Cheryl's a-comin' to Kaliforny!

[J Grammer <jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:52 AM 8/7/03 +0000, you wrote:
> Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 16:04:36 -0600
> From: me <ewalter@domain.elided>
> Subject: Moving to CA
>
> We are planning to move to California in about 5 months.  I have a 73
> Scout, which has had the engine replaced with a newer one (by a couple
> of years I believe.)  Does California check to see if the engine is
> correct, because as a 30 year old vehicle it shouldn't have to go
> through emissions (unless, like when I called they said if it has a
> newer engine it has to pass - but do they check to know if the engine is
> newer?).
As you've been advised, there should be no biennial smog check on your 
truck. Once upon a time, they were requiring smog checks for out of state 
vehicles that were originally equipped with emissions controls of any 
sort(basically '67-up). This may have changed, if the DMV is telling you 
'no smog check', that's good news.

DMV or the BAR(which administers Smog Check) have absolutely no way of 
knowing what engine your truck originally came with, much less if it's been 
replaced. The only place the engine serial # *may* be found in any 
production record is a note on the line setting ticket, and I've seen 
plenty of LST's without it. BAR does not have any info in their database 
that will ID a 'required' engine when the smog tech enters the Scouts VIN 
into the smog machine. Their database doesn't even include whether the carb 
is 2bbl or 4bbl AFAICT, 'cause my brother in-law's '74 passed smog with 
flying colors last year, and it has an engine out of a '79 with a 4bbl 
carb(not available in '74). This was in one of the stricter 
'non-compliance' areas of the state. IME, the most important thinga for CA 
smog are that the emissions equipment/vacuum routing sticker(on the cowl 
cover in a SII) is present, the devices shown are present and hooked up 
according to the diagram, the EGR is functional, the engine size shown on 
the sticker matches what's in the truck(not always checked), and it passes 
at the tailpipe. More that you wanted to know, I'm sure ;)


> Also, does California do any type of safety inspection, one time or
> annually?
Nope. Despite frequent allegations(some well founded) that the place is run 
by crazed regulators with delusions of grandeur, they actually trust us to 
keep our vehicle road-worthy without an annual visit to Big Brother. Not 
that that's always a great idea, mind you....


> And, if anyone has kids, do you have to use a booster seat for children
> over age four if you do not have shoulder belts?  (Booster seats usually
> come with a 5 point harness, but that is only usable until the child is
> 40 lbs.  After that a shoulder/lap belt is supposed to be used with the
> booster seat.)  I have found info for harnesses that can be used in
> school buses and would work in the back seat of the Scout, but I hate to
> spend the money if I don't need to.
Kids have to be in a seat. I'm on the the fence with this right now, 'cause 
Kate is hovering at 40lbs and none of my stuff has shoulder belts. I also 
don't like what I perceive as a reduction in security going to a single 
shoulder belt on a booster vs. the 3 point harness on the regular seat. I 
need to do some more research soon. Apparently there is a full harness seat 
by Britax that's good for the older kids, but it's over $200. I need to see 
one. If it's what I'm told, I would rather pop 2+ Benjamins on her safety 
than rig shoulder belts she might slip out of when push comes to shove. 
Mass is on our side, I cannot imagine an impact from anything less than a 
semi that would intrude into the middle of the back seat on a 5000# vehicle 
with a full frame. Might remodel my face, but I'm none too pretty to start :)


> Thanks,
>
> Cheryl
Welcome to CA, we're about to have our 2nd actor as governer. Go Arnie! 
Dump Davis! Sorry, couldn't resist ;)

Jim