CAR FLAGGED FOR CA State REF "PLEASE HELP"
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Yes, it is modded, pretty much the same mods as yours.
Fortunately, since I'm not originally from CA, I will be able to register in my home state.
I'm able to go back to stock also just to pass state ref, but that's too much of a hassle for me.
Fortunately, since I'm not originally from CA, I will be able to register in my home state.
I'm able to go back to stock also just to pass state ref, but that's too much of a hassle for me.
Evolved Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 261
From: New York
CA is nuts... I am in NY and if the ECU says everything is ok, and there is a CAT on there; your good to go... The CAT doesn't even have to be OEM or EPA, although I now have an EPA certified CAT on her... I have an OEM cat hanging on the wall with 20kmi on it, perhaps I should eBay that sucker.
I had no idea CA was this detailed in making sure that you haven't changed anything.
I had no idea CA was this detailed in making sure that you haven't changed anything.
CA is nuts... I am in NY and if the ECU says everything is ok, and there is a CAT on there; your good to go... The CAT doesn't even have to be OEM or EPA, although I now have an EPA certified CAT on her... I have an OEM cat hanging on the wall with 20kmi on it, perhaps I should eBay that sucker.
I had no idea CA was this detailed in making sure that you haven't changed anything.
I had no idea CA was this detailed in making sure that you haven't changed anything.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
It seems to me they're trying to get as many of our cars off the road as possible, for being notorious gross polluters.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
I'm sure this whole thing is an expense. The fee for the referee is a whopping $12 and you only pay when/if you pass. Plus all the admin overhead on finding, flagging,inspecting and processing everything. CA lost money on my car since they had to inspect it twice and all the back and forth reviewing/approving documents.
Do I hate California more than I love my eyes?
https://dsportmag.com/the-cars/featu...bishi-exo-evo/
https://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Refe..._Vehicles.aspx
I wonder if we can overwhelm their system the way LA had to shut down tickets for red light cameras. Somehow everybody is going to need to get reffed.
https://dsportmag.com/the-cars/featu...bishi-exo-evo/
https://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Refe..._Vehicles.aspx
I'm sure this whole thing is an expense. The fee for the referee is a whopping $12 and you only pay when/if you pass. Plus all the admin overhead on finding, flagging,inspecting and processing everything. CA lost money on my car since they had to inspect it twice and all the back and forth reviewing/approving documents.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: hawaii
To pass ref, you can buy a spare ecu for flashing and keeping your original with stock tune. I can build any size turbo (up to size similar to FP Black) and make it look like stock 9 turbo. You can swap injectors, exhaust, and ecu for smog every 2 years. Unfortunately, the cams will need to stay stock if you don't want the huge headache of swapping it since timing belt has to come off to swap. You can still make up to 400whp on 91 and 500whp on E85 with stock cams and still be able to easily swap back for smog. Anything more will need a lot of work to swap every 2 years (cams, intake and exhaust manifolds, smog equipment, etc).
Back when piggybacks where the only way to tune, they where mediocre at best, now that there is a ton of support for the OEM ECU, piggybacks are trash.
If you want to use a piggyback for just smog purposes, find a S-AFC for super cheap and use that.
Well, I'm in the same boat with the OP now. Found my "very stock" X MR has to visit referee when I was in for smog. It looks like they have a crack down campaign on tuned ecu. I called in and they made me a "phone call" appointment first. They sent me a PDF document basically saying that they think my ecu is modified (copied and pasted below). Very sh!tty. It looks like the future of our tuning cars in California will be gone soon. Just a special downpipe with tuned for 91 and e85. My options are either (1) put back the downpipe and flash the oem tune back (2) sell the car to another out of state enthusiasm. The car is well taken care of and clean, hate to let it go. Below is the text content as-is from the ref PDF attached in the email they sent. It's so suck.
The software in your vehicle’s engine management computer doesn’t match what the vehicle manufacturer produced. If it has modified programing, it is likely due to the computer being flashed with an illegal software program. Once an illegal flash has been programmed into a vehicle computer, restoring the correct flash can be difficult and complicated. Some flashes can also modify or damage the programming on other modules in the vehicle, such as ABS or Air bag control modules. If that is the case, these modules may need to be replaced or reprogrammed. In some cases, the only way to correct the problem is to purchase a new computer and have the dealer install the correct flash.
