Gonna visit State ref..please help
Evolved Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 3
From: Butt**** Nowhere
I guess I'll chime in since I'm a smog tech.
They ref will not let the downpipe pass, they see it as the equivalent of a header. The cat back exhaust will be ok. If the AEM intake had the right carb number on it then you will be ok. They will look up the carb number, so don't try to fake it. The timers are questionable, it's kind of the ref's discretion.
And finally, make sure all your pcv stuff is hooked up. Piping, couplers, coolant hoses etc they don't care about. Even aftermarket intercoolers are legal. After the visual, he will smog your car and then DB test it. If you are worried about your car not passing smog, go pay for a pre-test at a smog station and you'll know
They ref will not let the downpipe pass, they see it as the equivalent of a header. The cat back exhaust will be ok. If the AEM intake had the right carb number on it then you will be ok. They will look up the carb number, so don't try to fake it. The timers are questionable, it's kind of the ref's discretion.
And finally, make sure all your pcv stuff is hooked up. Piping, couplers, coolant hoses etc they don't care about. Even aftermarket intercoolers are legal. After the visual, he will smog your car and then DB test it. If you are worried about your car not passing smog, go pay for a pre-test at a smog station and you'll know
Originally Posted by nightwalker
I guess I'll chime in since I'm a smog tech.
They ref will not let the downpipe pass, they see it as the equivalent of a header. The cat back exhaust will be ok. If the AEM intake had the right carb number on it then you will be ok. They will look up the carb number, so don't try to fake it. The timers are questionable, it's kind of the ref's discretion.
And finally, make sure all your pcv stuff is hooked up. Piping, couplers, coolant hoses etc they don't care about. Even aftermarket intercoolers are legal. After the visual, he will smog your car and then DB test it. If you are worried about your car not passing smog, go pay for a pre-test at a smog station and you'll know
They ref will not let the downpipe pass, they see it as the equivalent of a header. The cat back exhaust will be ok. If the AEM intake had the right carb number on it then you will be ok. They will look up the carb number, so don't try to fake it. The timers are questionable, it's kind of the ref's discretion.
And finally, make sure all your pcv stuff is hooked up. Piping, couplers, coolant hoses etc they don't care about. Even aftermarket intercoolers are legal. After the visual, he will smog your car and then DB test it. If you are worried about your car not passing smog, go pay for a pre-test at a smog station and you'll know
That beats my suggestion.
I was going to say just put the stock cat back in and that should help you pass the dp test, but it looks like you're going to need to do the down pipe too.
Originally Posted by nightwalker
I guess I'll chime in since I'm a smog tech.
They ref will not let the downpipe pass, they see it as the equivalent of a header. The cat back exhaust will be ok. If the AEM intake had the right carb number on it then you will be ok. They will look up the carb number, so don't try to fake it. The timers are questionable, it's kind of the ref's discretion.
And finally, make sure all your pcv stuff is hooked up. Piping, couplers, coolant hoses etc they don't care about. Even aftermarket intercoolers are legal. After the visual, he will smog your car and then DB test it. If you are worried about your car not passing smog, go pay for a pre-test at a smog station and you'll know
They ref will not let the downpipe pass, they see it as the equivalent of a header. The cat back exhaust will be ok. If the AEM intake had the right carb number on it then you will be ok. They will look up the carb number, so don't try to fake it. The timers are questionable, it's kind of the ref's discretion.
And finally, make sure all your pcv stuff is hooked up. Piping, couplers, coolant hoses etc they don't care about. Even aftermarket intercoolers are legal. After the visual, he will smog your car and then DB test it. If you are worried about your car not passing smog, go pay for a pre-test at a smog station and you'll know
Originally Posted by badhabit90
how is the DP subjective to not passing?? it
yeah and "technically" we arent supposed to change our exhausts either. if something needed to be changed with our exhaust, then we are "supposed" to use factory. anything other than factory is considered "modified" in the eyes of the California Vehicle Code.
Evolving Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 368
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From: California
From my experience at the state ref maybe different places are different, the guy does not smog your car, he dosent put it on a lift, all he does is have you pull in a parking spot bring out the db tester tells you to hold your rpms at 4k or around there each car has a set place to hold it at i saw the book he was looking at, then after that he makes you pop your hood for less then 5 seconds atleast mine did maybe i got lucky, then says ok your good to go or if you dont pass says go get a resonator put on and come back, if you pass he stamps your ticket and your done.
like i said earlier maybe i got a laid back guy that didnt care but he didnt even look under my car to see if it had a cat or anything.
That was my experience anyways, not sure how it would go in other places i do recommend going to the Florin road 1 if your close, the place looked kind of unprofessional and they were doing fork lift lessons in the same shop.
like i said earlier maybe i got a laid back guy that didnt care but he didnt even look under my car to see if it had a cat or anything.
