First time I have had my FD in for emissions testing. I knew that I was in trouble from the start. I was waiting in the station's lobby and one of the other techs comes in to say "Nice car.". He tells me that they are looking to fail as may as possible today. WTF? Anyway, they (two guys) spent a little more than 45 minutes giving my car the inspection.

They caught my dP in place of the pre-cat and said that I needed to have the stock air intake box. I was not too shocked about the lack of pre-cat (I thought they might not catch it), but the air intake pisses me off. Why the heck would NC (Wake County) require the stock air intake? Nothing wrong with the cat-back and that is in the same caliber of mods. Go figure.

Anyway, I figure tonight and tomorrow night I will put the stock pre-cat and air box in place...for a while...hehehe.

Just wanted to share the experience...what a great system...a car that gets driven <3000 miles per year gets failed and a 6 ton Expedition that gets 20,000 a year (and pollutes tons! - engine size and fuel consumption) passes. What a joke.

 

It took me months to get through emissions in DE. Replaced the thermosensor, checked the cat, got it tuned, replaced air-pump hose, etc. Changed out O2 sensor. I was pissed and ready to sell the car. Turned out to be 2 hoses off under the intake. Sprayed carb cleaner under the intake while running at each hose connection. 2 caused the car to idle-down and stall. This brought emissions from 1200 ppm to <10.

 

or, you guys could move to AL where so far we dont have to do any testing at all for emissions......knock on wood !!!!!

 

The airbox thing is bullshit. How on earth they knew the downpipe replaced a pre-cat means that you went to the wrong place to get your car inspected. You need to find dumb *** people to inspect it. My FD is registered in Transylvania County (in the mountains) and we have no emissions testing (and I have a hookup anyways), but my suggestion to you is to find a neighboring county that doesn't have emissions testing, if there are any. Technically they're supposed to do an emissions test based on the county that it's registered to, but they may overlook that and they may not even have the equipment. Wake County is going to be the toughest county on emissions because of the growth and because it's the seat of the government. Ironically, a well-tuned FD can pass Cali emissions without any cats.

Other than that, PM Jason Occena (board name is BCNU) and see what he does for emissions in Wake county.

 

>Ironically, a well-tuned FD can pass Cali emissions without any cats

NO WAY MAN! Thats impossible. Even if you run super lean, you need at least one cat. I've never heard of this happening, and believe me, people have tried. Where did you hear this? In any case, a midpipe would never pass a visual test unless the inspector was blind. Downpipe sure, but midpipe, no way. HOWEVER, a well tuned FD can pass the sniffer here and still be making 350+ rwhp, so don't confuse big HP with big emissions.

 

I don't know anyone that actually does it in California (and obviously it wouldn't pass a visual, and I did strictly say "emissions"), but I know someone now overseas who has seen it with his friend's car (he was a mechanic here at an inspection station) and rotary theory supports it. Maybe I should say "well-tuned" like this: "well-tuned"?

 

Check that the airpump operates below 3000rpms.
Next, if it works, check ACV for proper operation.
The switching/relief solenoids in the rack need to work right for your to pass.

I'm in NC and suffered the same :-)

If you failed grossly, it is because of no air to the catalytic converter. Same inspection process in my county.

e-mail me, afarrag@triad.rr.com, and we can discuss further.

I'm going to be going through the same hell again this year, in a month or two....

Ashraf

 

Thanks guys. I think I found someone in Johnston county...hehe.

We'll see...maybe I won't need to reinstall that crap after all.

 

007, glad to see you here!
when is the next meeting?

 

Atta boy!

 

I hope emissions testing doesn't come to Pitt County. And what kind of emissions place has a lobby? Don't you just normally pull up, they stick the thing in the tailpipe, some ****** stands on the gas, and then you drive away? That's how it used to be when I lived in Maryland. Anyways, like DK said, go some place where people are stupid. Which isn't too hard here in NC.

 

For future reference for all you NC and Wake County guys, let me know when it's inspection time... I've got the hook-up.

Disclaimer:

In no way, shape, or form do I, BCNU, advocate the illegal act of cheating an emissions test, nor do I actively support the destruction of the ozone layer. But, I do love my FD, and my fellow friend's FD's, so I'm here if ya need me!

 

If you drive the car less than 3k miles a year, you are probably eligible for a waiver. In the Philadelphia area, the threshold is 5k miles; drive less than that on an annual basis and you aren't tested for emissions. You may want to look into this possibility......

 

I like BCNU's idea better. It's all about the illegal act of cheating an emissions test and actively supporting the destruction of the ozone layer. Can't wait to get that midpipe!

 

The place where I get all my friend's cars sniffed has a " donor " system, if you guys know what I mean... I'm with the rest of you on that whole big diesel vehicle vs. small FD thing... it's amazing what the laws will let slip by... Oh well... anybody needs my help, you know where to find me... just a little off of Jones Franklin Road.

Jason