Updated BAR-97 Equipment and Smog Check Manual
On August 2, 2018, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) adopted regulations updating the BAR-97 Emissions Inspection System (EIS) specification and Smog Check Manual. All stations must follow the 2017 Smog Check Manual and all BAR-97 EIS analyzers are required to connect to BAR’s central database through the internet rather than a dedicated dial-up phone line. This change was necessary because modems and other ancillary hardware required to support dial-up communications are becoming obsolete and difficult to support. Over 4,000 BAR-97 EIS analyzers were transitioned and online to perform inspections on the date of implementation, November 1, 2018.
The adopted regulations also eliminate the visual inspection of fuel caps for model-year 1996 and newer vehicles, eliminate the Low Pressure Fuel Evaporative Tester (LPFET) for vehicles with fuel tank volumes greater than 50 gallons, and require the electronic integration of LPFET into the BAR-97 EIS. Stations will be prompted to update their BAR-97 EIS software allowing the BAR-97 EIS to directly capture and transmit LPFET data. Implementation of this phase of the BAR-97 EIS update is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2019. The 2017 Smog Check Manual and equipment information are available at www.bar.ca.gov.