That was my experience anyways, not sure how it would go in other places i do recommend going to the Florin road 1 if your close, the place looked kind of unprofessional and they were doing fork lift lessons in the same shop.
You are going to have to take a sniffer test on the dyno....so basically you have to return everything back to stock...except the aem....
everything else will cause you to run rich.....so everything has to come out....they'll make you do it anyway after you fail, so u might as well save some time and money and take out the cams/gears/dp/exhaust/testpipe/fuel pump/ and remove the tune also for stock.
Honestly I have had friends with hondas had to go through this and they had to return to stock....all these other guys arent from cali they dont know how it is here.
Go back to stock and you will be ok. I have even seen the ref ***** about a car's headlights being to low to the ground....on top of other BS
Anyway yah this kid could have gotten away with not popping his hood IF he didn't voluntarily open it up for the cop. Since I assume that he did open it up for him without refusing....he is kind of **** out of luck. The cops are smart....they know the laws here....they basically "ask" you if you can pop ur hood open for them....most people don't even think about saying no.
everything else will cause you to run rich.....so everything has to come out....they'll make you do it anyway after you fail, so u might as well save some time and money and take out the cams/gears/dp/exhaust/testpipe/fuel pump/ and remove the tune also for stock.
Honestly I have had friends with hondas had to go through this and they had to return to stock....all these other guys arent from cali they dont know how it is here.
Go back to stock and you will be ok. I have even seen the ref ***** about a car's headlights being to low to the ground....on top of other BS
Anyway yah this kid could have gotten away with not popping his hood IF he didn't voluntarily open it up for the cop. Since I assume that he did open it up for him without refusing....he is kind of **** out of luck. The cops are smart....they know the laws here....they basically "ask" you if you can pop ur hood open for them....most people don't even think about saying no.
Evolved Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 3
From: Butt**** Nowhere
we use a blue book that the BAR (bureau of automotive repair) supplies us with that answers almost every question dealing with emissions and emissions law in California. Anything modified before the cat is legal if it has a carb number. They don't specify if it is an exhaust manifold, header, or downpipe. It's stated before and after cat. After the cat, you don't need a carb number becuase there are no emissions equipment there. You guys forget that o2 sensor, egr exhaust port, and air injection are plumbed into the exaust manifold/whatever before the cat on various cars.
The evo will be smogged if he is seeing the ref in Sac. They're really cracking down there, so be ready for it. But you can't dyno the evo so the ref will only do a two speed idle test, rev it to 2500 for 30 seconds, then let it idle for 30 seconds.
As for the headlight height, if he wanted to be dick, he could get you for not having your headlight 22 inches off the ground (the lowest point)
The evo will be smogged if he is seeing the ref in Sac. They're really cracking down there, so be ready for it. But you can't dyno the evo so the ref will only do a two speed idle test, rev it to 2500 for 30 seconds, then let it idle for 30 seconds.
As for the headlight height, if he wanted to be dick, he could get you for not having your headlight 22 inches off the ground (the lowest point)
What??!! This is in th USA? Land of the "free?" I was reading, and thought I was reading about some east block country here. that SUCKS!!! One government, big brother, its getting worse by the day!! Being told what you CAN, and CAN'T have, and where to spend your money.................sheeese.
Originally Posted by coolguycooz
i live in nor cali too, if your by any slim chance going to the state ref on florin, hes like an older guy and he was cool, when i got pulled over in my DSM 6 months ago, tested my sound it came up to like 98 bp but he signed me off anyways, i had piping on my DSM he popped the hood took a look and said ok your good. so go to the state ref on florin road if you can.
hopefully that guy still works there and you should be fine even with your hard piping left on.
hopefully that guy still works there and you should be fine even with your hard piping left on.
Cool thanks, I'll check that out
Originally Posted by stick
Ok bro, let me give you some legal advice......trust me, I know what I'm talking about
Some may consider me from the "dark side" per se.....
You got a ticket for no front plate so why did the cop ask you to pop your hood? He has to have a reason for believing that your car had illegal parts on it. If he saw you had an aftermarket exhaust, that in and of itself is not enough for him to make you pop your hood. If he saw that you had an aftermarket exhaust ("aftermarket" meaning non factory, BUT non factory can still be LEGAL) and your exhaust is LOUD, then yes, he can make you pop your hood to see if you have no cat or other illegal parts. YES, he can make you rev your exhaust. YES, it is a subject test from the cop if he believes it to be too loud (he does not need a dB tester in-hand right then)--then you go to a ref and get it objectively tested by a dB tester.
So why are you going to see a ref? For what exactly are you getting your car tested?
