downpipe ok in california?
07-30-10, 03:00 PM
#1
downpipe ok in california?
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.
07-30-10, 05:29 PM
#4
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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.
07-30-10, 09:14 PM
#5
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
Lloyd
07-31-10, 12:48 AM
#6
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
Lloyd
08-02-10, 02:42 PM
#7
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.
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08-02-10, 03:59 PM
#8
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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
Lloyd
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.
08-02-10, 05:09 PM
#9
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.
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.
08-02-10, 05:45 PM
#10
No it's not Turbo'd
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...
08-02-10, 11:54 PM
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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.
As long as you go in for smog when the engine is warm, you'll be fine.
08-03-10, 12:17 AM
#16
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.
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.
08-03-10, 12:27 AM
#17
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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.
08-03-10, 02:49 AM
#18
Yes it's twin turbo...
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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.
08-03-10, 11:12 AM
#19
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.
08-03-10, 02:08 PM
#20
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.
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.
08-03-10, 04:00 PM
#21
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.
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.
