Passing Emissions in California...
 

Ok, well I read a few threads about Intercoolers and it brought the subject of trying to pass emissions in California to mind. Apparently you can fail visually. I am now afraid to modify the 7 and then end up failing visual inspection with a M2 Large Intercooler (one I was planning on buying).

Is there any way to pass without keeping the "stock" look?

I don't want to have to replace everything I modified and convert back to stock just for emissions, I know that would be a real PITA.

Can any California folks shed some light on this subject?

Thanks!

um.. i know there sum undertable stuff goin around.. juz rumor

you have to find someone that will look past that...sometimes hard to find depending on what part of cali you are in. M2 should fail you for visual. Post in the west coast forum...there are a few threads already started on smog. I'm returning my car back to near stock in order to pass...but then ca smog nazi's are forcing me to go to test only.

Is "Test Only" bypassing the visual?

No, "test only" means that the place is a dedicated smog testing station and not a repair shop.

You just need to find a place that will overlook visuals like those kind of parts. I found one that overlooks little things like intercoolers. It also helps if you show up on Sat afternoon 10 minutes before they close....

Or, you can always put your stock IC back on for the test. It's not like it's that time consuming or difficult to do.

No, most "test only" stations will do a visual inspection, since that's all they do is smog tests.

You need to find a place that will "overlook" that aspect, which, as has already been pointed out, may be hard to find depending on where you live.

A lot of places dont even know what thet're looking at, I've seen / and heard of people passing with PFS Large IC and since the smog tech didn't see a monster Front Mount, and it was powder coated balck or red, they assumed it was stock, and let it pass... so cheapest thing might be to take it to someone and let them peak under the hood, and ask them what their smog "Policy" is... and if they look at it, tell you they'll do it and then fail you visually I'd refuse to pay, since they could have told you that before they stuck it on the machine... :D

yeah but I've got way to much BLING BLING...under da hood

just buy a intercooler that is carb legal. for example: greddy (all of theirs), blitz (not sure),

or just take some fake carb stickers with you for some random part from that company. my firend did that and the guy didnt want to look it up so he passed him.. for example, he had an hks intercooler and showed him carb numbers for the hks mega filter system. chances are, they wont look it up or even if they do, they dont know what it is!!

btw, how far are you from LA. if your not that far, i know some people that can help you out. pm me

I'm way out... lol, I'm in the Bay :)

If your mods are on this list - then you're fine:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...highlight=CARB

The shiney piece is an eye catcher...cover it with a black panel.. :)

You could always get a Greddy SMIC instead, it has a CARB number. I think the HKS S-type FMIC also has a CARB number. If you must have an M2 IC, just find a test only station that will let you slide. Finding a station that will go a little easy on the visual portion shouldn't be that difficult as long as your car is running clean.