I hate California Smog check

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Feb 27, 2012 | 08:58 PM
  #1  
My car is 06 so this is my first time smog check this bad boy. Since it also has Kleemann header the smog check was pain in the azz. I only drive 2 miles round trip from home to office and 2 miles to my smog shop so at the first test, my car failed. The tech told me that my car is not warm enough so he did twice to get it pass. Then he was *****#$ing about the header as visual inspection not GOOD. Finally we talk thought and gave me a Go. Trust me, if i had a long tube header, I will never pass smog in here. The tech also told me that i need to let car warm up and run at least 10 minutes every trip or its not good for the car. I wish my office is a bit further .......
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Feb 27, 2012 | 09:04 PM
  #2  
Yeah, had to go through the same thing a bit ago. It's a joke out here. I met a guy in the 818 who tells me it'll be even tougher this summer. Apparently the regime is starting to track the pass/fail ratios of shops all across Cali. The ones with "uneven" ratios will be "audited" for lack of a better word. I guess the plan is to track every vehicle, sort of like a DNA database. Who knows if it'll happen, just word on the street..
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Feb 27, 2012 | 10:14 PM
  #3  
Quote: Yeah, had to go through the same thing a bit ago. It's a joke out here. I met a guy in the 818 who tells me it'll be even tougher this summer. Apparently the regime is starting to track the pass/fail ratios of shops all across Cali. The ones with "uneven" ratios will be "audited" for lack of a better word. I guess the plan is to track every vehicle, sort of like a DNA database. Who knows if it'll happen, just word on the street..
They already track the pass/fail across multiple systems since ~2004 from what I remember. I had one of my previous cars fail due to the open air intake filter, so i swapped it back to stock and took it to a different smog place - and they asked "so why did it fail 2 days ago" - it passed, but they do check...

my E55 passed with flying colors, albeit totally stock when I smogged last week

most #'s were 0ppm - just the C02 was around 12-14 (out of 100-110)
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Feb 27, 2012 | 10:30 PM
  #4  
So on that note, are there any headers out there for our car with CARB numbers? That was one of the mods I wanted to do to my car.

Headers/pulley/tune then I'm done.
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Feb 27, 2012 | 10:37 PM
  #5  
It's funny I just got smogged today with a muffler,resonator, and 2nd cat delete and the guy gave me no issues whatsoever. He actually complimented the cars "badassness" LOL. It really depends on who you go to, some guys don't sweat the visual.

Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
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Feb 27, 2012 | 11:21 PM
  #6  
Quote: It's funny I just got smogged today with a muffler,resonator, and 2nd cat delete and the guy gave me no issues whatsoever. He actually complimented the cars "badassness" LOL. It really depends on who you go to, some guys don't sweat the visual.

Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
nope, I haven't found any - I searched, AND asked

Quote: So on that note, are there any headers out there for our car with CARB numbers? That was one of the mods I wanted to do to my car.

Headers/pulley/tune then I'm done.
yup - hard to do a visual when it's under the car

that may be next for me, 2nd cats and x-pipe... gotta find someone who's done it already - I don't want the drone!
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Feb 27, 2012 | 11:51 PM
  #7  
Quote: Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
That's unfortunate, I guess I will just stick with a pulley and a tune then

Love the way those header cars sound but I don't want to deal with the smog police crap.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:01 AM
  #8  
Quote: My car is 06 so this is my first time smog check this bad boy. Since it also has Kleemann header the smog check was pain in the azz. I only drive 2 miles round trip from home to office and 2 miles to my smog shop so at the first test, my car failed. The tech told me that my car is not warm enough so he did twice to get it pass. Then he was *****#$ing about the header as visual inspection not GOOD. Finally we talk thought and gave me a Go. Trust me, if i had a long tube header, I will never pass smog in here. The tech also told me that i need to let car warm up and run at least 10 minutes every trip or its not good for the car. I wish my office is a bit further .......
so - what were your SMOG #'s if I can ask? wondering if the ECU tune modifies anything...
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:10 AM
  #9  
Lower that car all of the way down if you have something underneath to hide. And find the 'biggest' guy you can to conduct the check.
Yes, it works, for me. If you an see inspection mirror, move on.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:24 AM
  #10  
so the state's clean air laws suck because you have a mod that you clearly knew was illegal?
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:31 AM
  #11  
Quote: so the state's clean air laws suck because you have a mod that you clearly knew was illegal?
illegal vs. unnoticed are two different things...

