Moving to California...What should I know about emissions testing??
04-06-2023, 11:12 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Moving to California...What should I know about emissions testing??
Hello guys, long time no posting, I recognize some of you from way before. I still have my beloved dream car, a 1993 America Roadster (C2 wide body) with 993TT drive train. Here in Idaho I pass emissions spectacularly having very little pollution compared to the allowed every time with the sniffers since I don't have OBD2 for my model year. Gonna retire in the next few years and wanting to move back to Cali. Lots of questions surrounding my garage queen. I've been reading the forums and googled but have some specifics questions that hopefully will be answered....
Is the "visual" test to check that all components of emissions are present, or is it comparing my current engine bay to what a 1993 C2 engine is suppose to look like? My engine bay is shoehorned with 993TT. If they see its different am I hosed??
What exactly are the emission components of the 993 Turbo? I get that there should be cats and O2 sensors, but what else? Is there a charcoal canister? Air pump? What else am I missing?
If my engine is from a 1996TT and my car is a 1993 chassis, and it passes sniffer quite nicely here in Idaho, Does it seem I will be ok in Cali??
Almost forgot to mention, It has the Ruf turbo R conversion (ecu, cams, back-dated cam sprocket, turbos, air filter) but it still passes the sniffer very well
thanks in advance
Jaime
Is the "visual" test to check that all components of emissions are present, or is it comparing my current engine bay to what a 1993 C2 engine is suppose to look like? My engine bay is shoehorned with 993TT. If they see its different am I hosed??
What exactly are the emission components of the 993 Turbo? I get that there should be cats and O2 sensors, but what else? Is there a charcoal canister? Air pump? What else am I missing?
If my engine is from a 1996TT and my car is a 1993 chassis, and it passes sniffer quite nicely here in Idaho, Does it seem I will be ok in Cali??
Almost forgot to mention, It has the Ruf turbo R conversion (ecu, cams, back-dated cam sprocket, turbos, air filter) but it still passes the sniffer very well
thanks in advance
Jaime
Last edited by ttAmerica RoadsterAWD; 04-06-2023 at 11:18 PM. Reason: incomplete sentence.
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04-07-2023, 10:26 AM
#3
Hello guys, long time no posting, I recognize some of you from way before. I still have my beloved dream car, a 1993 America Roadster (C2 wide body) with 993TT drive train. Here in Idaho I pass emissions spectacularly having very little pollution compared to the allowed every time with the sniffers since I don't have OBD2 for my model year. Gonna retire in the next few years and wanting to move back to Cali. Lots of questions surrounding my garage queen. I've been reading the forums and googled but have some specifics questions that hopefully will be answered....
Is the "visual" test to check that all components of emissions are present, or is it comparing my current engine bay to what a 1993 C2 engine is suppose to look like? My engine bay is shoehorned with 993TT. If they see its different am I hosed??
What exactly are the emission components of the 993 Turbo? I get that there should be cats and O2 sensors, but what else? Is there a charcoal canister? Air pump? What else am I missing?
If my engine is from a 1996TT and my car is a 1993 chassis, and it passes sniffer quite nicely here in Idaho, Does it seem I will be ok in Cali??
Almost forgot to mention, It has the Ruf turbo R conversion (ecu, cams, back-dated cam sprocket, turbos, air filter) but it still passes the sniffer very well
thanks in advance
Jaime
Is the "visual" test to check that all components of emissions are present, or is it comparing my current engine bay to what a 1993 C2 engine is suppose to look like? My engine bay is shoehorned with 993TT. If they see its different am I hosed??
What exactly are the emission components of the 993 Turbo? I get that there should be cats and O2 sensors, but what else? Is there a charcoal canister? Air pump? What else am I missing?
If my engine is from a 1996TT and my car is a 1993 chassis, and it passes sniffer quite nicely here in Idaho, Does it seem I will be ok in Cali??
Almost forgot to mention, It has the Ruf turbo R conversion (ecu, cams, back-dated cam sprocket, turbos, air filter) but it still passes the sniffer very well
thanks in advance
Jaime
For your car, I’m not saying it is impossible, it’s just going to be very difficult. I would call a SMOG shop and/or a referee station to explain your car to them and seek guidance.
04-07-2023, 11:46 AM
#4
Rennlist Member
04-07-2023, 05:19 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
04-08-2023, 06:00 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
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04-12-2023, 01:35 AM
#8
04-12-2023, 11:25 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
Even if you get it registered in Montana when you move to Cali you have 20 days to register it and more than likely you will have to go to a State Referee to have it inspected and smogged.
Here in Cali they're able check if your ecu has been modified which is not allowed. And they go by engine year since your engine is a TT your car will have to have AWD. I learned that the
hard way. I have a '96 C4S converted it to a GT2 including '96TT motor and FWD delete. Had to bring it to a State Referee because of the engine swap, regular smog stations wouldn't test it.
Had to reinstall FWD before it would pass.
Here in Cali they're able check if your ecu has been modified which is not allowed. And they go by engine year since your engine is a TT your car will have to have AWD. I learned that the
hard way. I have a '96 C4S converted it to a GT2 including '96TT motor and FWD delete. Had to bring it to a State Referee because of the engine swap, regular smog stations wouldn't test it.
Had to reinstall FWD before it would pass.
04-17-2023, 12:31 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
I assume you saw this link already.
https://www.bar.ca.gov/consumer/smog...engine-changes
Probably makes sense to contact the BAR referee to better understand, because I read this that just because and engine is swapped doesn't mean it is automatically disqualified. If the engine itself passes CA smog, you just have to jump through a few hoops.
FWIW, I have a 993 turbo that has been modified with larger turbos and a tuned ECU, passes no problem. It's going to Germany for a full Turbo R conversion later this year so hopefully will still pass when it comes back lol.
https://www.bar.ca.gov/consumer/smog...engine-changes
Probably makes sense to contact the BAR referee to better understand, because I read this that just because and engine is swapped doesn't mean it is automatically disqualified. If the engine itself passes CA smog, you just have to jump through a few hoops.
FWIW, I have a 993 turbo that has been modified with larger turbos and a tuned ECU, passes no problem. It's going to Germany for a full Turbo R conversion later this year so hopefully will still pass when it comes back lol.
04-22-2023, 11:17 PM
#13
Drifting
Originally Posted by tootrn
Even if you get it registered in Montana when you move to Cali you have 20 days to register it and more than likely you will have to go to a State Referee to have it inspected and smogged.
Here in Cali they're able check if your ecu has been modified which is not allowed. And they go by engine year since your engine is a TT your car will have to have AWD. I learned that the
hard way. I have a '96 C4S converted it to a GT2 including '96TT motor and FWD delete. Had to bring it to a State Referee because of the engine swap, regular smog stations wouldn't test it.
Had to reinstall FWD before it would pass.
Here in Cali they're able check if your ecu has been modified which is not allowed. And they go by engine year since your engine is a TT your car will have to have AWD. I learned that the
hard way. I have a '96 C4S converted it to a GT2 including '96TT motor and FWD delete. Had to bring it to a State Referee because of the engine swap, regular smog stations wouldn't test it.
Had to reinstall FWD before it would pass.
04-22-2023, 11:51 PM
#14
