Past the smog test, failed the visual.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Past the smog test, failed the visual.
Well as you probably guessed, I live in good old smoggy California. I took my car to get smogged after all the engine work I have done and being torn down about a year and a half. To my surprise the darn thing past emissions. The hydrocarbons were right on the money but the inspector immediately started looking for an E.O. number on the headers and the adjustable fuel regulator and when he could not find one he said, sorry. Unless you can come up with the numbers I can't pass you. I went home and got the number for the regulator but for the headers, forget it. I will go to a State referee and try and get a waiver but if that does not work, well what do you guys suggest?
:nonod:
:nonod:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (scorp508)
I thought of that and that is probably what I will have to do if I can't get the waiver. Why shouldn't I get a waiver if it passed emissions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (ciscokid)
Where did you go for the smog test? I'm in the LA area and the small mechanics I have gone to for past smog tests never seem to do much a visual. They just stick in the probes, get the readings, and that is the end of story. The reason I ask is that I am about to install some shorty headers and there is no CARB stamp on them but they have smog fittings. I was not concerned about this until your post.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (ciscokid)
Another good reason to recall Gay Davis. We need someone who has the nuts to abolish CARB! You might want to try a Ref - I had some luck with one on my kid's sport truck for a nasty little fixit ticket he managed a couple of years ago. They didn't seem to care about the headers or the open intake or more probable than not, didn't know what they were looking at. Maybe someone can send you some #'s? I'm pretty sure one exists for the regulator and how is the tech going to know it isn't the one you've got (though for a tech to know it's an adjustable shows he/she knows a lot more than the ones I've been around). The headers, probably a big problem. Maybe you could convince a ref that stock is no longer in production and you had no choice! Time to be creative.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (ciscokid)
Also found this on the Air Resources Board webpage:
"Exempted parts are add-on or modified parts that have undergone an ARB engineering evaluation. If the part or modification is shown to not increase vehicle emissions, it is granted an exemption to emission control system anti-tampering laws. This exemption is called an Executive Order (EO) and allows the modification to be installed on specific emission controlled vehicles. Every Executive Order part or modification has an assigned number that can be verified by Smog Check stations, BAR Referee stations, or by the ARB."
It seems obvious that your mods did not increase the emissions so why can't the inspector get his head out of his butt and pass you?
"Exempted parts are add-on or modified parts that have undergone an ARB engineering evaluation. If the part or modification is shown to not increase vehicle emissions, it is granted an exemption to emission control system anti-tampering laws. This exemption is called an Executive Order (EO) and allows the modification to be installed on specific emission controlled vehicles. Every Executive Order part or modification has an assigned number that can be verified by Smog Check stations, BAR Referee stations, or by the ARB."
It seems obvious that your mods did not increase the emissions so why can't the inspector get his head out of his butt and pass you?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
Likes: 1
From: Modesto CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (DougSilver)
Don't bother trying to get him to pass those headers, unless you have a sticker, it's a definete no go. (Trust me, I've tried even WITH the referee.) The best thing to do, is find a friend with a smog shop ;) Otherwise, plan on taking those headers off. If they're hedman headers (Crappy ones) then you MIGHT have a chance. If you could maybe scratch in a part # on em to match the sticker #. I got a sticker from Hedman that says that the part is good for "All Chevy 350's from 75-91". It doesn't say any car model or anything on it. So if he was a sorta NICE guy, he might just say ok with it.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (TIMSPEED)
This is the reason I never went to hearders on my ZR-1. They have 2 cats one each of the exhaust manifolds. So we cut them off and flanged them on both ends so you could bolt them in and out. 364 days a year I have a straight pipe where the cats would go. The one day to test the cats go in a 20 min operation it is stock again and passes no problem. I know that I loose a little flow but never have any worries. It also sounds great with out the cats going through the Flowmaster 50's and true duel 3 in pipes all the way back.
Jeffy'
Jeffy'
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Socorro New Mexico
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (Jeffyvette)
:rant: They don't call it the PRC (Peoples Republic of California) for nothing. Seems that sate hates individuality. OK now everybody, in lockstep now, We the elected socialists know what is best for you, and if we don't understand it, it must be outlawed, cause we don't want to have to make intelegent decisions, emotional decisions are much better for you, the proletariat.
Seriously now, if hot rodders were given the challange: " You can do anything you want as long as it passes smog, and we will base fees on the actual levels observed.", what do you think would happen? Right now it is a manufacturers paradise in California, and if you think that all the Automotive Performance companys in California dislike the smog laws, think again.
