Smog with 262AH cams, and a tune

S

sgramer

Founding Member
Feb 6, 2002
97
0
16
San Rafael, Ca
#1
It is getting close to to time for my first smog and I have the 262ah cams.
I Live in Ca and have read numerous times these cams and ones close to them will pass the sniffer dyno and 2 speed with no issues. Is this true and can any people verify this.
I am sure I will have to put back on my stock h pipe even though I have a catted one currently. I am sure the extra 2 converters will help clean the car up substantially. Also I plan on bumping the idle up to a normal speed of 850 or so.

If any people could chime in with your experiences on this it would be helpful.

I also have a question about having the readiness monitors off, and the rear O2 sensors. When they do the OBD2 test does it just check for the P1000 code and DTCs or does the check go further. I have a MT2500 and with the monitors of it just lists them as N/A as it would with components that are not available on the car. Since I am putting the stock h pipe back on, and turning the EGR back on, it is not really a big issue to turn the OBD2 back on and ODB2 monitors. I would prefer not as then I need to run the car through a drive cycle and deal with any P1000 codes and any others that arise. Currently there is no P1000 code or any other DTCs.

Any enlightenment on this would be helpful. I have heard the system just checks for the presence of the P1000 and smog related DTCS, and I have heard it checks further.

If I need to put the stock H pipe, and turn on the OBD2, monitors, and O2s I would like to do it all on one shot.

Thanks,
Scott
 
#3
In California, modifying a stock catalytic converter is a $5K fine. I believe how it works is that, since we have 4 cats, it would be a $20K fine for removing all of them. You added two back, but I don't think that will help, since they are not two of the OEM cats. It would be more like, you removed a pair of them, and swapped out the other two with aftermarket ones.

Since a SMOG has a visual inspection component, you will HAVE to swap back your stock H-pipe, or just risk discovering how the $5K cat-mod fine works, first-hand. I knew a guy who was pulled over by the CHP and cited for this. They really didn't like him. ;) I never saw him again after his court date though, so I don't know exactly how it worked out for him in the end.

Good luck!


EDIT: Uhh... no doubt your wife's car is an Audi A6, right? :D
 
#4
Betrayer00GT said:
In California, modifying a stock catalytic converter is a $5K fine. I believe how it works is that, since we have 4 cats, it would be a $20K fine for removing all of them. You added two back, but I don't think that will help, since they are not two of the OEM cats. It would be more like, you removed a pair of them, and swapped out the other two with aftermarket ones.

Since a SMOG has a visual inspection component, you will HAVE to swap back your stock H-pipe, or just risk discovering how the $5K cat-mod fine works, first-hand. I knew a guy who was pulled over by the CHP and cited for this. Not after his court date though, so I don't know exactly how it worked out for him.

Good luck!


EDIT: Uhh... no doubt your wife's car is an Audi A6, right? :D
Click to expand...


Yes, exactly my wife's car lol
It is easy enough to put the stock H-pipe back on, so I will just do it. It will create less problems, and help clean it up a lot. I don't think the high flows do a whole lot anyway. It takes less than a hour to swap any way. Then I can turn all the OBD2 stuff back on, but I will have to run it through a drive cycle.

You are in Sac, I heard they do a lot of checking on mods there.
 
#5
sgramer said:
...It takes less than a hour to swap any way. Then I can turn all the OBD2 stuff back on, but I will have to run it through a drive cycle.

You are in Sac, I heard they do a lot of checking on mods there.
Click to expand...

Hmm...

I have an off-road H-pipe that I would love to try out (has been sitting in my bedroom for >3 years), but I am positive that it would not be a 1 hour swap for me. Something always goes wrong, if it can. I know Murphy well. :D
Too bad though, I would love to hear my car with an O/R H and turndowns. :eek:

I hadn't heard they cracked down more, here. That would suck.
 
#6
Betrayer00GT said:
Hmm...

I have an off-road H-pipe that I would love to try out (has been sitting in my bedroom for >3 years), but I am positive that it would not be a 1 hour swap for me. Something always goes wrong, if it can. I know Murphy well. :D

Too bad though, I would love to hear my car with an O/R H and turndowns. :eek:
Click to expand...

If you have a medium length swivel socket for the bolts on the manifold it is a pretty easy task. If you don't, then it is a pain in the butt.
The only thing that could be a pain is the stocker is heavy, so it may take 2 people to get it connected to the hangers. Once that is done it should be pretty easy.

You car would be very loud with an off road and turn downs

They do more checking of equipment when they pull people over there than they do in the Bay Area.
 
