How do you guys handle smog checks for your cars? I’ve got a 2010 Boxster and I’m always afraid that the smog tester won’t know what the hell to do with it, especially since it’s mid engined.
I looked up reviews and found a place where I saw lots of other fancy cars (Ferraris and other Porsches) so I figured they could handle a Boxster, no problem. The first two times I went there, they had me in and out in 20 minutes. I even met a guy who brought in his RWB Porsche and chatted him up about his car!
But the last time I went, the guys were a bit fussier. This time they insisted that I remove the rear cover myself or else they could not smog my car for me. I’d done this once before to try to access the front engine cover so I was familiar, but what if I hadn’t ever done that before? What would I have to do or where would I have to go for someone to do all that and smog test the car for me? Is that something a dealership would provide services for?
Call other shops and ask if they are comfortable with doing boxsters and go there
Raising the convertible top and removing the cover panel is normal procedure for a boxster so that they can inspect it for mods and to make sure all the smog components are there. I have a 987 and I have to go through this every 2 years.
Should of asked them “why the change”?
Maybe a rear cover cracked on them and they were on the hook for a OEM genuine replacement?
I just drove past some smog detector box at the on ramp.
When I’ve gone in the just look for check engine lights, put a sniffer by the exhaust, check the gas cap, and run it on a rolling road.
State Attorney General’s office… “they can’t smog my car”.
I’d say I have no idea what they want me to do. I’m dumb.
I’ve done this two ways. The first was to go to a shop that a friend of a friend knows. My car is bone stock and they officially checked the car on the machine but mostly took my word for the visual inspection, plus a mirror on a stick.
The second way was to just drive it into whatever shop had tests advertised cheap. On my last smog they asked me to pop the frunk for visual inspection and were shocked to not find a motor. I opened the rear and they signed off after looking at the fans.
In Texas state inspection has a fixed cost, no appointment, fast turnaround, all by texas LAW. Check your local jurisdiction.
so i take it to a porsche dealer. I don’t worry about it.