CA Smog Nazi's
09-11-2012, 07:38 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
CA Smog ****'s
Unfrigginbelievable!
I have not been to the forum in a while, but I went in for my smog test yesterday, and lo and behold, the guy who has smogged all of my cars for years came back and asked for documentation on the throttle body mod and air cleaner set up. I went out and pointed out there was not TB mod, only the SLP Blackwing. He said rules have changed and all these parts (air cleaner and smooth ducting) needed CARB numbers. I insisted nothing changed since last smog, but he was a no go. I just told him I would take the car and go down the street and get it done (which I did, and it passed with flying colors!) BUT, this got me getting pissed about the CARB folks. I went to the E.O. list (executive orders... these are exemtions from CARB since they do no noticeable differences to smog on the car). Seems all E.O's were retired on 12/31/2011. They are now no good.(SLP had numeroud E.O's for their products) SO... all OBDII cars (96+) need to have CARB approved parts everywhere, including the Air Filter and ducting...... Is this true? Did I misinterpret this? Any Feedback??
I have not been to the forum in a while, but I went in for my smog test yesterday, and lo and behold, the guy who has smogged all of my cars for years came back and asked for documentation on the throttle body mod and air cleaner set up. I went out and pointed out there was not TB mod, only the SLP Blackwing. He said rules have changed and all these parts (air cleaner and smooth ducting) needed CARB numbers. I insisted nothing changed since last smog, but he was a no go. I just told him I would take the car and go down the street and get it done (which I did, and it passed with flying colors!) BUT, this got me getting pissed about the CARB folks. I went to the E.O. list (executive orders... these are exemtions from CARB since they do no noticeable differences to smog on the car). Seems all E.O's were retired on 12/31/2011. They are now no good.(SLP had numeroud E.O's for their products) SO... all OBDII cars (96+) need to have CARB approved parts everywhere, including the Air Filter and ducting...... Is this true? Did I misinterpret this? Any Feedback??
09-11-2012, 08:54 PM
#3
Race Director
Blackwing, Vararam, and Halltech intake systems, among others have ALWAYS been illegal in CA. You were just lucky that your smog shop didn't know this. They could've been busted, big time. The same is true of any LT headers.
But you may want to do as I do - swap out the aftermarket intake for an OEM one (I have a Z06 airbox for this reason) at least 2 weeks before you go in for the smog test (to allow your ECU to adjust) and then swap in the better intake after you are done.
It allows you to take your time to thoroughly clean the intake filter while you are waiting.
I've been doing this for many years; welcome to the club!
But you may want to do as I do - swap out the aftermarket intake for an OEM one (I have a Z06 airbox for this reason) at least 2 weeks before you go in for the smog test (to allow your ECU to adjust) and then swap in the better intake after you are done.
It allows you to take your time to thoroughly clean the intake filter while you are waiting.
I've been doing this for many years; welcome to the club!
09-11-2012, 11:38 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
This says it all. I dread smog checks and I just got my DMV renewal notice yesterday so here it goes again. One thing I do is before I go to the smog shop, I take a 30 minute freeway drive and get the cats piping hot which seems to help during the test.
09-11-2012, 11:45 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
We have a similar process here with government inspection stations. My Callaway Honker came with a CARB E.O stick-on decal to keep the smog police at bay.
BTW I did some research; the after-market parts E.O list did not expire. the CARB website says that the products in progress list expired; I assume this must be applications for exemptions that were pending or incomplete:
"Products in Progress List - This list expired on December 31, 2011, and is no longer available for viewing. Add-on and modified parts without an Executive Order after this date will cause the vehicle to fail the visual portion of the Smog Check inspection."
BTW I did some research; the after-market parts E.O list did not expire. the CARB website says that the products in progress list expired; I assume this must be applications for exemptions that were pending or incomplete:
"Products in Progress List - This list expired on December 31, 2011, and is no longer available for viewing. Add-on and modified parts without an Executive Order after this date will cause the vehicle to fail the visual portion of the Smog Check inspection."
Last edited by jornahow; 09-11-2012 at 11:59 PM.
09-12-2012, 01:10 AM
#10
Race Director
You guys who don't live here are funny. A $50 smog test, once every 2 years and for that you'd rather live in parts of the country where it gets to be 110 degrees, rains often, snows, has salted streets, and lots of bugs?
Uh, I think I'll stay right where I am....
No rain from April to November
No snow in town but you can play in the stuff, one hour away in the mountains
No mosquitos or alligators (although are a few rattlesnakes in the canyons)
Low humidity most of the year
Average temps in middle of Winter = 67 degrees F
Most superchargers are perfectly legal
Smooth roads, since water on them never freezes
I've lived in other states but you couldn't pay me enough to leave this one, despite its "imperfections".