I for one think that if the car is 'clean' for a smog test, who cares what it looks (or sounds) like...
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:33 AM
  #12  
Quote: so the state's clean air laws suck because you have a mod that you clearly knew was illegal?
LOL. Clean air laws are good IMO. Having a house in another state has it's perks...
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Feb 28, 2012 | 03:28 AM
  #13  
California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country. At least when it comes to gun and emissions laws. You can feel free to influence the country some more with the way your women look. lol
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:20 PM
  #14  
Quote: Lower that car all of the way down if you have something underneath to hide. And find the 'biggest' guy you can to conduct the check.
Yes, it works, for me. If you an see inspection mirror, move on.
I only had the Kleemann header and the guy pop the hood and saw it under the head gasket and said that's illegal. I was like.... wtf..... i guess thats why i kept my stock part.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:22 PM
  #15  
Quote: so - what were your SMOG #'s if I can ask? wondering if the ECU tune modifies anything...

I have no idea about the SMOG #. First time fail not because of the tune or header, just because my cat was still cold. He said I should run my car at least 10 minuted every time I start. I drive 1 mile then stop for 10 hours then other 1 mile stop for the day, not good for cars.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:25 PM
  #16  
Quote: Yeah, had to go through the same thing a bit ago. It's a joke out here. I met a guy in the 818 who tells me it'll be even tougher this summer. Apparently the regime is starting to track the pass/fail ratios of shops all across Cali. The ones with "uneven" ratios will be "audited" for lack of a better word. I guess the plan is to track every vehicle, sort of like a DNA database. Who knows if it'll happen, just word on the street..
I remember you have long tube header..... that must be PITA for smog just by visual inspection.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:25 PM
  #17  
Yet AGAIN the award for highest year round level of toxic air particles in the US goes to........

LA and Bakersfield!!!!!!

Friggin smog laws
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:40 PM
  #18  
Honestly, anyone that looks underneath the hood will probably said that it is illegal. Just need to find a legit smog place and let them do the pretest first to see if you pass or not. My smog guy does the same thing. So, I had him do a pretest and sure nuff it PASS.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 12:47 PM
  #19  
Quote: I have no idea about the SMOG #. First time fail not because of the tune or header, just because my cat was still cold. He said I should run my car at least 10 minuted every time I start. I drive 1 mile then stop for 10 hours then other 1 mile stop for the day, not good for cars.
so did you pass SMOG? or did he just tell you to come back?

if you passed (or failed) - you should get paperwork showing your status - the #'s for CO2/NO2 are on there...
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Feb 28, 2012 | 01:24 PM
  #20  
Quote: so did you pass SMOG? or did he just tell you to come back?

if you passed (or failed) - you should get paperwork showing your status - the #'s for CO2/NO2 are on there...

The first time failed then the second time passed since the car is warm up.
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Feb 28, 2012 | 01:35 PM
  #21  
Quote: The first time failed then the second time passed since the car is warm up.
ok - so on your pass paperwork, what #'s did you get for CO2/NO2, etc?
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Feb 28, 2012 | 02:40 PM
  #22  
Quote: California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country. At least when it comes to gun and emissions laws. You can feel free to influence the country some more with the way your women look. lol
Well said
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Feb 28, 2012 | 02:48 PM
  #23  
Quote: California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country. At least when it comes to gun and emissions laws. You can feel free to influence the country some more with the way your women look. lol
Quote: Well said
I dont agree here, unless you guys want your cities looking like Los Angeles

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Feb 28, 2012 | 03:57 PM
  #24  
Quote: California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country.
Seriously ??? Do you think we should bring back leaded fuel too ? We can have very fast and fun cars that don't stink or ruin the environment.

As for headers being illegal, I do agree that is silly if the emissions are within spec....but oh well....
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