CA smog help
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gracer7-rx7 (01-05-22)
#27
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Top Tip: go to the same smog guy for everything.
the car most clean; was either the Rx8 or a 1980 MGB tuned a bit lean,
runner up was the 99 FD that thing was squeaky clean...
funniest was the Lancia Scorpion, it was like a comedy. first try it failed badly. so i put the cat from the FC in it (its the same size), and it blew up the coolant overflow bottle on the dyno. try three melted the rear bumper (Rx7 cat works hard) and then try four it actually passed.....
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arghx (01-06-22)
#28
ive lived in CA my whole life, and i've had to smog every car i've owned, plus others, at one point it was 8 cars a year.
Top Tip: go to the same smog guy for everything.
the car most clean; was either the Rx8 or a 1980 MGB tuned a bit lean,
runner up was the 99 FD that thing was squeaky clean...
funniest was the Lancia Scorpion, it was like a comedy. first try it failed badly. so i put the cat from the FC in it (its the same size), and it blew up the coolant overflow bottle on the dyno. try three melted the rear bumper (Rx7 cat works hard) and then try four it actually passed.....
Top Tip: go to the same smog guy for everything.
the car most clean; was either the Rx8 or a 1980 MGB tuned a bit lean,
runner up was the 99 FD that thing was squeaky clean...
funniest was the Lancia Scorpion, it was like a comedy. first try it failed badly. so i put the cat from the FC in it (its the same size), and it blew up the coolant overflow bottle on the dyno. try three melted the rear bumper (Rx7 cat works hard) and then try four it actually passed.....
My RX8 is also super clean. Probably will stay that way until the cat gets tired...
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I'm definitely going to stick with the same guy with my other cars as well. I don't think he will forget me and he really took his time to make sure I had the best chance at passing. He even set up a huge fan in front to provide some airflow which is something I had not seen before for smog.
My RX8 is also super clean. Probably will stay that way until the cat gets tired...
My RX8 is also super clean. Probably will stay that way until the cat gets tired...
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marksae (08-26-22)
#33
My 1980 SA just failed. When I resurrected it (inherited from a deceased relative) a few years ago to get it licensed in CA, it passed just fine. Now, a few thousand miles later, not so much. I was adding some pre-mix, but ran the tank down and filled with premium before the test (with no pre-mix), no luck. Took it to my mechanic (the guys that resurrected it in the first place), they leaned it a bit, still no luck.
Any pointers of the above situation? Anybody know if / when CA will decide a 1980 vehicle no longer needs to get smogged?
Thanks.
Any pointers of the above situation? Anybody know if / when CA will decide a 1980 vehicle no longer needs to get smogged?
Thanks.
#36
Yes, ran it for a good long time before the test. The mechanic that took it in for the re-test did the same. I'd say you're right, though, about the cat. They checked readings before the cat and after, essentially the same.
#37
Correction -that was meant for the original post...
Last edited by Craiggar; 08-28-22 at 07:07 PM.
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they had a list of 3 bills that were dead, and a 4th that was probably going to be. the smog program isn't popular, so if they can get rid of it without looking like they are soft on the environment they probably don't care much.
if you don't know (i didn't) the CA govt uses an Assemblyman, which can be a woman, and a State Senator. took longer to find out who these people were than to write the email.
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PJPilot (08-29-22)
#39
Hi all, new owner of 93 touring. Maybe I should start a new thread, but I figured this is kind of related. Has anyone had any luck passing CA smog with any mods? For example, stock ECU/tune, stock turbos, stock fuel system, but upgrades on both intake side and exhaust side? I was hoping to do some light upgrades and tune with PFC, but swap to stock ECU for smog.
@nmoffatt thanks for documenting your smog tips!
@nmoffatt thanks for documenting your smog tips!
#40
RX-7 Bad Ass
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This has been covered quite a bit. California is a tricky state, the big thing here is that you can fail with a visual inspection in some instances - open air filters, big exhaust, etc.
For passing the sniffer test, working air pump, good stock main cat, stock ECU, good fresh plugs, good gas - that all helps a great deal.
Dale
For passing the sniffer test, working air pump, good stock main cat, stock ECU, good fresh plugs, good gas - that all helps a great deal.
Dale
#42
@DaleClark thanks I will do more searching on the subject. I’m a little bit more optimistic that passing with a few mods is not impossible . Btw, I’ve been a lurker since 2004 and I remember reading up on your advice back then. Fast forward 18yrs, I finally have an FD and am looking forward to working with the helpful and knowledgable community on here! Lucky to have cool dudes like you.
