C32 with secondary cats removed passes CA smog test
10-10-2008, 07:57 PM
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2002 C32 Black/Charcoal
C32 with secondary cats removed passes CA smog test
Just wanted to let any of you who are contemplating removing the C32 secondary cats that, while the removal of the secondaries is illegal in California, a C32 with the secondaries removed will pass California smog test with no problem. I am not speaking from personal experience, of course. However, I was provided this information by a 100% reliable source
.
.
10-11-2008, 10:16 AM
#2
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2002 C32 AMG
Just wanted to let any of you who are contemplating removing the C32 secondary cats that, while the removal of the secondaries is illegal in California, a C32 with the secondaries removed will pass California smog test with no problem. I am not speaking from personal experience, of course. However, I was provided this information by a 100% reliable source.
.B.T.W. if your state uses the OBDII test, you can also remove your front cats and pass (assuming they don't look under the car) as long as you can trick your ECU into believing nothing is wrong. This can be achieved with MIL eliminators.
10-11-2008, 11:28 AM
#3
Super Moderator
10-11-2008, 11:35 AM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2002 C32 Black/Charcoal
Yup, they snaked a tube up the exhaust, and it still came out clean. In fact, the tester commented that the car was running extemely cleanly
I have a theory that the second set of cats (in addition to the resonator) is mainly for noise reduction, not air cleanliness.
I have a theory that the second set of cats (in addition to the resonator) is mainly for noise reduction, not air cleanliness.
10-11-2008, 12:37 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Delran, NJ
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05 C55
If they test the same way as NJ, then they plug into the OBDII port. The second set of O2 sensors (the one's that monitor pollution control) are located directly after the first set of cats. The secondary cats are not monitored by the ECU in any way. The new smog tests use the ECU itself to give them the info they need (which I believe is basically a pass or fail status). They used to plug an instrument into the tailpipe and actually analyze the exhaust gasses. Now that all cars ('96 and up) have to conform not only to certain pollution standards, but also specific on board monitoring and control standards, they just trust the ECU to be able to accurately monitor emissions.
B.T.W. if your state uses the OBDII test, you can also remove your front cats and pass (assuming they don't look under the car) as long as you can trick your ECU into believing nothing is wrong. This can be achieved with MIL eliminators.
B.T.W. if your state uses the OBDII test, you can also remove your front cats and pass (assuming they don't look under the car) as long as you can trick your ECU into believing nothing is wrong. This can be achieved with MIL eliminators.
10-11-2008, 12:46 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
* the car sounds a bit too loud for my taste.
10-11-2008, 03:38 PM
#7
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2002 C32 AMG
The last couple of times I've gone, I haven't noticed them looking under the car. They used to walk around the car with that mirror to see underneath, but it's hard to see what the technician is doing anymore, since you now have to stand in that stupid waiting booth while they test your car (at the Deptford facility, anyway).
