GianniG60

Good morning fellow Rennlisters!
Has anyone in CA with exhaust modifications before the factory rear box (meaning manifolds/headers and/or OAP) tried to pass smog yet?
We get 8 years of freedom until we need the first smog test.
So any 2016 718 cars with exhaust mods tried to pass smog test yet?

btlackey

I passed with a full Dundon header back system in the car. (Gt4rs)

Larry Cable

as long as you still have cats you should be ok...

GianniG60

@btlackey If you have a GT4RS, this car just came out so why would you get a smog test?
In CA, you don’t need one for 8 years so that’s why I was asking the owners with exhaust mods from model years 2016 or older.

Larry Cable

if its registered in Ca from out of state I believe...

GianniG60

@Larry Cable A set up with manifolds and OAP where the CATs are relocated to the OAP (where the GPFs are located from factory would not pass visual. Factory CATs are located at the end of the manifolds/headers.
Dundon and JCR manifold and OAP kits do not have CARB exemption and technically would not pass visual.
Visual inspection is a requirement by the state. Was hoping to get some feedback if smog test centers are indeed removing the lower underbody panel to do the visual inspection.

Larry Cable

yep I knew that already... good luck

TXshaggy

It's kind of a strange question as the 4.0 cars have only been in the US for about 4 years.

I guess it's relevant if a car came from out-of-state either through purchase or move.

If you're asking about early 718 non 4.0 cars we can move it over to the 718 forum.

btlackey

Bought the car from out of state so had to smog it. Visual isn’t super easy as everything is burried.

burnergt4

Brought my 2020 GT4 from NY and had to get it smogged for registration. Shop I went to just did OBD, no lift, no visual on cats, didn't even pop the rear deck to look for the emissions plaque (but AAA did when I went to register!).

Most places just want to take the path of least resistance; take the fee, run it through the computer, give you your print out, and get you out of there.

Edit: I have stock cats, FYI. Just posting the above to give some color as to my smog experience. Essentially I think if you have all your monitors set and confirm before heading over to the smog place, it seems like it'll be smooth sailing.

GianniG60

@burnergt4 Super helpful info!
I guess there is no way to know until I have to do it. Hoping they still want easy path in 8 years.

GianniG60

@TXshaggy Asking because the older cars are still mid engined and some disassembling would be required to do visual inspection.
Not sure if the Boxster/Caymann have underbody pan like the new 718 Spyder/GT4 but those cars are all I have to go on and reason I inquired.
perhaps I should check the other forums too. 🤘🏼

macrs

Most smog places will simply hook your car to the OBD II and leave the car running.

Xxyion

Same as above, i bought my GT4 out of state so CA DMV required me to smog before registering the car. I was fully stock at the time but the shop i took it to did not remove anything and just did the OBD and other tests. Like some have said it might just depend on the place, however i do know that the Cats are more than just a visual test. It does actually affect the output so i cant imagine you would pass a standard smog test with aftermarket headers. You cant even pass smog with after market cats in CA so i cant imagine it would pass without the OEM cats.

RDCR

This ^

FWIW I've bought 3 cars out of state and the procedure has been the same. You go by the DMV to have the VIN verified and they also look for the federal emissions sticker somewhere on or around the motor. That was a pain on the Carman R because I had to pull the motor cover. You then take the car to a local smog guy who enters the VIN and checks for any codes via the OBDII port. In the case of the GT4 I had to drive it around a bit and then retest because the battery had either gone dead or been disconnected and the smog system had to reset itself. The only issue one might have is if the car was still storing codes regarding the cats.

There were no visual inspections for any of them.