Hey, RRM is making a down-pipe with the turbo kit for RA...
Thus, eliminating the cat...
Now, my friend who has an OZ Rally that's turbo'd and eliminated his cat has purchased an AEM EMS (Engine Management System) to bypass emissions... Does anyone know how reliable this is to bypass failing emissions testing!?
Because if it's not too reliable I have to gear up for NA Tuning, because this is a daily driver & sure my 1st emissions test is a looooong way away, I won't be able to dodge it forever.
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

The aem is a full standalone computer and it is used to fully tune a car to it's ultimate efficiency in both power/torque/reliability. That being said nothing it can do will allow you to past a CA smog style check. Reason is that you remove the OBD-2 functionality when installing the AEM. In illinios this may be different. See what your local inspections consist of. If they do not check the status of your OBD-2 system nor read from it during the test/inspection you should be fine. Even if they check emmisions you should be fine as the AEM can/should be tuned so that the car runs effectively/efficiently enough to pass an emissions test. Providing you have the catalytic converters installed. If you don't have cats then there is nothing you can do about passing a smog style test. It won't happen without at least one cat and on some cars it requires two.

Check your local laws and inspection policies. The AEM is great and as long as the car will run right on the stock ecu you can always interchange them when going in for your test. Even if you stay NA the AEM will offer you more than any other tuning system could. It is a means of total control over every aspect in your car.

 

Was gonna say I don't think any amount of engine management can cut emissions without cats installed. Maybe you can get away with the 2nd cat installed as long as the car has been warmed up already (since the 1st cat is more for cold start emissions?).

 

yeah, someone told me that IL no longer checks the actual exhaust, but just the computer... i'm definitely going to check up on it & not just take their word for it...
Thanks for the help guys!

Oh, and someone else suggested if I have no cat with the turbo kit to have a custom shop fabricate a hi-flow cat to go right behind the downpipe... Is this absurd, or is it a possibility & would it really help with passing the emissions like a smog type test?

Thanks again!

 

Any cat will help pass emissions... will it be enough with just one?? It's more of a trial and error thing when making custom emissions legal exhaust setups. The best advice i can give you is if your trying to keep it legal and your state has stringent laws in regards to emissions testing then keep your car NA.

 

If your willing to live on the wild side of legality and put it all back to stock come inspection time you can do anything you want to the car.

 

That's true... the only thing that is getting me is the emissions part of it, because how long can I dodge that? but this car is my first car I'm getting into modding on & while I can do the simpler things install exhaust, spoiler, etc... I don't know if switching it up every time I get an emissions test...
See, I'm torn because I do like the thought of the turbo kit & I've driven in my friend's OZ Lancer... While he's going to still get alot more power than me... I'm loving it...
I suppose it's time to start making friends at the emission center... ha ha!
Thanks for the help!

 

No worries... check your laws. If they don't care about modifications to the car as long as it passes emissions then you'll be fine as long as you keep the cats in the car with the intercooled turbo kit. The non-intercooled has higher exhaust temps which makes Carbs go up. Good luck.

 

Thanks a lot!!!!
Seems like I'm going to need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So I've checked it out... In case anyone else in IL was wondering, as of Jan 1, 2004 Illlinois has been using an ODB test... That's it for vehicles that are 1996 or newer...
From what I understood an EMS will trick this ODB test into thinking everything is running in accordance with what the regulations are?

That was my understanding, is this correct?
Thanks!

 

Call or email AEM directly to find out about this.

http://www.aemintakes.com

 

cool...
Thanks again for helping me out Boe!

 

Wait for RRM to finish the kit. That is what I am going to do. I have a bunch of N/A mods right now but I will go turbo later and just sell off some of my N/A stuff.

 

Yeah, all I have is a GReddy EVO2 cat-back that we're in the middle of installing...
Other than that I am waiting on turbo... I was just trying to figure out what to do about getting around emissions when I do indeed get the turbo kit!
Thanks

 

where are the cats installed. I know the OZs have two. One after the downpipe and one in the intake manifold or the headers? Correct me if I'm wrong.