How do you guys up in NorCal pass SMOG?
My car is Stage 2 (COBB tuning, CAI, up/down-pipe, full exhaust, no cats).
What is the minimum that has to be done to get it to pass California's strict SMOG regulations?
I don't want to revert back to stock 100%.

I will be moving to NorCal soon...

 

We put the cats back on.

 

stage 2? assuming that's just downpipe + catback, just put it back to stock. Not really worth the hassle of finding somewhere that will do it illegally.

 

I have the exact same issues but just decided to take it legal and put the stockers back on. I know its a hassle and can take a good hour or two but shops have been tightening up their policies.

 

I have a up-pipe, down-pipe, catless full exhaust, and cold air intake and COBB tuning. When I go back to stock I'll have to just flash my Accessport back to OEM settings right? Then after throwing all the bolt-ons back on, just flash it back to the previously saved settings for the mods?

 

Yup, that's all you have to do! I don't think you need to go through the hassle of doing the uppipe though. Correct me if i'm wrong about that though.

 

pm strider287

 

All u need is to put the stock down pipe back on. I passed with a fmic, 30r, staged heads, and 272 cams, with a full built engine. Lots of cool smog places as long as it passes out the pipe!

 

You do not have to re-flash.

- remove aftermarket downpipe
- install stock downpipe
- drive like you're afraid of boost to SMOG place
- pass test
- drive like you're afraid of boost home from SMOG place
- remove stock downpipe
- install aftermarket downpipe

Tuning is not significantly changed in the normal driving areas of the maps, no problems driving on whatever tune you have if you don't drive hard enough to push fueling into open loop.

At stage 2 that requires no "friendly" shop, you can take it anywhere.

 

Hmm, just put the stock DP back on? That's it? I thought the car would definitely fail without a cat? And it will pass with a CAI as well? I'm new to this SMOG thing, because fortunately for me I moved here from Florida where there was no SMOG regulation in the county I was living in.

So I just have to pass on the fumes coming out of the muffler? No visual SMOG inspection (CARB legal part inspection, etc)?

Thanks for all the input guys.
I guess I'll deal with this beast when I finally get up to SF and have to re-new my registration. Damn these strict California SMOG regulations!

 

I had a stock car smogged recently,. not a subie, the dude didn't look around & under the car. Just hooked stuff up, smogged it, and I was done in like 10 min in/out.

 

Stock DP had the cats in it, the car will pass the sniff portion of the test with the stock DP.

There is a visual check here in CA too, they will look for CARB numbers on the CAI. They will also check ODBII for engine codes.

Yup, it sucks!!

 

I put the stock DP and CBE back on for mine. Had a massive leak between the two cats but the guy didn't care. I've had my car smogged twice with the Helix UP on it, never been an issue with the visual check.

Also, why edit out your question? Leaving your question to give context to the answers helps people in the future get their questions answered without having to make new posts.

 

hells yeah thanks for all the info guys! how about any smog shops in north bay? Thanks

 

I have a helix catted dp. I know sniffer will pass, but visual will fail.

My current setup on my 2005 wrx
-Sti Up
-Helix catted dp
-Perrin ic hoses
-Hks catback exhaust
-Cobb ap version 2 StageII ACN map

Any shops around south sj that is not as strict?