Alright, well I may be purchasing an FD soon and I need to find someone where I can "pass" the smog test. Someone in the San Jose around there area. If you are uncomfortable posting in open, feel free to PM me and around how much he/she charges to do it.

 

The Seller should be providing the smog, if not, subtract alot from the price since he is making you deal with it the first time around.

 

I am buying "as is"

It's a modded FD.

 

are you buying that 500+ hp FD?

 

Nope, although I checked it out and everything, I'm not getting that. Don't need that much power for a daily driver.

 

It was my understanding that the car needs to pass smog first before selling, otherwise if the car does not pass smog, the buyer has the option of taking some level of legal action against the seller, resulting in the seller paying for at least a portion of the smog repair costs. I'm sure a vehicle may be sold "as is," but you may just be inheriting a problem the previous owner wasn't able to fix.

However, the last time I looked into this was two years ago when I sold my first FD. I got it to legally pass the California test with 0.00 and 0.01 emissions.

The following precautionary steps will help the car pass the test:

1) You need a main catalytic converter. No way around this one. The precat however isn't needed to pass, unless the tester wants to be a dick and asks where is it. Some don't know what they're looking at anyway, and some aren't too strict about the visual inspection.

2) Make sure the air pump (if the car still has one) is working properly and not randomly venting the air back into the intake (if it's still connected).

2a) If the air pump inlet is not connected to anything, run a rubber hose from the air pump inlet to any area toward the front of the car where the air pump can draw in cold air. Colder air is denser air, and the more air mixes with the exhaust in the cat, the more carbon dioxide and water vapor come out and respectively less carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.

3) Change the oil and filter.

4) Inspect the plugs and replace those if necessary.

5) Take the car to be tested on a cold day and request the inspector test the car with the hood up and the shop's fan blowing towards the motor. A cooler engine has cooler and denser air running through it, and this will also help lower unwanted emissions.

Modifying your ecu or piggyback to run just a little leaner than normal is another way to reduce emissions. Running a just couple gallons of gas mixed with 24 oz of isopropyl or ethyl alcohol also releases more oxygen into the exhaust.

These last two methods can also damage up your motor, so I'm not recommending them.

As far as illegal smogging, about six months ago a couple stations in San Jose were caught illegally passing vehicles. If a station is caught doing this, the fines are huge, and the owner could lose his operating licence. I think one or two in San Francisco were also cited.

It's better to just fix the car, or if the seller can't get it to pass smog, buy one that does pass. If the car is more or less stock, it should pass. If it doesn't, chances are there's more wrong with the engine (or the cat) than just the emissions.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

-Josh

 

You have similar mods as I do, if this is the same car you posted about in the 3rd gen section.
My first trip to the smog station all I did was replace my midpipe with a stock cat, and put in my stock ECU... and she passed emisssions. However she didnt pass visual, if you find a place that might be easy on you compared to a smog only station you might have a chance to simply pass, just make sure the car is nice and hot before you take it in.

 

Dont listen to those non-sense legality on "how to sell your car BS". Just PM DJdino for a hook-up.

 

by DMV laws, it is seller's responsibility to actually smog the car. not buyer. so why can't the seller smog it for you?

but.... you can override this w/ the seller.

 

who cares about the law. We're adults (I hope) and knows what we're getting into? Just give a $99 or so off your asking price and let them be responsible for smog. Be sure disclose the discount and smog issue on you're bill of sale PERIOD!!

They just want to rip you off. Then they will post it in the forum how you got raped

 

Meiogirl,

Ya, I've only had two FD's, and I was referring to my prior one, a 93 Montego Blue base model. I had that car and my current 93 Touring. I really wanted to put that engine in the Tourer, but I was busy with work/life/family. I also had/have a 96 MX6 V6, and parking is already difficult in SF.

After a bunch of local wannabe boyricers took joyrides in my car then tried to lowball, I ended up selling to a nice girl across the Bay. I even offered to lower the car for her if she bought the coilovers.

 

DJDINO has smog "hookups", PM him.

 

I SOLD MANY CARS and when i bought my FD I bought it AS IS... there's no law bull sht.. that can kiss my ***.. because its up to the buyer if he says i'll do it.. I always DO IT my self. cuz I like to get a cheaper price... 50 is something.. hahahahahhahah..

good luck. buying ur car.... ohh and i just smogged it today.. passed fine.. like the last owner said.. but i still wanted to do my self.. anyways good luck.. and in case you don't pass .. we can "fix" that.

 

oh and i just passed with the following mods

my mods:
*high flow cat
*hks knock off blow off valve
*racing Beat exhaust dual tip (3" all the way)
*HKS down pipe
*Greddy intake
boosting 11psi.
*after market intercooler

 

Despite whatever you say. AS-IS or contract.. Seller is responsible for the SMOG. PERIOD. If you sold your car and it doesnt pass smog, buyer has the right to take legal action against you. Not only that, it also protects you. When you smog it and it passes. There is a your proof. If down the line, the buyer gets pulled over and get caught with modifications, he can't blame you and say he bought it like that. It also protects you.

 

DJDINO no longer has the smog 'hookup.' I am currently awaiting my court date.

 

Bullshit!

It is not that black and white. What if I am selling just a shell? who is responsible for smog then? What if I am selling a race car that is not intented for street use?

Fact of the matter is it is not that cut and dried. There will be times when the seller will not be doing a smog, and a contract is his only proof that it was agreed upon by both buyer and seller that no smog is necessary.