Does anyone know if a state Ref for CA would even think about making a case to where you went in with a Cated turbo kit that could easily pass emisions, no CEL and clean burning fuel and would place an excemption sticker under the hood of the car?

Is this even possible? I am of course threorycrafting but I have been curious about it. I know that Greddy makes a 50 state legal for the S2k but nothing has been seen for the tC.

After all of my tribulations with my car I have come to the conclusion that it may NOT be worth it to install the kit with fear of a state ref. I have a cated down pipe but does that mean I can get away with it? Better to go with a S/C?

Does anyone on SL even have a cated S1 kit? Or any kit for that matter? Has anyone dealt with the ref with that kind of a set up?

I want to figure this out...

 

*watching

 

no because any aftermarket engine equipment for the tC MUST have a CARB legal or exempt sticker with it and placed in the engine bay...this is what the ref told me when i had to have it done for my exhaust

 

Must have a CARB legal sticker, since there are no CARB legal turbos yet, you are out of luck. If Greddy makes one then yes, but they only have certain ones that are CARB exempt for certain cars (as you have pointed out).

The only way you'd get an exempt sticker is if your ref was not very legit, though good luck finding that, though a bit out of your way. I've heard some good things about the ref in Modesto, my friend went there to bar his 240sx with a swap and the guy was really lienient on things (sometimes they can get strict about what all needs to be done).

 

^^ True, but that is half of my point.

What if you went to the ref YOURSELF and asked about the situation? What if you brought the car + turbo kit and cat to him with a passing smog test?

Can the ref then give you an exemption sticker for your car/engine bay?

 

i doubt it. carb still controlls everything. even the refs.

 

Tell them when the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gets rid of all his big gas guzzling rides you'll remove your turbo.

 

Haha that would be awesome! He can ride around in a 5mpg hummer but we cant ride around in 16mpg smogable turbo 4cyl.

Don't you all love how the gov makes so much sense?

How is it that a 500hp z06 is street legal but a cated turbo setup on a tc, or any car for that matter, makes the owner equivalent to a criminal.

We need some pro advice on this. CA is far too harsh imo. Why is it that a car 20 years old does not have to be smogged while blowing smoke out the back? Or the 67 400hp camero is street legal but my 300hp emission friendly tc is the devil?

How do any of these laws make sense?

Oh wait, they don't...

 

Paul, I will ask tomorrow morning and I will let you know. How about that!?

 

Haha, nice Chris.

No CEL I hope? =p

 

You should talk to my friend, he is just as mad here because his car would be exempt if they continued that 25 year rule (several years ago, not recently). He had a bunch of money lined up to do a crazy swap on his Corolla and just go all out and not have to worry about smog issues.

I have to agree though, I mean, it would be something if the items didn't pass any states emission standards or if all the states had a single combined federal smog standard...then yes I wouldn't mind the rules as much, but seeing how we here in CA are the ONLY state with our own (stricter) regulations, it really makes no sense in my opinion. I wouldn't mind even if they modified it for the purpose that you are looking for, a FI car (or even N/A) that still passes smog regulations, I'd be fine with that, you are still being healthy to the environment yet having a slightly modified car.

 

THE GOVERNATOR!


Giidown! Who are you? (inside joke)

 

I feel your pain, you are not alone, NY now has adopted the CARB standard. It is just ridiculous if you ask me. This is one reason I have decided to get the S/C.

 

Got back from the REF, didn't get to chat because he was super busy, i am going back at noon, i will keep you updated.

 

Lol @ Paul. CROM!!!

Yeah, CA Policies are all out of wack.

Let me know whats up Chris =D Show him the thread or something haha.

 

well...you can always TRICK your car to not throwing any CEL when you are still dumping to much for standards, i'd assume that has something to do with it...but I agree. If your car can pass smog, why is it illegal?
I just passed smog in NV last week...no cats...no CEL, but he didn't do a visual inspection.

But I have a question...If I'm in NV and pass and everything, and then I'm driving to Cali, can I get busted for my turbo kit? Or can I just be like, "It passed inspection in NV, and that's where I'm from"?

 

Phil, you can get busted if your driving in Cali...

See the problem is, he didn't do a visual, if he would've opened the hood like he is supposed to, then he 99% sure would've said thats not legal.

Anything that alters emissions you will fail a State Referee Inspection(At least in California.) I failed the first time because my secondary 02 sensor was bad and I was throwing a pending CEL(Light wasn't on because I reset the - Terminal.) Thanks Paul(Anurok) for the help. Everything was completely stock, and I still failed. You cannot throw a CEL and pass anything in California. Even if you reset your terminal, clear all the codes, they are still there believe it or not and you get a big piece of paper that says "FAIL" and your supposed to take that to the judge.

 

Yeah, I had an older car (Honda CRX) the CEL was on, yet it came on for no reason (I have a friend who works as a tech at Honda and he was able to look at my car and diagnose it for free). They said it was a wiring problem, nothing wrong with the car, yet I couldn't pass smog because it came on...a little wiring later to have it come on when the battery light came on and you couldn't tell the difference and I passed with flying colors.

 

Passing the emissions side doesn't matter because it won't pass the visual inspection.

 

Chris (Mightygnu) So THATS why you sold your turbo kit. You got busted and sent to the state ref for the turbo. I wondered why you sold it.