Failed smog test for my registration for my avc-r. Has anyone heard this? I passed 4 years ago when I bought the car and it was already in place. I am considering just hiding it under the dash for the retest but worried that they will somehow figure out. Any alike experiences?

 

A dilligent smog tech is going to follow along all the relevant vacuum lines.. If he encounters something aftermarket and is being ultra **** he'll fail you. Technically adjustable boost controlers aren't legal.

 

Technically its illegal and he did the right thing failing you. Most don't notice that sort of deal though, and it all just depends on the technicians understanding of your car.

 

Yep. Even Stock boost gauges that come on our car as a factory option is not legal. Sucks but it is true

The first time i got reffed I failed because of my boost gauge and because of my turbo timer. I hid my turbo timer in the dash and I removed my gauge from sight and pulled the vacuum line for it as well. I left all the or the lines in the car I just hid them and it passed the second time I went through.

 

How is the STOCK boost gauge not legal? How could subaru sell them as part of the car?

 

exactly what i was just gonna say.

 

It is a loop hole in the law. But trust me if you go to a ref and you have a boost gauge in you will fail. I know very lame.

The only reasoning i have been told is that since it ties into a Vacuum line it is not legal.

So everyone with full Defi three pod set ups will need to remove them before going to a reff because you will not pass visual check. also remove the control unit.

This is coming from personal experience at the ref station in Santa Rosa

 

it's legal if the vaccum lines are shown on the label under the hood.

 

Not too sure about that... I wouldn't count on that.

 

so explain why I didn't Fail my state ref check with my boost gauge sticking out like a sore thumb over the steering wheel??

i think someone's been giving you some misleading information bro

 

Ya im having a real hard time believing that.

If the reff wouldnt pass it, then shouldnt smog places not pass it as well?

 

No this actually happened to me...

 

Lots of dumb things are illegal, like blow off valves, all they do is release ambient air, but for some reason CARB made them illegal. I am in favor of smog laws, but only when they make sense.

Too bad about failing a smog, but I am sure some shop will overlook your controller

 

A blow off valve could be considered illegal if it vented metered air to the atmosphere not because what was vented is polution (it's not) but because there will be an innaccurate fuel mixture as a result of the venting.

A blow of valve could be legal if it vented unmetered air and the system as a whole was certified. Adding it in place of our stock location BPV is definately illegal.

 

The issue is adding/deleting/touching anything in the smog control system that isn't exempt. Vaccum lines that are part of the original certified system are, wether they connect to a vac/boost guage or your vacuum assisted brakes are fine because they were present during certification.

You could add all of the vaccum lines you wanted. Then pay lots of money and have it tested and certified.