#7
I don't think they cite you at smog stations they just fail you. Smog stations aren't government run. As long as you HAVE cats on the car I don't think they can cite you for it. I'm not sure if the number of stock cats maters and how many cops actually know that a Mustang had 4 cats stock ?
 
#8
Betrayer00GT said:
In California, modifying a stock catalytic converter is a $5K fine. I believe how it works is that, since we have 4 cats, it would be a $20K fine for removing all of them. You added two back, but I don't think that will help, since they are not two of the OEM cats. It would be more like, you removed a pair of them, and swapped out the other two with aftermarket ones.

Since a SMOG has a visual inspection component, you will HAVE to swap back your stock H-pipe, or just risk discovering how the $5K cat-mod fine works, first-hand. I knew a guy who was pulled over by the CHP and cited for this. They really didn't like him. ;) I never saw him again after his court date though, so I don't know exactly how it worked out for him in the end.

Good luck!


EDIT: Uhh... no doubt your wife's car is an Audi A6, right? :D
Click to expand...
$20,000 fine for removing cats:rlaugh: :lol: ...I HIGHLY doubt that...If you get caught and the cop is a dick the most they can do is impound your car. A smog shop is just going to fail you, IF they realize your cats are gone. Now the cams might not pass smog. I have had stage 1 cams will pass in CA, but stage 2's will not. I'm not sure what cams you have and how agressive they are. But if you can't pass, just drive to LA tip someone real well to pass:nice:
 
#10
they only cite you for violations at a state smog Ref. A cop can site you for a $20k fine in Cali - but they have to prove you had not cats on since it's an actual trial. But you dont HAVE to have the stock midpipe on to pass inspection or the sniffer or anything - many have passed w/out it, but it helps. God knows i need my 6 cat pipe to pass
 
#12
the98stang said:
$20,000 fine for removing cats:rlaugh: :lol: ...I HIGHLY doubt that...If you get caught and the cop is a dick the most they can do is impound your car. A smog shop is just going to fail you, IF they realize your cats are gone. Now the cams might not pass smog. I have had stage 1 cams will pass in CA, but stage 2's will not. I'm not sure what cams you have and how agressive they are. But if you can't pass, just drive to LA tip someone real well to pass:nice:
Click to expand...

I have what would be considered a stage 1 came, the mildest comp cams.
So you have heard as well a mild/stage 1 cam will pass in Ca ??? I have heard that too, but have never had it verified by anyone.

Notchbck93 said:
If they plug in, they test OBDII for system readiness and its monitors.

If you also have to pass a sniffer, good cats will clean up anything.
Click to expand...

It does not really smell that bad, but i am sure the stock H-pipe will clean it up pretty good.

So when they do the plug in OBD 2 test, they check for the P1000 code, and actually check the monitors. What I mean is check which ones are pass, N/A, and not ready against a known database ?
 
#13
i've heard both VT stage 1's and xe262ah's can pass cali smog, Tim said you could get a stage II VT to pass - it's all in the tune. But mine hard to pass as is, i'll update you in August wehn i need to smog with CMS Stage I's lol
 
#14
CobraRed_96_GT said:
i've heard both VT stage 1's and xe262ah's can pass cali smog, Tim said you could get a stage II VT to pass - it's all in the tune. But mine hard to pass as is, i'll update you in August wehn i need to smog with CMS Stage I's lol
Click to expand...

That is good to hear, sound slike I will be fine as long as I put the stock H back on.
I will update people on how it did when I get in to be smogged.
 
#15
CobraRed_96_GT said:
they only cite you for violations at a state smog Ref. A cop can site you for a $20k fine in Cali - but they have to prove you had not cats on since it's an actual trial. But you dont HAVE to have the stock midpipe on to pass inspection or the sniffer or anything - many have passed w/out it, but it helps. God knows i need my 6 cat pipe to pass
Click to expand...

smog ref will not cite, they are not an enforcement agency, i worked for one. police will cite.

the cams are iffy if they will pass or not. best i can suggest is to run the OEM cats with OEM tune, as aftermarket tunes are illegal and can be detected if you look.
 
#18
bdcardinal said:
smog ref will not cite, they are not an enforcement agency, i worked for one. police will cite.

the cams are iffy if they will pass or not. best i can suggest is to run the OEM cats with OEM tune, as aftermarket tunes are illegal and can be detected if you look.
Click to expand...

but if you have to bring it to a ref and they prove somethings off cant that be used against you in court?
 
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