If you’ve ever gone in for a Smog Check and been told “your monitors aren’t ready” , you know how frustrating it is. The check-engine light is off, the car seems fine, but the machine still won’t pass it. At Midnight Smog in San Marcos, we see this a lot—especially after: A battery replacement or disconnect A repair shop cleared codes  with a scan tool A DIYer cleared a check-engine light at home When codes are cleared, your car’s computer also clears its emissions readiness

Permanent Diagnostic Trouble Codes (PDTCs) and Your California Smog Check What Every Driver Should Know – from Midnight Smog in San Marcos, CA If you’ve had a check-engine light recently, you might hear a shop mention “Permanent Diagnostic Trouble Codes”  or PDTCs . They sound serious (and they can be) – but they’re also one of the ways California keeps the Smog Check program fair and honest. At Midnight Smog in San Marcos , we talk to a lot of drivers who are confused or str

MOST CARS DO NOT NEED A STAR SMOG CHECK (Here’s What the BAR Stats Really Say) If you’ve ever opened your California DMV renewal notice and felt confused about STAR smog check vs regular smog check , you’re not alone. A lot of drivers in San Marcos, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and North County San Diego  see “smog check” and immediately search for “STAR smog station near me” —even when their car doesn’t actually need  a STAR-certified inspection. This isn’t just a hunch. The