4.10 gears illegal in CA??!!

95Vert383AOD said:

You guys still smog test 96+ vehicles? Smog machines here plug into the OBD2 port. The car either passes or fails based on if theres any codes in the computer.

Chris

Click to expand...

New cars get a pass for the first 6 years so I had to smog my 05 Ram this year for the first time.
California will smog everything 78 and newer. All test with the sniffer in the pipe and on a dyno. If its 96 and newer they plug into the test port.

They even pressure test your gas cap and on some cars the tank itself.
So you can fail for a bad gas cap.

If the car has any kind of CEL on then they will not test it.
If its 96 and newer and the computer was reset you better put some miles on it before the test otherwise if the computer comes back with a not ready on any of its self checks you can fail.

It really sucks here.
I heard rummors about newer cars going to only the computer test in the next few years but I am not going to hold my breath.

The ridiculous thing about CA is they can fail you for "smog" for a leaky gas cap or non-CARB computer reflash, but hey...the guy with the '02 Powerstroke Diesel and dual stacks (which actually emit real smog in raw form) gets off scot free. Oh wait, this is a Ford forum: I'll change the example to Chevy Duramax Diesel. Ditto for those big yellow school buses.

That's the great thing about govt regulations: they never solve the problem they were intended to address.

vtdave said:

The ridiculous thing about CA is they can fail you for "smog" for a leaky gas cap or non-CARB computer reflash, but hey...the guy with the '02 Powerstroke Diesel and dual stacks (which actually emit real smog in raw form) gets off scot free. Oh wait, this is a Ford forum: I'll change the example to Chevy Duramax Diesel. Ditto for those big yellow school buses.

That's the great thing about govt regulations: they never solve the problem they were intended to address.

Click to expand...

As long as no sensors are turned off the test will not even know if you have any kind of flash tuner. I know since I had Superchips on my truck when it was tested and a friend of mine had a Diablo with a custom tune on his truck but I undstand your frustration.

As for the diesel you do know they smog test those now too right? Any of them either 98 or 99 and newer have to be tested. They look for mods and they do a type of smoke test to make sure that it doesn't put out large puffs. I knew they were going to start doing it that is why I sold my totally modded Dodge diesel 6 years ago.

gmantheman said:

I have never heard the 4.10s are illegal here in Cali. When I was getting prices for gear install for 4.10s, not one place including the three dealerships I talked to-Mossy Ford, North County Ford, nor Heller Ford said anything about them being illegal. There labor charge should have been illegal though.

Click to expand...

I live in Vista/North County area and was considering changing out of my stock (whatever comes with the mustang gt/cs) to 3.73 or 4.10's... Did you get this done ? How much did it end up costing? (any details would be great!) and was it worth it?



I assume also that this wouldn't void your warranty..if you have a dealership do it.