Déjà Vu All Over Again, Again

November 2009 - the world of the automotive aftermarket has its annual gathering at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association convention. Two years ago (Issue 60, page 50-52) I covered a meeting that was a part of the 2007 SEMA Show with EPA representatives, California Air Resource Board (CARB) personnel, aftermarket vendors and SEMA liaisons.

The topic of discussion in November 2007: What is the process (test procedure) that aftermarket vendors should use to submit their products for CARB testing, approval and the resulting emissions stamp-of-approval which is known as a CARB executive order (EO number)?

The topic of discussion in November 2009: You guessed it, the same thing.

In preparation for this article I went back to Issue 60 and reread the text. In the past two years a lot has happened, but nothing has changed. A lot has happened:the CARB folks and the aftermarket were on the verge of a testing protocol until the question of how tuning programmers would affect the truck's auxiliary emission control devices (AECDs).Take one step forward and two steps back.Should you want to read the assorted details, the Issue 60 text is still relevant. My impression: It is almost like the stalemate of not having a test procedure was/is wanted by the CARB personnel.

SEMA liaisons have been to this dog-and-pony show before. Need examples: look at all the chips, programmers, intake manifolds, camshafts, fuel systems parts, etc., that exist with CARB EO numbers in the aftermarket for gasoline engines. But, they've not been able to get the diesel players (CARB and vendors) onto the same page.

Aftermarket vendors seemed concerned, but internal bickering about how the test procedure should work is still a point of contention.

Again, the CARB personnel did not seem to care 'cause they're gonna do what they're gonna do. And—oops it is like you are back in high school again; the term paper now has a due date, January 1, 2010.

That's right folks; the state of California, through the emissions testing facilities at the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) will require a diesel smog check effective January 1, 2010. Ouch.