dganapol

All,

The title says it all. The numbers on the tests were in the passing range, but I failed the visual on the exhaust, modified wiring, and smoke tests. The visual I expected as I have a chrome test pipe with the very small cat, I think I purchased from "Fab speed". The wiring was because of the Scivision maf was not quite stealth enough, and the tail pipe has some visible smoke coming out.

I know I was in trouble when they had two guys going over it for about ½ hour. I passed two years ago with the same setup, but with the new regulations and laws in place it was bound to happen.

Fortunately I saved all of the original pieces and spent one morning putting everything back. When I took it back in it passed, no problem.

The car definitely drives differently and does not have the instant power that the SciVision maf and 3” test pipe gave it. I am just going to leave it stock and not put anything back. California is just getting harder and harder to modify the engine. The smog technicians just do not want to see any extra wiring or plumbing coming off the engine. I had to remove the MBE and all of the extra gauges. I had an EGR led meter with a wire to the O2 sensor, they wanted that removed also. The state even sent me a letter, since I failed the test I should consider selling the car to the state, what I would get, $1.50. The car still runs great. I just need to figure out what to do with the stuff I removed.

David 87 951 burg

RPHARRIS

Agreed, California Smog is RIDICULOUS!

The smog guys tend to be so confused by my setup (no distributor, no AFM, ford coilpack, delphi sensors) that they just shut the hood and do the tailpipe test.

If I were you I would put your stuff back on (especially if your chips are intended to work with those parts). Also find a less **** smog place next time!

Keithr726

One of the max values on my test a few months ago was 1125, I got 1123. It was sooo close. Funny when the car was stock with autothority chips I scored like 430.

FASTRNU

Thank God we don't have inspection in WA,just tailpipe test and go.I can pass without cat

Loquat15

California emissions suck, but you just have to find yourself a lazy smog shop, and one that never works with 944 turbos. jsut be like "that's a stock replacement part!!!!"

Lorax

Here in hall county no inspections and no emissions regulations

Suckers!

cas951

Did you go to the same shop as before?

Mine is due in a few months and worry about this each time.

bigdeano

an extra 20 or 30 bucks that accidentally falls out of your wallet onto the smog guys desk can make cars pass smog tests from what ive heard...

KuHL 951

I think you will find that any generic aftermarket cat purchased two years ago will be shot. Many shops considered them one time cats. I found this out with my BMW. The cat was only 2 years old and was fully gutted on the inside last February. New Cali laws require that new cats be vehicle specific and have enough plates to match OE performance.

dganapol

$20 to $30 will get you arrested in California for bribing a technician. $200-$500 will get the car passed:0

Loquat15

You should seriously think about getting a good cat (not high performance or anything) and a test pipe. Run with the test pipe regularly, and slap the cat pipe on when you have to smog it.

This will save you some money on buying cats every couple years. I've never seen a cop look under a car, but have heard of it happening. We're in Porsche's though, so like they'll bother. Cops tend not to harass Porsches/German cars, they harass the Japanese gang.

Keithr726

Yeah my cat pipe has two cats that are about 5 years old and it hardly pasted two months ago.

Lorax

They don't tend to be too lively after breathing all that exhaust!

PEvans

There should be a sticky on CA smog tests that comes up every time there is a "failed smog" thread.

First, the test uploads the tailpipe reads and RPM directly to the state. The smog guy has no discretion over anything except the visual. (This is not trivial - I had a 951 fail a visual with a stock cat; but my point is, the guy can't pass you no matter how much falls out of your wallet.)

Second, we test for NOx in addition to CO and HC, and the test is done on a dyno with the engine under load. The allowable NOx limits are now low enough in the urban areas that a 951 must have a functioning catalytic converter. I don't think there are any smog test tricks that get you under the NOx limit while meeting the others.

That said, passing with a fresh cat is no problem. The aftermarket cats only last a few years, though.

Lorax

so what are the emissions like running e85, maybe you guys could try that?

if you have the capability maybe have a very very lean map, and do your smog on race gas.