I have a 99 24v also and I had to take it to a state ref because it was salvaged and said the same thing that I had excessive smoke coming out my crankcase vent. Also said my computer was tampered with? How would they know, it looks stock to me. Anyone know what I can do to pass? Does anyone know a guy here in SoCal or a good state ref that knows about diesels. Is there a city that has smog exempt? Thanks.

 

1) santa ysabel ca. is smog exempt.
2) a smog on a diesel is just a visual, nothing more.
he is BSing you, to cover his own *** , if he passed you he could get a huge fine,..
so he quit on the truck.
3) i used a state Ref. in ranaco san Diego...south of el Cajon.., he charged me,...$10.00

 

Not entirely accurate... To be in a smog exempt county you have to have passed smog prior to registering in that county. Meaning, you cant take a failed vehicle to a smog free county and be safe from inspection.
And a diesel smog test is based on year and whether or not the computer is in ready mode. If there's a problem with the computer then the vehicle will fail.
Now that said, I've heard that a non-CA truck computer can give you issues at the smog inspection and can sometimes be rectified at a referee.

My advice to southern CA diesel truck peeps is to find your local diesel performance shops and ask them where to go. If anyone knows what smog shops to steer clear of, it should be them...

 

funny my 1999 24 valve failed a visual inspection ,., then passed a visual at a state ref. station.
and i got my tags.
they never hooked up anything to the truck.. for ether test.
or did they set the truck on the rollers.
a year latter i moved to a smog exempt location , and never got a notice to smog my truck again.

fwi i had a smog license in 1990. and i bought a 49 state truck,in 2007 thinking id never have to smog it..

 

Interesting. My friend's 98.5 24v and my '07 5.9 get the visual,snap test and OBD!! hookup looking for codes and readiness monitors.
I'd chuck the K&N.
If you need a competent Ram diesel shop considr NTG racing in Santee. 10969 Wheatlands Avenue. Suite B Santee,California 92071.
Joe and Pablo will take care of anything you can't do. 619-449-2758.

 

i took my K & N filter off, for the test,
the ref. did the snap test , for smoke , but never hoked up ****.
my 1999 49 state , came with just a road deaf tube and zero smog ..equipment.

 

The CA Bureau of Automotive Repair used to have a document listing what each year truck was required of during a smog inspection. But its no longer available on the BAR website. It looks like it was replaced with this which should give you enough information to understand whats required as of 2019. https://bar.ca.gov/pdf/Smog_Check_Reference_Guide.pdf

 

My '07 5.9 manual is considered a federal vehicle too even though it's Cal Certified my smog guy said.
Maybe in a couple more years I won't need as much smogging. Thanks.