FOR SUBMITTING PROOF OF REPAIRS/CORRECTIONS TO THE REFEREE:
BY FAX: 916-244-2629
BY EMAIL: REFDOCS@FOUNDATIONCCC.ORG
Please add your name, telephone number, license plate number and allow up to 3 business days to be processed and contacted by phone.
The software in your vehicle’s engine management computer doesn’t match what the vehicle manufacturer produced. If it has modified programing, it is likely due to the computer being flashed with an illegal software program. Once an illegal flash has been programmed into a vehicle computer, restoring the correct flash can be difficult and complicated. Some flashes can also modify or damage the programming on other modules in the vehicle, such as ABS or Air bag control modules. If that is the case, these modules may need to be replaced or reprogrammed. In some cases, the only way to correct the problem is to purchase a new computer and have the dealer install the correct flash.
FOR SUBMITTING PROOF OF REPAIRS/CORRECTIONS TO THE REFEREE:
BY FAX: 916-244-2629
BY EMAIL: REFDOCS@FOUNDATIONCCC.ORG
Please add your name, telephone number, license plate number and allow up to 3 business days to be processed and contacted by phone.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Well, I'm in the same boat with the OP now. Found my "very stock" X MR has to visit referee when I was in for smog. It looks like they have a crack down campaign on tuned ecu. I called in and they made me a "phone call" appointment first. They sent me a PDF document basically saying that they think my ecu is modified (copied and pasted below). Very sh!tty. It looks like the future of our tuning cars in California will be gone soon. Just a special downpipe with tuned for 91 and e85. My options are either (1) put back the downpipe and flash the oem tune back (2) sell the car to another out of state enthusiasm. The car is well taken care of and clean, hate to let it go. Below is the text content as-is from the ref PDF attached in the email they sent. It's so suck.
The software in your vehicle’s engine management computer doesn’t match what the vehicle manufacturer produced. If it has modified programing, it is likely due to the computer being flashed with an illegal software program. Once an illegal flash has been programmed into a vehicle computer, restoring the correct flash can be difficult and complicated. Some flashes can also modify or damage the programming on other modules in the vehicle, such as ABS or Air bag control modules. If that is the case, these modules may need to be replaced or reprogrammed. In some cases, the only way to correct the problem is to purchase a new computer and have the dealer install the correct flash.
FOR SUBMITTING PROOF OF REPAIRS/CORRECTIONS TO THE REFEREE:
BY FAX: 916-244-2629
BY EMAIL: REFDOCS@FOUNDATIONCCC.ORG
Please add your name, telephone number, license plate number and allow up to 3 business days to be processed and contacted by phone.
The software in your vehicle’s engine management computer doesn’t match what the vehicle manufacturer produced. If it has modified programing, it is likely due to the computer being flashed with an illegal software program. Once an illegal flash has been programmed into a vehicle computer, restoring the correct flash can be difficult and complicated. Some flashes can also modify or damage the programming on other modules in the vehicle, such as ABS or Air bag control modules. If that is the case, these modules may need to be replaced or reprogrammed. In some cases, the only way to correct the problem is to purchase a new computer and have the dealer install the correct flash.
FOR SUBMITTING PROOF OF REPAIRS/CORRECTIONS TO THE REFEREE:
BY FAX: 916-244-2629
BY EMAIL: REFDOCS@FOUNDATIONCCC.ORG
Please add your name, telephone number, license plate number and allow up to 3 business days to be processed and contacted by phone.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Socal
Wanted to make a new account to chime in here. My car was also flagged before the smog tech touched it. Like others in the thread, it has passed all previous smogs on the bar website. I did refuse the ECU recall as there is a tune, so perhaps this was cause for audit as someone else mentioned. I have some time to swap back the stock parts before the appointment in early December, just trying not to feel targeted after reading the replies 
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
are they able to tell if you are running a piggyback tuner when you go in to get smog check? interested because I'm researching a piggy back and of course the site gives the warning "not for road use" but, if otherwise parts are smog/CARB legal will they know I'm running a piggyback when they plug in?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FS[Northeast]: Turbo Conversion Parts For Sale
RpVilleneuve
For Sale - Engine / Drivetrain / Power
0
Mar 20, 2017 08:38 AM
DIDYSIS
For Sale - Wanting To Buy (WTB) Or Trade (WTT)
6
Dec 3, 2009 08:14 AM