Ugh, OK -- good warning to hear. What did they make worse after you get flagged? Do you have to go to a referee or something?

 

i just passed at a known to me star test station. visual was virtually non existent. my exhaust is not c a r b certified, and could by law, be tagged.

i passed in like 3 minutes obd only. but car is cel less lol

think I'm gonna go again with my new catess setup just for laughs

anyone thinks they won't pas?? do NOT allow them to hook up the obd, a "fail" is soon to be a plea deal with the referee, or try another time after the non existent "problem" is cured. also, in cali exhaust co's are ADVERTISING they are NOT carb certified. just saw one for fabspeed that specifies NOT good for street driving! so if the makers are saying that!/ well, then... caveat emptor? the stations are ( generally ) worse.

the govt is our friend. lol

 

VR4Henry, search the NorCal forum subsection. This was discussed there as well with a few recommendations for shops that might help you out. Not sure where you are located exactly. I've had no problem passing at 2 different stations in the south San Jose area. My Europipe stage 1 with 100cell cats runs super clean. No issues there. The beauty of the EP is its lack of "flashiness" visually. It doesn't look significantly different from stock so that may be working in my favor as far as the visual test goes although the last guy didn't even bother to look. A few years ago, my car got eyeballed during the smog check and still passed!

 

This is exactly what I did with my 6TT. I have a 3" Speedtech catless exhaust, and I just put on stock exhaust and bring it to the shop, it's not too difficult to swap out with a set of jack stands and jack. I do have an EPL tune on the car so I'm curious to see if it will still fail with the Speedtech on it with the new ECU testing method.

 

I keep an OEM exhaust handy just in case. The Turbo S came with a Tube system and a check engine LOL. Originally it passed with the check engine on but I'm not sure now after 2 years and the rules have changed in the testing procedure. So I bought an original in case. Also gives me the option of going OEM sound if I get tired of the noise. Nothing can replace the air cooled sound.

 

Where are you in norcal ? I may be able to refer you to a person that is Pcar friendly. Just had conversation with him and he gave me lots of new insight. As long as its not too radical, you will pass.
BTW, he said that different color hoses are no longer illegal to not pass you. As long as they meet OE spec ....very subjective

 

my feeling on the ( color ) forge hoses et al, is that only impels them to keep looking at other stuff. an evoms maxflo or similar cone filter setup!? faggedaboudit lol

you takes yer chances

 

I'm in Marin near San Rafael. PM your guy?
Car is totally stock engine Bay except exhaust, and even that is quiet at idle. I still have 200cel cats even.

 

you'll be fine. they are less stringent now that they rely primarily upon the obd, and the dont even use the rollers for the 2000/2500k rpm hold routine.

once they pass the obd? the visual is cursory, at best. in spite of my infamously circumspect posts on the topic and general distrust of who runs the tests? they are much easier to pass now than we recently thought.. as long as your car is in "ready" mode, and not puking fuel gasses lol


that said, i go to ONE place, and one place only

 

I have a stock exhaust system in my garage if you are in need other wise drive up north Sac and see my guy. I think the drive is cheaper than r/r/r stock exhaust

 

Usually with 200 cells the stock software thinks everything is fine...no check engine light.
With 100 cells it can be a problem and u get a light.
Thats probably the time, when you fail the emission test.

 

there are ways to pre-emptively get your car "looked at" prior to entering your vin and beginning the obd portion of the "test". then you know what's what, and won't get any "fail".

that's the key to passing "questionable" setups in kali.

 

200 cell or 100 cell/sq in cats is not the issue with passing or not passing. Its the total surface area the exhaust has to interact that matters. My europipe with 100 cell cats has no issue passing and doesn't produce a check engine light. when you look at the cats though they are pretty darn big compared to other aftermarket exhausts so my 100 cells probably matches the total surface area of some smaller 200 cell cat exhausts.

 

So, there is a slight chance that I will be moving to the San Jose area. Would an RPi exhaust be an issue on visual since it has different looking tips? Not the obvious bit ones but definitely looks different than stock.

 

Coming from out of state can be tough. I bought a 996TT from Alabama and my "friendly" smog shop said no to the fitted AP exhaust. Thankfully it was before the VIN was entered into the computer. I fitted the stock system and flashed back to stock.

Good luck.