5 Star Smog Check in Huntington Beach
This year our hours will be virtually unaffected by the holiday season, with the exception that we will be closed all day on Saturday, December 24, 2016.
Otherwise, Just Smogs is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 PM (With the exception of December 24, 2016).
All of us at Just Smogs® wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season.
If your 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fails to pass the California emissions test because of an incomplete oxygen sensor (air/fuel) monitor, your Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be subject to a recall.
Affected vehicles will require a software update to correct an issue that prevents the vehicle’s on board diagnostic computer from running the O2 sensor monitor to completion. Per Toyota Special Service Campaign FOP and TSB #0042-15, this service will be performed on affected vehicles at no charge to the consumer.
Your Toyota dealer will identify affected vehicles based on manufacture date, software calibration, etc. When contacting your Toyota dealer, please reference TSB #0042-15.
Engine mounts (Also known as motor mounts) are designed to isolate engine vibration from the rest of the car. Most engine mounts are solid rubber blocks; however, the engine mounts in some cars are hydraulic (liquid filled).
Several years ago, prior to inspecting a longtime customer’s car, I noticed that a hose at the top of the car’s engine was disconnected. Since I hadn’t started the smog inspection, I did the customer a favor and reconnected the hose.
I closed the hood and performed the dynamometer (dyno) portion of the smog inspection. At the conclusion of the dyno test, I got out, opened the hood, and saw that the same hose was once again disconnected.
The vehicle had broken engine mounts that allowed enough movement that the hose going to the EVAP canister was disconnected every time the engine moved!
Most manufacturers do not publish suggested replacement intervals, engine mounts should be inspected regularly. Under harsh driving conditions they can fail in as little as a year, but most often begin showing signs of wear that include cracking and dry rot after five years.
Damaged Engine Mount
While a little bit of cracking is normal, stretched and broken engine mounts should be replaced as soon as possible. As your engine mounts begin to degenerate or stretch, you may notice excessive vibration especially while your vehicle is idling.
During certain driving conditions worn and damaged engine mounts will allow the engine to shift and move in the engine to such an extent that it can actually “bang” against body components such as the hood or firewall and in extreme cases the engine can actually shift out of position or even drop. You may even notice that some of your hoses wont stay connected
Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day
In observance of the Labor Day holiday, Just Smogs® in Huntington Beach will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2016.
As always, we will be open from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday September 3rd and closed on Sunday.
We will resume our normal weekday schedule (8:00 am to 5:30 pm) on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.
Just Smogs now sells and installs America’s leading brand of car and truck batteries.
You might say that there’s more than Just Smogs® at Just Smogs® in Huntington Beach.
As a Star Certified State of California Licensed Test and Repair Smog Check Station, Just Smogs® now provides a full range of services including preventive maintenance & emissions repairs.
Just Smogs® is proud to announce that we now carry Outrageously Dependable Interstate Batteries.
Of course, we’re still your number one choice for fast and dependable smog inspections. Call us at (714) 596-1019, or click click on the link, for an appointment.
Most Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV) have a 15 year/150,000 mile warranty for emission-related components. Contact your dealer and/or Owner’s Manual to determine if your vehicle’s emission failure is repairable under the manufacturer’s warranty. General warranty information may also be found on ARB’s Website.
Honey bee swarming season is right around the corner. In some areas it has already begun.
Last year, this swarm suddenly appeared in the Bohemian Orchid tree in my front yard. They were gone in 48 hours.
While impressive, and maybe a little frightening (Okay maybe very frightening), bee swarms are usually harmless if left unmolested; however with the increased presence of Africanised honey bee colonies in Southern California, you should always keep a safe distance between yourself and any bee swarm you encounter.
The simple answer is often overpopulation. When a hive reaches capacity, a new queen is formed and she, along with a few thousand worker bees will pick a nice day to leave home and start their search for a new place to build a hive.
Along the way, the swarm will usually chose a safe place to rest for a couple of days.
While the hive rests, scouts search for a permanent hive location. In the meantime, the queen emits powerful pheromones that cause the worker bees to swarm around her in a protective ball.
Within a day or two the swarm will usually depart as quickly as it arrived.
This year, a smaller swarm appeared on the same branch, in the same tree. They were also gone within 48 hours.
Bees resting in the branches of a tree, side of a house, or other exposed location will typically move on within seventy-two hours.
On the other hand, bees that move into the walls of a house, hollow of a tree, or other protected location are probably there to stay.
You should NEVER attempt to evict a bee swarm by spraying it with water, smoke, chemical spray, or any other means. Instead, contact an experienced beekeeper.
You can find lists of skilled beekeepers who can handle swarm removal on the Orange County and Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association websites.
Of course, if your vehicle needs a smog inspection (STAR Station, “Regular Smog”, etc), don’t call a beekeeper, instead call Just Smogs in Huntington Beach at (714) 596-1019. You can also book an appointment online by clicking here.
