WHY I DON'T DO 10 MINUTE SMOG TESTS
I DON'T DO 10 MINUTE SMOG TESTS FOR SEVERAL VERY GOOD REASONS. THIS IS NOT A "QUICKIE LUBE" TYPE PLACE. AT MY STATION, I GIVE PERSONAL SERVICE TO EACH PERSON AND MY ATTENTION TO EACH SITUATION. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT DO A THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE VEHICLE SMOG INSPECTION IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME. DURING THE "VISUAL INSECTION", I AM LOOKING FOR ANY DISCONNECTED EMISSION PARTS WHICH MIGHT CAUSE YOUR CAR TO FAIL. I AM ALLOWED BY LAW TO HOOK BACK HOSES WHICH HAVE BECOME DISCONNECTED BEFORE I START TO TAKE THE EMISSIONS MEASUREMENT BECAUSE, WITH EVERYTHING CORRECTLY FASTENED, THE CAR HAS A MUCH BETTER CHANCE TO PASS THE FIRST TIME. I CANNOT, BY LAW, CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE. IF I WERE TO MISS MISS SEEING SOMETHING WHICH I COULD CORRECT BEFOREHAND, IT COULD COST YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
REASON #2: SINCE GAS NOW COSTS OVER $4 A GALLON AND THE NORMAL ANGELINO DRIVES 15,000 MILES PER YEAR, I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE OR 2 TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER SPEC, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY WHICH MONITORS SUCH THINGS SAYS THAT YOUR CAR'S FUEL ECONOMY SUFFERS GREATLY WHEN THE TIRES ARE UNDERINFLATED. WOULD YOU RATHER GET 36 MPG OR 24 MPG AT $4+ A GALLON? EVEN WITHOUT A SCREW OR NAIL LODGED BETWEEN THE TREAD, A TIRE WILL LOSE A FEW PSI OF PRESSURE PER MONTH NATURALLY. THAT'S WHY THEY TELL YOU TO CHECK EVERY MONTH AND HAVE REQUIRED NEWER VEHICLES TO BE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.
REASON#3: BEYOND THE SMOG INSPECTION, WHILE I'M POKING AROUND UNDER YOUR HOOD, I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES. I DO NOT DO OR SELL REPAIRS AND ONLY OFFER THE ADVISE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN AND AROUND CARS SINCE THE 60'S. LIVE LOCAL AND NEED A RECOMMENDATION FOR A GOOD SHOP, JUST ASK AND I'LL TRY TO GET YOU TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
SO ALTHOUGH MY INSPECTION MIGHT TAKE A FEW MINUTES LONGER TO CONDUCT, YOU CAN LEAVE MY STATION CONFIDENT THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY INSPECTED AND READY TO CONQUER THE WORST THE LA FREEWAYS CAN THROW AT YOUR CAR.
DON'T WANT THE EXTRA ATTENTION AND REALLY STRAPPED FOR TIME, SIMPLY REQUEST "EXPRESS SERVICE" AND YOU'LL BE OUT IN A FLASH!
