Smog test for the Clarity?

From what I've seen (in CA) of current smog checks, they are done entirely by connection to the OBD-II port, along with a visual inspection for disallowed modifications. I would think that putting the car into HV Charge mode would force the ICEngine to start and be sufficient to generate any needed codes.

 

YMMV, but I'll repost my experience in Las Vegas from this thread in another forum in case it helps: https://www.clarityforum.com/threads/2018-clarity-communication-error-cant-get-smog-tested-in-nevada.2025/#post-16300

 

The tech will likely need to put the car in maintenance mode and then start the engine. See the steps below. HV Charge will not start the engine if the battery SOC is 60% or higher.

 

Oh yeah, I tried in regular, maintenance and HV charge more at a few smog stations — failed in every mode.

 

The catalytic converter needs heat up before it's actually effective. I wonder if driving around for a while on HV charge before you get to the test center might yield better results

 

What did you try in “regular”, maintenance and HV charge modes? To start the engine?

It is necessary to follow the steps precisely in order to enter maintenance mode and then start the engine.

 

There are a lot of Clarity PHEVs in California. Honda must have written the procedure for performing a smog test on a Clarity. Can your Honda dealer provide that procedure description?

 

The OP is in Nevada and I don’t believe anyone else on this thread, up to this post, resides in CA.

 

I found this discussion of smog checks for PHEV's on the website of an LA area smog station:


Hybrid Vehicles and Smog Check
Hybrid Vehicles are designed to meet strict emission standards and to provide improved fuel economy over conventional vehicles. However, hybrid emission control systems experience the same causes of long-term deterioration affecting other vehicles. Emission control system malfunctions on hybrids can cause emissions to sharply increase. By ensuring that hybrid emission related problems are identified and then properly repaired, emission levels will remain low over the life of the vehicle.

Since their introduction to the California market in 2000, hybrid vehicles could not be properly tested on the BAR-97 equipment that was introduced in 1997. This equipment could not test the emissions of hybrids as the vehicles would switch into electric mode during an inspection. The new Bureau of Automotive Repair On-Board Diagnostic Inspection System (BAR-OIS), which is based on a visual inspection of emission control components and a scan of the vehicle's On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system, has resolved this testing issue. Please visit our california-bar-ois-smog-check.html for more details about this new type of Smog Check Inspection. Hollywood Star Smog Check Station is equipped with the latest OBD Smog Check Inspection System (BAR-OIS) and is certified by the State of California.

Perhaps the issue in Nevada is not having this newer type of test equipment. I live in the SF Bay Area, but since my Clarity is a 2020 model and there is a 4 year exemption from testing for new cars, I won't have to deal with this for another year.

 

Looks like I missed the CA reference earlier.

CA exempts new gas powered vehicles from smog checks for the first 8 years. There is a $20/yr smog abatement fee during that period.

One technicality, while Hybrids and PHEV’s have similarities, the bolded info above appears to address specifically Hybrids.

I believe the OBD scanner is able to view past ICE/emissions data and determine if the emissions system is functioning properly.

 

I bought my car in for emissions testing a few weeks back in NJ and the tech had problems reading the it. He said he had to try like 6 times before getting a reading and pass.

 

No problems at all? Or no problems with testing a Clarity?

Does he know that CA exempts new gas cars from emissions testing for the first 8 years?

No testing, no problem. I guess he’s correct.

 

It's 8 years for renewals, but 4 for change-of-ownership. So 2018 Clarities being resold in CA needed smog checks starting in 2022. But it sounds like whatever software and update requirements California has may already comprehend the Clarity. It really should be very similar to an Accord Hybrid (and other Hondas), including forcing the engine to stay on etc.

I have to take our 2015 Highlander Hybrid for its first CA smog check, will see how that goes.

 

California sets the standards, the other states just follow along. Are you suggesting that the tests themselves are more strict in Nevada than California? Does Nevada require a lower level of emissions in order to pass? Or are you suggesting that because California exempts new vehicles for 8 years, whereas Nevada exempts new vehicles for 4 years and Hybrids for 5 years, that the requirements in California are less strict?

Keep in mind that California charges a $20/yr smog abatement fee for the privilege of not having to take the car to a smog station for 8 years. Apparently, $20/yr keeps the cars clean. A quick Google search showed that about 96% of vehicles pass a smog test, presumably this includes older vehicles as well. It might be reasonable to conclude that the 4% that fail, likely fail because the idiot in charge ignored an idiot light until the guy at the smog station failed the car.

Then, we need to ask ourselves if we want to choose the guy who’s working at the smog station to be the person who provides us with valuable information.

 

Thanks. I only dug this deep into the DMV website.
So there are exceptions to the exceptions for exemptions.

 

Just curious if there are any updates on successful smog testing in NV recently ?
From the other thread linked by @ppp it appears that the Jiffy Smog located at https://www.google.com/maps/place/Las+Vegas,+NV/@36.2194791,-115.2795325,571m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3!8m2!3d36.171563!4d-115.1391009!16zL20vMGN2M3c?hl=en&entry=ttu is the only one that seems to have worked so far.