If the cop said, "I pulled you over for no front plate," and made NO mention about, "and your loud exhaust," AND your car was off when he walked up on you, AND he did not tell you to (to turn your car on) and rev the engine, THEN he had no reason to make you pop your hood. Therefore you can fight having to go to a ref. Do you understand?
The cop can say, "I pulled you over for no front plate and I see you have an aftermarket/modified exhaust (which in and of itself is STILL LEGAL), please start up your car and rev the engine. I would like to hear your exhaust." Well, then you are ****ed.......If he made no mention of your exhaust and did not tell you to rev the engine, then he had NO reason to make you pop your hood. Understand? There has to be a connection between finding something illegal and making you pop your hood. "I see you have a broken tail light, please pop your hood," is not a legal reason to make you pop your hood. "I see you have an aftermarket/modified exhaust," IS NOT A LEGAL REASON TO MAKE YOU POP YOUR HOOD!!! A new muffler from Midas is, by definition, a modified/aftermarket (non factory) exhaust. "I see you have an aftermarket/modified exhaust and it is loud," then the cop can make you pop your hood.
Go to court and pay for the ticket, but tell the judge that you are contesting having to go to a ref for the reasons above.
NOW EVERYONE LISTEN.....don't give attitude to any cop (yes, there are some stupid, rude cops) or he will do his best to write you up for ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
YES, a cop can impound/tow your car right then and there on the steet if he thinks your car is violating smog laws. Give a cop attitude and you can lose your car on the spot!
The advice I have given is FOR CALIFORNIA LAW ONLY!!!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Greg
-from the dark side
Some may consider me from the "dark side" per se.....You got a ticket for no front plate so why did the cop ask you to pop your hood? He has to have a reason for believing that your car had illegal parts on it. If he saw you had an aftermarket exhaust, that in and of itself is not enough for him to make you pop your hood. If he saw that you had an aftermarket exhaust ("aftermarket" meaning non factory, BUT non factory can still be LEGAL) and your exhaust is LOUD, then yes, he can make you pop your hood to see if you have no cat or other illegal parts. YES, he can make you rev your exhaust. YES, it is a subject test from the cop if he believes it to be too loud (he does not need a dB tester in-hand right then)--then you go to a ref and get it objectively tested by a dB tester.
So why are you going to see a ref? For what exactly are you getting your car tested?
If the cop said, "I pulled you over for no front plate," and made NO mention about, "and your loud exhaust," AND your car was off when he walked up on you, AND he did not tell you to (to turn your car on) and rev the engine, THEN he had no reason to make you pop your hood. Therefore you can fight having to go to a ref. Do you understand?
The cop can say, "I pulled you over for no front plate and I see you have an aftermarket/modified exhaust (which in and of itself is STILL LEGAL), please start up your car and rev the engine. I would like to hear your exhaust." Well, then you are ****ed.......If he made no mention of your exhaust and did not tell you to rev the engine, then he had NO reason to make you pop your hood. Understand? There has to be a connection between finding something illegal and making you pop your hood. "I see you have a broken tail light, please pop your hood," is not a legal reason to make you pop your hood. "I see you have an aftermarket/modified exhaust," IS NOT A LEGAL REASON TO MAKE YOU POP YOUR HOOD!!! A new muffler from Midas is, by definition, a modified/aftermarket (non factory) exhaust. "I see you have an aftermarket/modified exhaust and it is loud," then the cop can make you pop your hood.
Go to court and pay for the ticket, but tell the judge that you are contesting having to go to a ref for the reasons above.
NOW EVERYONE LISTEN.....don't give attitude to any cop (yes, there are some stupid, rude cops) or he will do his best to write you up for ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
YES, a cop can impound/tow your car right then and there on the steet if he thinks your car is violating smog laws. Give a cop attitude and you can lose your car on the spot!
The advice I have given is FOR CALIFORNIA LAW ONLY!!!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Greg
-from the dark side
Yeah, I think him saying I have no plate gave him a reason. He was actually in front of me and slowed down to 50mph so I could pass him, and once I passed him he went behind me and pulled me over!!! He said to pull over and to pop my hood and even took pictures! This was in like 7 in the morning too!!!
yikes man what part of nor cal was this? im from san jose area.. and another reason why i took off my espelir exhaust, all i have now is works stealthworks muffler, catless and dp...
but you should be coo w/ the greddy turbo timer since it doesnt have o2 readings or does it? coz i remember my friend got state ref also and they made him take out the APEXi turbo timer just because it reads the o2 sensor... and thats from going to the evergreen valley college state ref area..
but you should be coo w/ the greddy turbo timer since it doesnt have o2 readings or does it? coz i remember my friend got state ref also and they made him take out the APEXi turbo timer just because it reads the o2 sensor... and thats from going to the evergreen valley college state ref area..
