Smog check (california) Test only?

Jnsd · Mar 29, 2004

I got a notice to go to a test only station. I have a few problems and I'm not sure what my options are.

1st, my car has a after market catted X pipe, two cats, not four like the stock. My stock system failed and was replaced, but will they still fail me becuase I don't have all four cats?

2nd, will they allow me to test just to see if the car will pass, before they do a real test? or do smog only stations not do this? i don't want something stupid to fail me and end up with a gross polluter.

3rd, i have no second gear, the tranny is dying on me but right now i do not have money to fix it. will this be a problem during the smog check? right now i get around by shifting 1st-3rd.

i'm driving a 1995 gts right now, 5speed.

DavidF · Mar 29, 2004

I can't help too much but I do know that you can get a pre-test, but it will cost you the same as the real test. You are allowed to get after market cats as long as your stock cats have gone bad. Now I’m not sure if you have to get the pre-cats installed as well. If the smog tech looks underneath your car and sees that you have cats, he may not raise an issue. When you go don’t offer any info, wait for them too ask questions. Good luck.

Oh yeah, 2nd gear might be a problem, I know they have to run at a certain rpm in a gear, but I can’t remember which one.

rudeone707 · Mar 29, 2004

Where i went they told me that all smog stuff must be present and functioning properly. Do as far as the catted X you might pass the sniffer but you wont pass the visual.

Jnsd · Mar 29, 2004

DavidF said:
I can't help too much but I do know that you can get a pre-test, but it will cost you the same as the real test. You are allowed to get after market cats as long as your stock cats have gone bad. Now I?m not sure if you have to get the pre-cats installed as well. If the smog tech looks underneath your car and sees that you have cats, he may not raise an issue. When you go don?t offer any info, wait for them too ask questions. Good luck.

Oh yeah, 2nd gear might be a problem, I know they have to run at a certain rpm in a gear, but I can?t remember which one.

thanks for the reply, im keeping my fingers crossed and am hoping that 2nd gear won't make a difference.

BlackStang95 · Mar 29, 2004

If your car has over 50,000 miles (i think), then you are allowed to change your cats.... my car has basssani x-pipe with cats and they allowed it because it had over 50k miles on it...

331 cobra · Mar 29, 2004

I believe it's 100,000 miles, because the federal government requires that auto manufacturers cover all emissions devices under waranty for 100,000 miles.

If you have over 100,000, most catted pipes will pass as stock replacement.

Killer95Stang · Mar 29, 2004

What City do you live in... if your near LA... like San Gabriel Valley, OC, ect... I might know of a couple shops that didn't say anything about an aftermarket catted pipe.. but.. the car must pass on its own with the different pipe... or, if you live close to Covina... I can let you borrow my stock pipe..

Jnsd · Mar 29, 2004

Killer95Stang said:
What City do you live in... if your near LA... like San Gabriel Valley, OC, ect... I might know of a couple shops that didn't say anything about an aftermarket catted pipe.. but.. the car must pass on its own with the different pipe... or, if you live close to Covina... I can let you borrow my stock pipe..

thanks for the offer, I'm down here in san diego right now. i have a feeling that my biggest problem will be the lack of second gear.

Jnsd · Mar 29, 2004

Jnsd said:
thanks for the offer, I'm down here in san diego right now. i have a feeling that my biggest problem will be the lack of second gear.

just talked to a smog place, they won't even touch my car unless the transmission is working properly.

cjones · Mar 30, 2004

Jnsd said:
I got a notice to go to a test only station. I have a few problems and I'm not sure what my options are.

1st, my car has a after market catted X pipe, two cats, not four like the stock. My stock system failed and was replaced, but will they still fail me becuase I don't have all four cats?

Take your chances, some techs will care some won't.

Jnsd said:
2nd, will they allow me to test just to see if the car will pass, before they do a real test? or do smog only stations not do this? i don't want something stupid to fail me and end up with a gross polluter.

most Test-Only stations will do a precheck for you for a fee. if the car does GP so what. you have to fix a failing car anyways and GPs are retested after repairs at a Test-Only station.

Jnsd said:
3rd, i have no second gear, the tranny is dying on me but right now i do not have money to fix it. will this be a problem during the smog check? right now i get around by shifting 1st-3rd.QUOTE]

that will be a problem. the car tests at 15mph at 50% load and 25mph at 25% load. i personally wouldn't test a car that has tranny probs.

stangman95 · Mar 31, 2004

i got smogged a few months ago in san diego. I have a supercharger, 42lbs injectors, big powerpipe and high flow cats with under 50,000 miles and the smog guy didnt say a word about it, and I passed. You may want to let the smog guy know about the tranny problem and ask if he could just shift into third as long as he can hit 15mph and 25mph it really shouldnt matter.

rudeone707 · Mar 31, 2004

if you fail try this and let us know how it works.

cjones · Apr 1, 2004

the problem with that is. in california the machine checks for dilution of the exhaust and will abort the test.

Smog check (california) Test only?

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