SMOG test in Cali
09-08-11, 09:13 PM
#2
I'll run into the same problem next year when I need to get checked. There are shops who will pass you for an extra charge, so you wont have to go through the hassle of putting everything back to stock. maybe another member from CA here can pm/recommend you a place to go.
09-09-11, 05:45 AM
#4
Bear in mind it's like a $25,000 fine for doing this, and violates federal law 
(which is why it's remarkable some places risk this for an extra 50 bucks)
You won't, legally, pass smog the way your car is, because your car is currently not legal. Removing any cats the car comes with is a violation of federal law, as is running it on public roads that way. If you don't pass you can't register the car.
(which is why it's remarkable some places risk this for an extra 50 bucks)
You won't, legally, pass smog the way your car is, because your car is currently not legal. Removing any cats the car comes with is a violation of federal law, as is running it on public roads that way. If you don't pass you can't register the car.
Last edited by Kurtz; 09-09-11 at 05:50 AM.
09-09-11, 10:46 AM
#6
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you should be able to pass!! i am an inspector in ga and i believe you WILL pass. you still have 2 cats on the car but cali is more strict with emissions. try going to another station
Last edited by Denver; 09-09-11 at 10:58 AM.
09-09-11, 10:59 AM
#7
^^^ CA Law is a bit different.
Any tampering of smog / emmission control is a no-no. So the mid-pipe technically deletes the secondary cat making it street illegal.
If you happen to find a hook up that will "pass" you, you can still get slapped with a fine from the cops if they happen to pull you over. Then you have to go through the hassle of reverting back to stock regardless. Some cops here are real (fill in your choice of word) when they pull you over and ask you to pop your hood... and even looking under your car.
Any tampering of smog / emmission control is a no-no. So the mid-pipe technically deletes the secondary cat making it street illegal.
If you happen to find a hook up that will "pass" you, you can still get slapped with a fine from the cops if they happen to pull you over. Then you have to go through the hassle of reverting back to stock regardless. Some cops here are real (fill in your choice of word) when they pull you over and ask you to pop your hood... and even looking under your car.
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09-09-11, 11:08 AM
#8
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That's so crazy. I've always wanted to look into moving to California for the mad cars, weather, etc. (not so much for earthquakes, fires, high price of homes) but that's crazy. Here I have got pulled over and talked to about my car. "Nice exhaust, sounds good!, I've got a Mustang at home." type of talks.
09-09-11, 11:18 AM
#10
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yea emissions does suck over here in cali, or at least it has gotten a lot stricter than about 5 years ago (when i still had my 92 civic hatchback with greddy turbo, lets just say it was easier to smog then compared to now)
If the car can pass smog, but only fails visuals, there are places out there in cali that arn't as strict that will easily pass you. I know because when i was in the subaru community, those cars have 2 cats (at least the 02-05), one in the uppipe and 1 in on the downpipe. Tons of people went catless uppipe because the fear of catastrophic failure in the uppipe cat can kill the turbo and the increase in flow/power.
Anyway, what my point is, those cars can still pass smog with an aftermarket downpipe with cat at a smog place that doesn't care about visual, so maybe if you know you can pass smog, try finding a place where they don't care about visual
your other option of course is going back to stock
good luck
If the car can pass smog, but only fails visuals, there are places out there in cali that arn't as strict that will easily pass you. I know because when i was in the subaru community, those cars have 2 cats (at least the 02-05), one in the uppipe and 1 in on the downpipe. Tons of people went catless uppipe because the fear of catastrophic failure in the uppipe cat can kill the turbo and the increase in flow/power.
Anyway, what my point is, those cars can still pass smog with an aftermarket downpipe with cat at a smog place that doesn't care about visual, so maybe if you know you can pass smog, try finding a place where they don't care about visual
your other option of course is going back to stock
good luck
09-09-11, 11:52 AM
#11
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we do visual inspection. there is a cat on each exhaust manifold so i would pass it because cat is present. they dont tell us this car has x amount of cat so i need to find all of them.
09-09-11, 03:28 PM
#15
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I appreciate the feedback fellas. Hopefully itll work out. If not, ima be stuck driving a green Altima with a pink license plate to the base (the wifes car) 