I've never heard of a C.A.R.B. legal intercooler but that doesn't mean they are legal. I don't understand why they would be illegal but I thought I'd ask. I'd like to run one but I'll just get the spearco top mount if I can't run front mount.

 

if gives the police a reason to pull you over as you are obviously modified.

It should not be illegal as it really has nothing to do with smog levels but I am pretty sure they are. I know that a couple companies make ones that are advertised as smog legal for the honda world...like greddy.

 

Virtually anything you put on your vehicle dealing with engine intake/exhaust/emissions that does not have a CARB cert is illegal to run in the state of CA.

 

What I'm getting is the piping is illegal but upgrading to a larger top mount which bolts to the stock pipes is legal... :\

 

no actually if they knew what they were looking for they could nail you for that too.

It's rediculous really. It needs to be made to where if you pass the numbers it doesn't matter what it looks like under there.

 

Further, a lot of FMIC kits require the 'modification' or removal of the front bumper beam, which is also illegal.

 

but evos come with a stock fmic as well is the srt-4...???

 

Yeah, but that doesn't really matter since the Impreza doesn't. Hence, you can't (legally) put one on an Impreza.

 

I've seen intercoolers painted black with a black mesh over them, just looks like a grill. +1 for stealth modding.

legality aside, a bright chrome thing in your front bumper will attract a lot of attention from the fuzz.

 

See companies pay big money to get their parts certified through CARB. We all know that an intercooler really has no bearing on the emissions of a vehicle. CARB knows this but to make it legal CA needs their cut. Usually companies pass the cost onto the consumer so they can mod legally. This is the right way to do things. SEMA has pushed for this in cooperation with CARB for quite some time.
In the case of the SRT4 and the EVO, they come from the factory as do our cars meeting CA emission standards. Therefore everything on the vehicle has been certified to run in CA.

 

follow the intake pathway, anything after the airfilter is game for a ticket.

follow the exhaust pathway backwards, anything before the (and including) the last cat is game for a ticket.

-Gagan

 

there was a thread here last year or so.

someone pointed out a KALIF MVC law saying, as long as your car came with an IC, it doesnt matter where it is located. top, front, side, etc. modifying the bumper though, is a diff story.

 

Can you source that? I'd like to pick that apart.

 

Lol, In short NO they are not legal. Anyone who's had to argue with a cop about the polished pipes can tell ya that

AJ.

 

they are legal got this off IWSTI