in january my town is going to the sniffer and my question is could i pass with pacesetter header and a new s5 main converter (since i am using different way to open my 6ports). with all other emissions removed. this is in my s4 gxl. or is a splash of alcohol gonna have to be in my tank

 

do you have an S5 main converter? if not, have you priced Mazda's cats? if i remember right, they arent cheap.
anything else done to the car? how many miles? how does it run? throwin any check engine lights? there's so many variables, its hard to say. also, emissions is different from county to county if i'm not mistaken. did you know the emissions test is harder to pass than a 94 impreza? their numbers are actually more leniant than ours (in my county anyways). i thought that was crazy.
also, what emissions do they test there? my county does 15mph and 25mph.
i would think that if your car runs correctly (sensors properly working; no check engine light), only has the emissions stuff removed, a header, and a main cat with an air pump, you have a good chance.
there's a few threads about emissions you can find that may help.

 

Another factor you may or mey not have to contend with is the visual inspection. In California if it is not OEM it disent pass IE Pacesetter header.

 

what about parts with CARB numbers?

 

Find a friendly mechanic, and buy yourself a sticker. Don't listen to casio, he knows very little about anything

 

You'd better go ask a mechanic about your local regs.... stop by a garage that will be doing the test and ask, they'll tell ya.

I'm getting so pissed off about these friggin emissions ****'s that I'm two steps from buying a late 60's Triumph again and stuffing a REW with a turbo in the bitch..

 

thanks AesRiggityRock!
but yea, i believe CARB numbers make parts legal on cars which include california (since its the cali air research board). i dont buy the "non-OEM" statement. look at all the cars in cali that are fixed up. they dont all get pulled over unless something is illegal or looks illegal (or the cop is an ***). in fact, theres an article in super street about it (circa 2002?). they took a couple of fixed up cars and had a cop look em over and did a little article about it. from what i've gathered, saying "if its not OEM, it wont pass in cali" is bullshit.

also try sema.org; should be somethin informative there.

someone told me mere possesion of an illegal sticker is good for 7 years in prison and somethin like a $20,000 fine (not that many judges go with max penalties). thats possesion, that doesnt even mean on your car. i hope that info i got was bad because thats way too hardcore of a possible penalty.

 

okay, here it is; source: February 2003 Super Street; pages 184 to 192.

first are "replacement" parts. i dont need to go into these, but i will say that they are expressed as "designed to substitute for factory components and, as such, have no effect on the vehicle's emissions or performance."

next are "exempted parts." expressed as "performance pieces [which] have been tested to show that they do not increase emissions and, as such, are granted an exemption to the anti-tampering laws. That exemption is called an Executive Order and is expressed as an EO number assigned to the part. With an EO number, the part becomes 50-state smog legal."

CARB's web site lists thousands of EO numbers and the parts to which they apply. www.arb.ca.gov

"If you're shopping for parts and wondering about their emissions legality, the manufacturers have developed a color coded labeling system that easily identifies what's what. a green-labeled part has been granted an EO number or is considered a direct replacement part, so it is 50-state smog-legal. A blue-label represents a part that the manufacturer says "has not been found, nor is believed to be, unlawful under provisions of the Clean Air Act." However, a blue-labeled product is not legal for sale or use in California or in states that have adopted California's emission standards, except on pre-emissions controlled vehicles (pre-'66 vehicles in California, pre-'68 elsewhere [in Texas, emissions arent tested on 24 years old and older vehicles nor on diesels i believe (both 24+ old vehicles and diesels are cheap to have inspected)]). Finally, an orange label denotes a part that's only legal for off-highway or competition use, or on older, pre-emissions-controlled vehicles."

all in all, if this article is still up to date, saying "non-OEM will automatically fail you" is incorrect.

 

if its just a header in there, it should still pass the tailpipe test

 

Right??!?!..how dare people wish to breath clean air....

 

i have found a place to get a cat for around $100 and i am just going to use the cat before going to get the car sniffed. then its straight pipe burning up the ozone for me

 

i went and talked to the owner of a tire/inspection place yesterday and he said, he dosent even know yet about the specs that we have to pass

but, i have found a place to get a cat for around $100 and i am just going to use the cat before going to get the car sniffed. then its straight pipe burning up the ozone for me

 

I have a RB header and corksport catback....I usually run the header/presilencer combo..but when it comes down to inspection..I had a friend take a universal main cat and weld some new ends to match the extra inches...and it passes perfectly..granted I did have to go buy a air injection hose....but it passed just fine..no problems....I also put in a bottle of alcohol with about an 1/8th tank left....so I am sure that is a good reason as to why I passed too...the guy who inspected my car said I passed perfect...so I would toss in a bottle of alcohol..it cant hurt in the long run.

 

what type of alcohol do the rx7's like to drink jack, jim or 151. No, but seriously what kind (rubbing)?

 

I don't think you'll pass without the airpump, keeps the gases from building up in the cat. When they hit the gas pedal all those fumes are going to come out and make you fail.

 

bump
what type of alcohol would you recomend

 

I am not sure but I dont think it maters what type of alcohol is used as long as it is clean like 90% or 180 proof or higher. You dont want some of those solids that are in Hard A in your fuel system, they will probably clog crap you dont want cloged.