CA smog help
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
I'm assuming that means you went from stock pre catted downpipe to aftermarket stainless steel open pipe. The reason that doesn't affect your emission test result is because the test isn't meant to capture a cold start. If Mazda could have passed the EPA testing (which cold starts in a lab at 75 degrees F) without an expensive pre cat they would have. So as much as we complain about regions with stricter emissions requirements, it's still not nearly as strict was what the car had to pass when new.
actually the big problem recently is that the pre OBD2 test is a lot of work, and the techs don't want to do it, even for money
I've been taking all of my classic cars to the same shop for the past few years. Its a father/son run shop, they don't seem to be "car guys", just trying to run a legitimate business.
My FD is a super clean low mile example but it does have an HKS downpipe. If it was easier to remove I would take it on and off for the test. I filled up with premium and went for a 40 minute drive before the test. The car passed the sniffer with flying colors. The visual had my heart pounding, they were going over the car for what seemed like an eternity, flash lights, crawling under it, going over every inch of the engine bay. Not sure if they never saw it or just didn't know what they were looking at but passed the visual.
My FD is a super clean low mile example but it does have an HKS downpipe. If it was easier to remove I would take it on and off for the test. I filled up with premium and went for a 40 minute drive before the test. The car passed the sniffer with flying colors. The visual had my heart pounding, they were going over the car for what seemed like an eternity, flash lights, crawling under it, going over every inch of the engine bay. Not sure if they never saw it or just didn't know what they were looking at but passed the visual.
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jackhild59
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
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Aug 7, 2012 01:03 PM
