Santa Rosa Smog Shop
02-17-2012, 05:07 PM
#1
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Car Info: 03 Sonic Yellow WRX Sport Wagon
Santa Rosa Smog Shop
Any specific "friendly" shops in town that are less likely to go crazy with the visual inspection? My stage 2 '03 WRX just failed the idle test and visual test (missing cat) though I do have one high-flow cat. I'm going to put the stock DP and stock 3rd cat on and retest. I just moved back from Reno and need a smog to get registered back here. Currently I still have NV plates.
I paid $45 for the failed test. The shop is called Cheap Smog Test and the guy was really scrutinizing the exhaust system, comparing it to images on his computer, though I don't think he noticed the UP. He said it should pass if I put the stock Downpipe back on (when I asked) but I'm wondering if there's another place in town that I'd be more likely to pass the visual at after swapping the stock DP and midpipe back on. When I asked, the lady said it would cost the same to retest regardless of where I go, $35 or something like that. Does that sound right?
He said it looked like it was running pretty rich. Any easy way to raise the idle a bit? It idles pretty slow. Should I be ok with the custom tune on there just for the drive to the smog shop and back?
I paid $45 for the failed test. The shop is called Cheap Smog Test and the guy was really scrutinizing the exhaust system, comparing it to images on his computer, though I don't think he noticed the UP. He said it should pass if I put the stock Downpipe back on (when I asked) but I'm wondering if there's another place in town that I'd be more likely to pass the visual at after swapping the stock DP and midpipe back on. When I asked, the lady said it would cost the same to retest regardless of where I go, $35 or something like that. Does that sound right?
He said it looked like it was running pretty rich. Any easy way to raise the idle a bit? It idles pretty slow. Should I be ok with the custom tune on there just for the drive to the smog shop and back?
Last edited by Cody8675309; 02-17-2012 at 05:12 PM.
02-17-2012, 06:47 PM
#3
Yeah, You've Probably Never Heard Of Me.
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Car Info: 345/30/19s
Any specific "friendly" shops in town that are less likely to go crazy with the visual inspection? My stage 2 '03 WRX just failed the idle test and visual test (missing cat) though I do have one high-flow cat. I'm going to put the stock DP and stock 3rd cat on and retest. I just moved back from Reno and need a smog to get registered back here. Currently I still have NV plates.
I paid $45 for the failed test. The shop is called Cheap Smog Test and the guy was really scrutinizing the exhaust system, comparing it to images on his computer, though I don't think he noticed the UP. He said it should pass if I put the stock Downpipe back on (when I asked) but I'm wondering if there's another place in town that I'd be more likely to pass the visual at after swapping the stock DP and midpipe back on. When I asked, the lady said it would cost the same to retest regardless of where I go, $35 or something like that. Does that sound right?
He said it looked like it was running pretty rich. Any easy way to raise the idle a bit? It idles pretty slow. Should I be ok with the custom tune on there just for the drive to the smog shop and back?
I paid $45 for the failed test. The shop is called Cheap Smog Test and the guy was really scrutinizing the exhaust system, comparing it to images on his computer, though I don't think he noticed the UP. He said it should pass if I put the stock Downpipe back on (when I asked) but I'm wondering if there's another place in town that I'd be more likely to pass the visual at after swapping the stock DP and midpipe back on. When I asked, the lady said it would cost the same to retest regardless of where I go, $35 or something like that. Does that sound right?
He said it looked like it was running pretty rich. Any easy way to raise the idle a bit? It idles pretty slow. Should I be ok with the custom tune on there just for the drive to the smog shop and back?
If your asking for a smog "hook up" than no, nobody is going to hook up a complete stranger with a smog. Not in California. The fine now for a smog shop if they get caught is $10K and losing your smog license. To put in other terms, you might as well just come onto a forum asking if anyone wants to sell you a gram of cocaine since the penalty would actually be much lower.
02-17-2012, 07:03 PM
#5
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Hi Krinikov,
I think you're off base, but that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I've got plenty of friends here (at least a couple of them, mods) and on other forums that could vouch for me if me being a "stranger" is really a relevant issue, which it's not. ****, I lived in Santa Rosa 16 years before my 7 year stint in Reno. This is my hometown.
Anyway, I'll try to be more clear.
Has anyone had a good experience with a smog shop in Santa Rosa despite having an aftermarket UP, CBE, and a stage 2 custom tune. Please PM me.
I think you're off base, but that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I've got plenty of friends here (at least a couple of them, mods) and on other forums that could vouch for me if me being a "stranger" is really a relevant issue, which it's not. ****, I lived in Santa Rosa 16 years before my 7 year stint in Reno. This is my hometown.
Anyway, I'll try to be more clear.
Has anyone had a good experience with a smog shop in Santa Rosa despite having an aftermarket UP, CBE, and a stage 2 custom tune. Please PM me.
02-17-2012, 07:25 PM
#6
Yeah, You've Probably Never Heard Of Me.
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Im sorry you took so much offense to the "stranger" part, I didnt mean to imply you didnt know anyone on here. We've been averaging about 1-2 "Does anyone have a smog hook up?" thread a month around here recently and its getting pretty ridiculous. Anyhow, good luck with your smog.
Peace.
Peace.
02-18-2012, 10:10 AM
#10
previously known as wrxBRAH
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Put the dp on and take it back to same guy. I dont see the issue here. You already solved your problem. It doesnt matter if you idle too low for smog test and as long as your monitors are running for obd2, a tune doesnt matter. you can add a little e85 if you're that worried.
02-18-2012, 12:06 PM
#12
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I have my stock CBE too. Can I just drop the entire existing TBE in one piece and replace it with the stock stuff? It's been a long time since I modified my exhaust.
02-18-2012, 01:02 PM
#13
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What should I do about gaskets? Just pick up some new ones for the OEM stuff and reuse the existing ones for going back to the aftermarket parts?
Am I going to have to do this every year? It's a MY03.
Am I going to have to do this every year? It's a MY03.
02-18-2012, 01:58 PM
#14
Yeah, You've Probably Never Heard Of Me.
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Posts: 17,962
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Put the dp on and take it back to same guy. I dont see the issue here. You already solved your problem. It doesnt matter if you idle too low for smog test and as long as your monitors are running for obd2, a tune doesnt matter. you can add a little e85 if you're that worried.
Last edited by Krinkov; 02-18-2012 at 04:47 PM.
