Joined
·
4,038 Posts
My 1988 USA Federal Lotus Esprit Turbo had a disastrous time getting a smog test here in California 8/12/2014.
I bought the car in California in 2011 (a smog test required for any change of ownership).
It required ANOTHER smog test 2012 (because the car coincidentally is tested EVEN years).
Both times, it passed just fine.
2014 - California changed the rules making it more stringent to test pre 1990 cars.
To make matters worse, the official smog book lists the USA Federal 1988-04 Lotus Esprit Turbo has having a MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light, aka 'Check Engine' light) - this is incorrect as 1988 had Bosch CIS fuel injection (mechanical and no MIL). It should read '1989-04 Lotus Esprit...'
The same shop (same owner) that tested in 2012 refused to test my car in 2014 due to the difficulty.
The 2nd shop refused; the 3rd shop tried and found the MIL error in the book - unable to test.
The 4th shop also confirmed the MIL error in the book and could not test the car either.
So, my 88 Esprit can not be certified at the 'Star Certified' smog stations UNTIL I go to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (CA BAR) referee station and prove that my 88 Esprit does not have a MIL.
They will put a sticker on the car and I will then be able to certify at any California Test only station.
Hopefully tomorrow's appointment will be uneventful.
Here's the main page that shows 1989 is the year of the MIL, not 1988:
I took pictures and highlighted the supporting factory Service manual pages that show the MIL as 1989 ONLY for any 1988 California owners who may need it.
California_BAR_Lotus_Esprit_1988_MIL Photos by eberin | Photobucket
I bought the car in California in 2011 (a smog test required for any change of ownership).
It required ANOTHER smog test 2012 (because the car coincidentally is tested EVEN years).
Both times, it passed just fine.
2014 - California changed the rules making it more stringent to test pre 1990 cars.
To make matters worse, the official smog book lists the USA Federal 1988-04 Lotus Esprit Turbo has having a MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light, aka 'Check Engine' light) - this is incorrect as 1988 had Bosch CIS fuel injection (mechanical and no MIL). It should read '1989-04 Lotus Esprit...'
The same shop (same owner) that tested in 2012 refused to test my car in 2014 due to the difficulty.
The 2nd shop refused; the 3rd shop tried and found the MIL error in the book - unable to test.
The 4th shop also confirmed the MIL error in the book and could not test the car either.
So, my 88 Esprit can not be certified at the 'Star Certified' smog stations UNTIL I go to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (CA BAR) referee station and prove that my 88 Esprit does not have a MIL.
They will put a sticker on the car and I will then be able to certify at any California Test only station.
Hopefully tomorrow's appointment will be uneventful.
Here's the main page that shows 1989 is the year of the MIL, not 1988:

I took pictures and highlighted the supporting factory Service manual pages that show the MIL as 1989 ONLY for any 1988 California owners who may need it.
California_BAR_Lotus_Esprit_1988_MIL Photos by eberin | Photobucket