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In CA, it is every 2 years that you have to go through the pleasure of proving your car is worthy of driving the highways.
There is no roadworthiness check in CA like in other states. . . Just a "simple" smog check with the items listed in the photo/sheet.
My recent service work included oil change 20/50w, tranny fluid change redline MT-90, radiator coolant change green, re-attachment of three cat setup.
Below are some photos of the experience.
That Bonez pipe has to be 20 years old and it still has an unbroken rear cat.. . .Can't say enough about the Bonez pipe. . . It's been worth every penny. I'd say that part is mandatory for any S4.
The front/top cat was recently purchased on the stock 3-cat setup. It was not a pleasure to obtain in CA.. . . Hoops to jump through. .. .That front cat is problematic historically. They always break and never have a great flange seal over time.
It should be noted that CA has tightened their specs since 2008. I broke out a 2008 smog report and the max levels have changed.
Max levels in 2008 were as follows:
HC @ 141 ppm @15mph
HC@116 ppm @25MPH
CO@ .86 % @15mph
CO@ .66% @25mph
NO 1161 ppm @15mph
NO 991 ppm @25mph
So yea. . .. CA has tightened up their pass requirements even though the car itself has not changed. .. . . They have effectively changed the goal post to get more older cars off the road.
The good news is that now I have two years before I have to deal with this again.. . . .And according to the numbers, things are working right in the engine bay.
