vehicles with OBD systems that have demonstrated operational problems.

(d) Pursuant to section 39032.5 of the Health and Safety Code, gross polluter standards are as follows:

(1) A gross polluter means a vehicle with excess hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, or oxides of nitrogen emissions pursuant to the gross polluter emissions standards included in the tables described in subsection (a), as applicable.

(2) Vehicles with emission levels exceeding the emission standards for gross polluters during an initial inspection will be considered gross polluters and the provisions pertaining to gross polluting vehicles will apply, including, but not limited to, sections 44014.5, 44015, and 44081 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) A gross polluting vehicle shall not be passed or issued a certificate of compliance until the vehicle's emissions are reduced to or below the applicable emissions standards for the vehicle included in the tables described in subsection (a), as applicable. However, the provisions described in section 44017 of the Health and Safety Code may apply.

(4) This subsection applies in all program areas statewide to vehicles requiring inspection pursuant to sections 44005 and 44011 of the Health and Safety Code.

1. Editorial correction of printing error (Register 84, No. 32).
2. Amendment filed 4-16-90; operative 4-16-90 (Register 90, No. 19).
3. Amendment of Table II filed 5-11-90; operative 6-10-90 (Register 90, No. 26).
4. Amendment of section and NOTE, repealer and new Tables I-II, and new Table III filed 6-22-95 as an emergency; operative 6-22-95 (Register 95, No. 25). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-20-95 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
5. Certificate of Compliance as to 6-22-95 order including amendment of section and Tables I-III transmitted to OAL 10-20-95 and filed 12-1-95 (Register 95, No. 48).
6. Amendment of first paragraph filed 4-29-96 as an emergency; operative 4-29-96 (Register 96, No. 18). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-27-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
7. Amendment of opening paragraph and subsection (b), repealer of subsection (c)(5) and subsection renumbering and amendment of newly designated subsection (c)(5) filed 7-26-96 as an emergency; operative 7-26-96 (Register 96, No. 30). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-25-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
8. Certificate of Compliance as to 4-29-96 order transmitted to OAL 8-21-96 and filed 9-30-96 (Register 96, No. 40).
9. Certificate of Compliance as to 7-26-96 order, including amendment of first paragraph and subsections (a)(1)(C)1.-3. and (b), transmitted to OAL 11-19-96 and filed 1-6-97 (Register 97, No. 2).
10. Amendment of Table III filed 4-4-97 as an emergency; operative 4-4-97 (Register 97, No. 14). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-4-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
11. Editorial correction of first paragraph (Register 97, No. 33).
12. Certificate of Compliance as to 4-4-97 order transmitted to OAL 7-2-97 and filed 8-13-97 (Register 97, No. 33).
13. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 9-10-2001; operative 9-10-2001 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2001, No. 37).
14. Amendment of first paragraph filed 2-15-2002 as an emergency; operative 2-15-2002 (Register 2002, No. 7). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-17-2002 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
15. Repealer and new Table I filed 5-28-2002; operative 6-27-2002 (Register 2002, No. 22).
16. Certificate of Compliance as to 2-15-2002 order transmitted to OAL 6-13-2002 and filed 7-26-2002 (Register 2002, No. 30).
17. Amendment of section and repealer and new Table II filed 1-21-2003; operative 2-20-2003 (Register 2003, No. 4).
18. Change without regulatory effect amending Table II filed 6-4-2003 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2003, No. 23).
19. Amendment of first paragraph filed 6-9-2003; operative 7-9-2003 (Register 2003, No. 24).
20. Change without regulatory effect amending first paragraph and subsections (a)(2)-(3), (b)(3), (b)(6)-(7), (d)(1) and (d)(4) filed 10-11-2006 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2006, No. 41).
21. New subsections (c)-(c)(3), subsection relettering and amendment of NOTE filed 8-1-2007; operative 8-1-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 31).
22. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE and new Figure 1 filed 1-11-2008; operative 1-11-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 2).
23. Editorial correction of subsections (a) and (f) (Register 2008, No. 44).
24. Amendment filed 11-5-2009; operative 12-5-2009 (Register 2009, No. 45).
25. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 12-16-2009; operative 12-16-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 51).
26. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) filed 7-9-2010 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2010, No. 28).
27. Amendment of section heading and section and repealer of Figure 1 filed 5-2-2013; operative 7-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 18).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 44001.5, 44002, 44003, 44012, 44012.1, 44013 and 44036, Health and Safety Code; and Section 9882, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 39032.5, 44002, 44003, 44005, 44010, 44011, 44011.3, 44012, 44012.1, 44013, 44014, 44014.5, 44014.7, 44015, 44017.1, 44032, 44033, 44036, 44037.1, 44062.1 and 44081, Health and Safety Code; and Sections 9884.8 and 9884.9, Business and Professions Code.

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