Seriously now, if hot rodders were given the challange: " You can do anything you want as long as it passes smog, and we will base fees on the actual levels observed.", what do you think would happen? Right now it is a manufacturers paradise in California, and if you think that all the Automotive Performance companys in California dislike the smog laws, think again.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: West Sacramento CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (DougSilver)
I am in the northern California area, specifically Sacramento. I have the headers from TPIS and they have all the attachments for the smog equipment. I would not drive into a smog station without having all that stuff hooked up to the headers. To not have it hooked up is asking to fail.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (dgoodhue)
All the 13 posts above are right on. That's why I went with JBA's on my 92 because the had a CARB # assigned. I avoided the problems you are having. BTW...(and someone I'm sure will correct me) ...I don't think there is a Cal. legal header for the earlier C-4's. (1990 and back)
[Modified by ittlfly, 8:10 AM 6/13/2003]
[Modified by ittlfly, 8:10 AM 6/13/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
From: Dana Point Ca
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (ciscokid)
Grey Davis is a nut sucker and has ruined this state. I would tell the smog guy to kiss your butt, try to find a shop through a buddy that will ignore the visual as long as you pass the sniffer (I DID), if you cant, take off the headers and put em back on afterwards. Time to move to Nevada.
Good luck :mad :cheers:
Good luck :mad :cheers:
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (vettethret)
People who voted for Davis deserve him, but this is not his fault. I have lived here for 15 years and the law was in effect before that.
You are not allowed to mod your engine even if it runs cleaner. Too easy to put original parts on, test them, and then put the after market ones back on. This is the reason they do roadside checks with infra red sensors to see if your car is running clean.
The reason for the CARB sticker, in my opinion, is purely money. If someone wants to do business in this state you have to pay the state. Many companies have refused to give into the kickback scheme.
I am in favor of most of the emissions laws. The air is much cleaner and a Z06 is rated as an ultra low emissions car.
When the politicians use environmental concerns to blackmail businesses they lose what little credibility they might have had.
:nono:
You are not allowed to mod your engine even if it runs cleaner. Too easy to put original parts on, test them, and then put the after market ones back on. This is the reason they do roadside checks with infra red sensors to see if your car is running clean.
The reason for the CARB sticker, in my opinion, is purely money. If someone wants to do business in this state you have to pay the state. Many companies have refused to give into the kickback scheme.
I am in favor of most of the emissions laws. The air is much cleaner and a Z06 is rated as an ultra low emissions car.
When the politicians use environmental concerns to blackmail businesses they lose what little credibility they might have had.
:nono:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (Yellow95)
As long as we're drifting a bit off topic, thought I would give two more cents worth of my thoughts on the smog scam in California. It is my opinion that NO smog checks should be required for any car from new to 5 years old. The emissions measurements of any cars built during at least the last 10 years always come out well-within mandated limitations. Beyond 5 years, I would allow an exemption for any car owner who can show that he has performed "normal" maintenance and upkeep--limited emissions checks can be performed during one of the maintenance operations.
Of course this would eliminate the massive bureaucracy associated with this ridiculous and no-longer-needed program.
Of course this would eliminate the massive bureaucracy associated with this ridiculous and no-longer-needed program.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: NORTH WALES PA
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (DougSilver)
Do what I do. Find yourself a shop which just sells stickers not the actual inspection and you will have a winning comb ination. For a mere $65 dollars a year here in Pennsylvania it's well worth it. :smash: :cool: :steering:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,080
Likes: 0
From: Corvette valley Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Past the smog test, failed the visual. (Yellow95)
People who voted for Davis deserve him, but this is not his fault. I have lived here for 15 years and the law was in effect before that.
You are not allowed to mod your engine even if it runs cleaner. Too easy to put original parts on, test them, and then put the after market ones back on. This is the reason they do roadside checks with infra red sensors to see if your car is running clean.
The reason for the CARB sticker, in my opinion, is purely money. If someone wants to do business in this state you have to pay the state. Many companies have refused to give into the kickback scheme.
I am in favor of most of the emissions laws. The air is much cleaner and a Z06 is rated as an ultra low emissions car.
When the politicians use environmental concerns to blackmail businesses they lose what little credibility they might have had.
:nono:
You are not allowed to mod your engine even if it runs cleaner. Too easy to put original parts on, test them, and then put the after market ones back on. This is the reason they do roadside checks with infra red sensors to see if your car is running clean.
The reason for the CARB sticker, in my opinion, is purely money. If someone wants to do business in this state you have to pay the state. Many companies have refused to give into the kickback scheme.
I am in favor of most of the emissions laws. The air is much cleaner and a Z06 is rated as an ultra low emissions car.
When the politicians use environmental concerns to blackmail businesses they lose what little credibility they might have had.
:nono:
[Modified by grapeknutz, 6:31 PM 6/13/2003]