I'm looking to move to San Diego. Haven't replaced my precat & cat with a downpipe and hi-flow cat yet, but looking to do so. In AZ it is emissions legal, but hoping someone in CA can tell me if it would be legal in CA. Here, as long as you don't replace the main cat with a midpipe you are good.

 

I believe many people have passed emissions with a downpipe here in CA. Might want to ask Wan on that one.

 

My car passed with a pettit high flow, I think its ceramic and a downpipe.

 

From my brief look into California Vehicle Code the only thing you can modify is the TIP of the exhaust. So you may fail a visual if your downpipe is too shiny HAHAHA.

 

im telling you, as a smog tech, that nothing is legal unless it has a carb sticker. if it touches the exhaust, and is before the cat, and you modify it, you will fail. IF the guy actually takes the time to look........most dont. i know i do, but im just thorough.

Lloyd

 

This.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I'm wondering what the likelihood of failing is if I have a downpipe (not shiny) but still have a main cat. Do most cars have a pre-cat in addition to a main cat? If not, I would have to wonder if anyone would know the FD is supposed to have it.

 

^ This guy is 100% right on.


Yes, most cars have precats now days, but they're tucked RIGHT in the exhaust manifold just inches from the block. Would a smog tech know an FD is supposed to have a precat? Probably not. Unless you have a blatantly obvious shiny downpipe, he probably won't know especially if you run the stock main cat. And technically, your high flow cat you're replacing the main cat with is illegal in CA now too but its impossible to prove and you'll still pass with that. As of Jan. 1st 2008, all replacement cats must be made specifically for that exact model car. Tons of websites won't even ship generic cats to CA anymore. My advice is to buy the downpipe and high flow cat and wait to put them on until after your smog test if possible and keep the original exhaust components for your next smog check. The CA smog process is a ***** so keep all of your stock components. I even have my stock catback exhaust on the side of the house in case I get busted for some other lame modification law they mock up. I remember reading in the east coast forum that some guy in Virginia got ticketed for having a Racing Beat catback on his otherwise stock N/A FC.

 

Being a smog tech for 5 years now I can say the information as stated above is 100% correct.

However a fair warning: Even if you get a technician that doesn't bother to realize you have an illegal part on your car, a state referee will. You must visit one of these state referees IF you get pulled over by the police, and they decide they want to make sure your day goes sour. If that happens, EVERYTHING must be put back to stock or else you will not pass the referee inspection.

So for a normal initial registration smog inspection, there is a decent chance you will be alright. If you get pulled over and the cop gives you a referee ticket due to an assumption your car is illegally modified, you will not be alright.

 

But then you have to decide weather it's more expensive to pay the ticket, possibly 1000+$ or pay a mechanic to put it all, back, I know quite a couple of people that would be in the former category. Either way you'll get past the ref, gotta pay to play...

 

Ive personally passed 4 times at different shops with an unpolished ss downpipe

 

Me too. Unless the smog guy is some kinda nit picker, you'll pass fine.

Not only that, but a downpipe will prolong your engine's lifespan.

 

Pretty sure it is not legal.

 

Mine has a downpipe and was able to passes smog in Cali. Also it's such a hard part to see during visual inspection they'll usually say "okay".

 

all of the above is correct- from the smog techs and the other posters-- I 've had my car for 15 years with a down-pipe that i had jet hot coated (looks black-ish?) and never had a problem. The pr-cat that the down pipe replace only ensures the rx-7 complies with start-up emissions after that its just a heat generator.

As long as you go in for smog when the engine is warm, you'll be fine.

 

No you don't just pay the ticket.

 

In a stock FD engine bay, the turbos aren't visible let alone the downpipe/precat. Like funkjaw stated though, if you ever have to go to a state ref put your stock cat and precat back on because they'll go over your car with a fine tooth comb.

 

does the smog tech's computer tell them what to look for? do they know that FDs should have a pre-cat installed? on a separate note, I was recently told that their "new" equipment could not measure a rotary's rpm's, thought that was really strange.

 

Buying a stock DP is more then the ref ticket for the most part. Again just pay the ticket.
No unless he's an **** smog tech looking to bust someones *****. Most smog tech haven't even seen a rotary let alone inspect an FD. When i first smoged my car the tech had no idea what spark plug wire to hook up to.

 

He asked about inspections so that is what I was addressing.

However on your topic my friend just got a fix it ticket for no front license plate. So he sent the ticket back with a check just paying the ticket(bail) amount because he didn't want to deal with getting a license plate on the front (nice aftermarket front bumper). Later on he gets a ticket in the mail saying because he paid the bail forfeiture amount it is evidence that he did not fix the car, thus they are fining him another ticket for failure to fix the issue. Cost of this new ticket? $500, AFTER he already paid the hefty bail forfeiture amount for the first one. He is going to court to see if hey can fight it.

We have emissions control manuals that tell us what to look for, although we mainly rely on the emissions decal located on the underside of the hood; it tells us all we need to know. Also, my equipment has no problem measuring a rotary's RPM signal.

 

Wow my ticket was a few years ago for smog and no front plate and i just paid both and never got anything back. I don't see how they could issue a ticket without seeing the car.

 

After thinking about it they can't ASSUME you didn't fix it. Why not just send everyone a speeding ticket since we are all going to speed at 1 point. That's BS!

 

hmmm chp never said **** to me about my downpipe but he did happen to point out my ultra aftermarket blitz lm filter and told me if it was K&N he would of let it go =/

 

Agreed. The ticket made no sense so I told him to go to court instead of just paying the $500.

 

Definitely! I'd call a lawyer just to get some better info on it and see what he says. A lot of lawyers will give you a basic consult on things.