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program......
Uh, I think I'll stay right where I am....
No rain from April to November
No snow in town but you can play in the stuff, one hour away in the mountains
No mosquitos or alligators (although are a few rattlesnakes in the canyons)
Low humidity most of the year
Average temps in middle of Winter = 67 degrees F
Most superchargers are perfectly legal
Smooth roads, since water on them never freezes
I've lived in other states but you couldn't pay me enough to leave this one, despite its "imperfections".
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program......
09-12-2012, 01:29 AM
#11
Melting Slicks
Even though my C4 got new cats last year, I still do the 'drive-til-they're-cookin' run before going through. ....
No rain from April to November
No snow in town but you can play in the stuff, one hour away in the mountains
No mosquitos or alligators (although are a few rattlesnakes in the canyons)
Low humidity most of the year
Average temps in middle of Winter = 67 degrees F
Most superchargers are perfectly legal
Smooth roads, since water on them never freezes
......
No rain from April to November
No snow in town but you can play in the stuff, one hour away in the mountains
No mosquitos or alligators (although are a few rattlesnakes in the canyons)
Low humidity most of the year
Average temps in middle of Winter = 67 degrees F
Most superchargers are perfectly legal
Smooth roads, since water on them never freezes
......
I'd love to live in SoCal!
09-12-2012, 01:41 AM
#12
Safety Car
Vehicular ****-ism isn't the only compelling reason not to move to CA. As many compelling reasons as there are, it just doesn't seem to be worth the hassle.
09-12-2012, 03:54 AM
#13
Former Vendor
You guys who don't live here are funny. A $50 smog test, once every 2 years and for that you'd rather live in parts of the country where it gets to be 110 degrees, rains often, snows, has salted streets, and lots of bugs?
Uh, I think I'll stay right where I am....
No rain from April to November
No snow in town but you can play in the stuff, one hour away in the mountains
No mosquitos or alligators (although are a few rattlesnakes in the canyons)
Low humidity most of the year
Average temps in middle of Winter = 67 degrees F
Most superchargers are perfectly legal
Smooth roads, since water on them never freezes
I've lived in other states but you couldn't pay me enough to leave this one, despite its "imperfections".
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program......
Uh, I think I'll stay right where I am....
No rain from April to November
No snow in town but you can play in the stuff, one hour away in the mountains
No mosquitos or alligators (although are a few rattlesnakes in the canyons)
Low humidity most of the year
Average temps in middle of Winter = 67 degrees F
Most superchargers are perfectly legal
Smooth roads, since water on them never freezes
I've lived in other states but you couldn't pay me enough to leave this one, despite its "imperfections".
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program......
I'll NEVER leave Cali, I love it here and I've had some seriously modded vehicles including a 750whp FRC that only ran on C16, a 600+ hp 03 Cobra to name a few. It's easy to get around smog if you know the right people, but for simple stuff like an intake, wow just swap it back to stock, takes 10 mins.
I'm partial to California as well but Colorado has it's bureaucracy also. I keep telling myself it's for the greater good. 
09-12-2012, 04:02 PM
#16
Drifting
OP...yup smog folks are cracking down here in CA...I went back to shorties just recently. :-(
Next year, for 2000+ year cars, the sniffer test goes away and they hook up to our obdii systems. There is also talk of checking the checksums on our pcms e.g. verify stock vs custom tunes. A couple of posts on this in the norcal section...we'll see come january '13...
Next year, for 2000+ year cars, the sniffer test goes away and they hook up to our obdii systems. There is also talk of checking the checksums on our pcms e.g. verify stock vs custom tunes. A couple of posts on this in the norcal section...we'll see come january '13...
09-12-2012, 05:53 PM
#17
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Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: San Diego Ca
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If you don't like California then stay out.We get tired of hearing how bad living here is,well I have Been to all 50 states and there is no place I would rather be than good ole Cailfornia.Please think before you post.Is the reason they call red states red is becuause of the weather or the color of your necks?
09-12-2012, 07:25 PM
#19
Pro
If you don't like California then stay out.We get tired of hearing how bad living here is,well I have Been to all 50 states and there is no place I would rather be than good ole Cailfornia.Please think before you post.Is the reason they call red states red is becuause of the weather or the color of your necks?
09-12-2012, 07:57 PM
#20
Race Director
straitpipes with a cam and vararam
There will not be road-blocking checks as is sometimes used for DUI arrests, but drive around with straightpipes and as they say in Georgia: "You askin for trouble, boah!"
