Rod Handsfield

I have a question re the above. Were all S4's and GTS' designed to meet California missions when new? Are there California and 49 state cars? Will they meet those emission and safety requirements currently? I am talking about low mileage, perfectly maintained, unmolested cars.

Bill Ball

All the US cars are the same. [EDIT: Scratch that - Erkka is right. There is a difference in the air pump diverter vacuum feed for CA but it makes no difference when bringing a 928 into CA. It can with new vehicles.] In general the 928s do very well on emissions testing here, if they are in good repair. Bad O2 sensors, leaky injectors, out of spec MAFs and similar old car issues can get you. My 89 has been creeping up on NOX and HC numbers. I thought the cats were finally going, but it did better than before in the last test. I'm a great believer in the Italian tune-up. Oh, there are no safety inspections.

Rob Edwards

My GTS blows cleaner than my wife's '03 Accord.

brutus

I do not think many such cars exist..."I am talking about low mileage, perfectly maintained, unmolested cars. " If you buy an out of state car and bring it into Calfornia while it SHOULD pass the visual inspection if all original and the emissions testing it is somewhat of a risk and any and all repair costs are yours to pay. Buy one in California and the seller must give you a current smog certificate.

Speedtoys

Except mechanics lien purchases..

Rod Handsfield

What are the CA requirements/standards for passing emissions test?

brutus

Complete visual underhood inpection that all smog equipment is present and no aftermarket modifications. Under car look at exhaust and cat convertor. Then exhaust sniffing at idle speeds and like 30 mph on a dyno. And they now pressurize the fuel tank vapor system to assure no leaks or modifications.

Vilhuer

Early US model S4 and GT were made in two different versions, C02 for rest of US and C03 for California. All were same C02 since '91 MY as all US cars started to use California setup. I believe C03 cars were also sold in New York state in '90 MY and possibly also in '89 already as NY had taken same little stricter emissions rules into use as California. Only mechanical difference is air pump control valve vacuum connection under intake. Its located slightly differently in C03 option cars. This probably changes rpm and load range when air is pumped into converters.

danglerb

CA smog test has several parts;

Tech enters the VIN and the smog test computer checks for it being a CA emissions car. Imported cars without a BAR inspection sticker that generally was only possible to obtain many years ago when requirements were much more lax, are rejected and sent to a referee station for a MUCH more strict inspection which they will fail by not having a EPA and CARB approved sticker or something. Import cars with a BAR sticker on the door jam get tested based on info on the sticker and maybe in some database off the bar code.

Tech does a visual inspection for the presence and proper operation of all required smog devices. Replacement cats are VERY fussy, and if they appear newer than about 3 years they have to have exemption codes specific to your car.

Tech checks the timing, and various other under the hood tasks, but last I heard does not check the fuel system since they don't have adapter caps for the 928.

Tech runs the dyno per computer instruction with a tailpipe sniffer, 15 and 25 mph or something like that.

heinrich

All my cars have passed WA emissions with no cats for over 11 years. With cats, they register goose eggs.

jeff spahn

Don't discount the GB magic flowing under your hood Rob.

cali4sun

My S4 passes with no problems better than alot of newer cars it's (stock) w/exception RMB. My 912E must also undergo a smog test which passes easy with all original equipment (still has original thermal reactors)

'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black

Bjbpe

Come to Wyoming where we worry more about cow flatulence.

Speedtoys

We both worry about the same things.

A properly running car.

karl ruiter

My '82 was the last car I had to do regularly. I remember the smog guy looking shocked and saying: "new cars aren't this clean."