@arghx sorry for the confusion. I hijacked OP’s thread a little. The test results are from OP, but looks like cleaning the ACV is what did it.
@arghx sorry for the confusion. I hijacked OP’s thread a little. The test results are from OP, but looks like cleaning the ACV is what did it.
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DaleClark (09-09-22)
#43
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Hi all, new owner of 93 touring. Maybe I should start a new thread, but I figured this is kind of related. Has anyone had any luck passing CA smog with any mods? For example, stock ECU/tune, stock turbos, stock fuel system, but upgrades on both intake side and exhaust side? I was hoping to do some light upgrades and tune with PFC, but swap to stock ECU for smog.
thanks for documenting your smog tips!
thanks for documenting your smog tips!
anyways two stories. last time i smogged my car, which is an REW swapped FC, it passed with the Re Amemyia ecu, and the down pipe. i didn't even warm it up, he spent enough time doing the inspections that i guess it was fine.
the second one was my friends car, it had a down pipe, and a 99 spec engine, and 99 ecu. i took it to guy #1, he did the entire test, which it passed, and then says "i dont like the down pipe i can't do it" i should point out that his is fair, it should have the precat, its just frustrating because it had passed the test
shop #2, after a while there is a guy looking at something, and then two, and then 3, and after 45 minutes i walk up and ask if i can help. they say they are looking for the EGR valve, i tell them it has a code for that. they say they don't care they need to test it. i ask if they are going to tear apart the intake for 2 hours to test the valve. they say they can't do it. they ask for the full fee...
guy number 3 just did the test and the car passed for the third time
please write your representatives and tell them this program is not needed anymore
#44
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Yes, the CA BAR is really cracking down on shops that clean pipe or otherwise falsify the inspection. The RX7 is a high tampering vehicle, so if you live in a part of the state that requires testing you generally have to use a test only station. I have been going to the same shop for the last 3 renewals, and I bring last year's inspection report to "help" them and it does seem to give them more assurance about the car. My FD has a JDM Mazda downpipe, it is pretty old looking and with the heat shielding it looks like it belongs there. They always spend much time looking the car over from top to bottom for any illegal mods despite my history with the shop, fortunately they have not flagged the DP.
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#46
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I passed with a 'cheap bastard' intake which is a modified stock airbox, a downpipe, SMIC, PFC, and Racing Beat twin tip exhaust. I even have BNR stage 3 turbos. As long as it passes the sniffer test, just make it LOOK as stock as possible and get the hell out of that smog shop if the tech guy seems like he isn't in love with the FD. I've had more than one shop "work" with me on visuals because they flat-out liked the car.
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IDreamofRX7s (09-15-22)
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the must haves are the Air Pump and a functional ACV. the FD also wants a good O2 sensor. the factory cat also is the best one, hands down, its also the most robust part of the car too.
since new cats are basically impossible to legally get in CA, we're starting to save the good cat just for smog tests, the Sunday cat, and then we have one for the rest of the time
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#48
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Anyway, I think intake mods will not change the test result one way or the other, as long as you can pass visual. There isn't enough airflow from the ASM test mode to make a difference. A good condition stock cat is a must, though.
Last edited by jza80; 09-09-22 at 06:34 PM.
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IDreamofRX7s (09-15-22)
#49
Just following up on this as it was time again for a smog check. Now that the FD is being driven more regularly it passed very easily. Since the last smog check the following has changed:
1) Added HKS Twin Power
2) Added SS Downpipe.
3) Had the injectors cleaned at RC.
I went for a 1 hour drive before the test after filling up with 91 at Chevron. Also changed the oil the day before.
Here are the results. Hopefully this could help someone down the road.
1) Added HKS Twin Power
2) Added SS Downpipe.
3) Had the injectors cleaned at RC.
I went for a 1 hour drive before the test after filling up with 91 at Chevron. Also changed the oil the day before.
Here are the results. Hopefully this could help someone down the road.
#50
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Just following up on this as it was time again for a smog check. Now that the FD is being driven more regularly it passed very easily. Since the last smog check the following has changed:
1) Added HKS Twin Power
2) Added SS Downpipe.
3) Had the injectors cleaned at RC.
I went for a 1 hour drive before the test after filling up with 91 at Chevron. Also changed the oil the day before.
Here are the results. Hopefully this could help someone down the road.
1) Added HKS Twin Power
2) Added SS Downpipe.
3) Had the injectors cleaned at RC.
I went for a 1 hour drive before the test after filling up with 91 at Chevron. Also changed the oil the day before.
Here are the results. Hopefully this could help someone down the road.