Spyerx

Don’t drive on PCH between laguna beach and seal beach on the weekends in summer. Major revenue collection going on in the spirit of ‘envrionmental noise’ - ie rich people who don’t like loud cars. Oddly, they don’t bother my 71T which is loud AF!

With CA Smog, its best to:
dont change anything on intake
dont change anything before the cats
dont change computer coding.

The latest smog check is doing computer checksum scans (my 997Rs just went through this and was scanned). Starting this year… so any ecu mods are detected.

Sure you can have your “guy” but they are less and less, and I’ve just given up on it and deal with it now.

rp718

Has anyone heard of someone with aftermarket OAPs failing the visual at a CA smog check? I'm not sure the average smog check goof would even know the diff.

k3|th

On the visual inspection, they are basically looking for OEM headers / cats with the metal stamp. I've ran numerous cars with aftermarket exhausts that never were an issue with SMOG. I've also ran aftermarket intakes (Dinan, etc.) ... as long as you have the CARB issued E.O. number, you are good to go. Regarding tunes, COBB is CARB approved and comes with an E.O. number.

spyderphile

Thanks; will take note. Smog isn't an issue as I don't touch Cat or ECU. As for giving up and dealing with, well, that would be a hard pill to swallow! If I get tagged for being loud, what would I do? That wouldn't end well, .... for the Spyder! Something to think about...!

I'm surprised this issue hasn't gotten much attention in this forum. This is not hypothetical, but real!

sbsurfer

I would like to know this as well.

GoBigSpyder

Any update on this? Just curious if, when the inspection is conducted for smog if they inspect the underside/rear wheel wells and can see aftermarket cats?

Christmas50

in CA there is no smog for 7 years as far as I know. I've never heard of visual inspection in CA unless you are pulled over for emissions and sent to state inspection station.

RDCR

I haven't kept any of my cars long enough for the 7 years to kick in but I've had to get smog certs here in Calif. 3 times over the last 8 years for used P cars I bought out of state. At no time were any of them visually inspected by the smog tech and this was 3 different smog stations. They plugged into the OBDII port, checked for codes evidently and sent me on my way. Make sure you've got some mileage / start ups on the car after a battery disconnect or you may need a retest.

studiotsang

I've lived in So Cal all my life. Gotten a few exhaust too loud tickets. Most recent one I got was maybe 5-6 years ago and was interesting to note that you're no longer required to show proof you "fixed it". You can simply pay a much higher penalty fee ($400+ at that time vs $20 fixit fee) and just go on with your life. State just wants the money.

spyderphile

@studiotsang : That's interesting. Does the fine increase with subsequent citations for the same offense (noise)? Is it solely at the discretion of the cop pulling you over or you get a chance to visit DMV-authorized shop to validate the noise level? Models like 981 gen Spyder/GT4, in stock specs, will likely attract the wrath of over-zealous cops!

sf_c63

I purchased my car out of state with Soul OAP and catback exhaust. SOUL is labeled on the exhaust. I passed smog with zero issues last month.

studiotsang

Knock on wood I haven't gotten another exhaust ticket since then so I don't know about if the fine increases. The option to pay higher fine without fixing was built into the official ticket I got in the mail, not at officers discretion.

GoBigSpyder

Good to know. Did they try to look at your headers to see if they had been switched out? I'm aware yours are OEM, just curious if they tried?