Emissions and Smog Testing

At Catalpa Street Garage LLC, we help our Santa Cruz customers' cars run as cleanly and efficiently as they possibly can. We provide a range of emissions testing services to ensure that your car is running and driving its best, as well as complying with all local smog regulations. Should a problem arise with any of your vehicle's emission systems, we provide the parts and expertise to get you back on the road. Catalpa Street Garage LLC can replace mufflers/catalytic converters, refill diesel exhaust fluid, and make sure the full range of filters in your vehicle's exhaust system are working perfectly.

Regulators understand that older cars simply can't meet modern emissions standards without extensive modifications. For newer cars however, passing a smog test is a requirement of road legality. Call us at 831-464-2269 to learn more about the emissions requirements for your vehicle.

Emissions testing (also known as smog testing) is a vital part of the maintenance of your vehicle. E-tests provide your mechanic with important information about your car's engine and exhaust system. If important components, like your car's catalytic converter aren't working properly, the car isn't running as it was intended to by the manufacturer. Inefficiency costs you extra money in fuel and does unnecessary harm to the planet. Emissions testing can also affect the value of a vehicle you're trying to sell; while you can still sell a car without a valid e-test certification, you'll get more money for one that has passed the test.

There are several reasons that a car may fail its emissions test. There may be a problem with the vehicle's fuel system adding too much fuel to the air-fuel ratio required for proper combustion within the cylinders of the car's engine. This is known as "running rich" and results in the smell of gasoline from fuel passing through the engine and exhaust system without being fully burnt. Causes of this issue range from faulty fuel injectors to issues with the engine's control computer. There may also be problems with oxygen sensors or the vehicle's ignition system. At Catalpa Street Garage LLC, we use a complete set of diagnostic equipment to determine the problem and fix it quickly, explaining every step of the process to you, our valued patron. Call us at 831-464-2269 or send us an email to arrange a health check for your car's emissions system today!