It has been quite an ordeal trying to get our 1997 Toyota Avalon to pass the smog test this year. Usually I procrastinate and get the smog test done a week before it is due, but this time I started a month early.
The first time it failed, the NO test failed. This usually is an adjustment so that more of the unburnt fuel is sucked backed into the ignition system instead of going out the tail pipe. A simple adjustment that most mechanics can repair for under $100.
We took our Avalon to the Toyota dealer and they did the adjustment, but this caused the hydrocarbon test to fail. The dealer said they had to repair the catalytic converter for a hefty $1,700.
We sorta gave up the idea of repairing the emission system and decide that we were going to get a new SUV instead. We narrowed our new car choice down to the Toyota Highlander since it has plenty of room for us. Even with the Limited upgrade version, the price is not too high and keeps us in the mid 30k range including taxes and fees.
I was so suprised that cataytic converter repair was so expensive, that I called around a few muffer shops in town (Thousand Oaks). All of the quotes were under $500 so we took a chance at Competition Muffer on 50 Skyline Drive and the mechanic installed a new one in under an hour. He said that we need to put on a good ten miles before retesting the smog.
The smog test passed and we’re good for another two years before we need test again. This should give us some time to consider before buying our next car.