I've had this car for 5+ years and it passed the 2 prior times with flying colors with the exact same mods but I was failed this time because:

1- the F-hose is not stock
2- the cats are not stock

Nevermind that it passes the sniff test fine, they did not like the grey color of my f-hose. Any advice beyond swapping parts? This was done in the SF bay area at the same place I took it to last time where it passed with the same equipment on the car. Has something changed with the rules in the past 2 years? This is getting ridiculous.

-H

 

What if my car fails the inspection?

DMV cannot provide technical information or advice in this area. We recommend that you contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair's (BAR) Referee Program toll free at 800.622.7733 for Smog Check dispute resolution and inspection assistance.

I assume you are only referring to the F-Hose issue. Call the referee.

 

yeah, they can "technically" fail you for ANY visual engine mods that do not have an accompanying "bar" number for the part eg exhaust regardlesss of being within acceptable emissions range(s).

"we" have to test at "star" only stations and they are far more rigorous than ever before, do NOT like to see ANY aftermarket mods, esp red or blue intake hoses lol.

thank al gore. the red scare, and welcome to kali

 

Guys, thanks, but I'm not new to Cali, never have left. This is the exact same car (down to every last part) at the exact same smog test station. Very weird that they have made is so much stricter in just 2 years.

 

There were significant changes in the last two years and that is why you now can only go to a STAR smog station...visual inspections are required and anything not stock is a red flag and you can fail even if you passed at the same facility two years ago....this is the price you pay for not being "green" in Kalifornia

 

Perhaps find a more lenient station? Corvette/LS guys almost always tend to know. Where are you located?

 

Ok, so how are people dealing with this? There must be a several hundred of us with modded cars here in california. Is everyone going back to stock? I don't believe that... Any luck with refs or is that a waste of time?

-H

 

there are a lot of people that "pay" for a smog, saving them the necessity to worry about reversing mods. I personally register the car out of state, which saves a load of hassle as well.

 

And to add on to that, failing smog can lead to yearly inspections, as well as potential difficulties registering the car, or selling it. A nasty thing I learned while flipping cars.

 

I'm in SF and the peninsula. PM me if you have any ideas. Thanks in advance.

-H

 

we're all dealing with this.

 

That is a very good point...also be mindful that there are serious consequences for any so called lenient shop and for you and your car if caught (jail time, fines and impound of vehicle)...these fines/penalties were all beefed up under the star system...once you understand that your government views you as a revenue source who deserves no consideration because you drive a polluting gas guzzler you will be fine

 

Absolutely. I certainly don't condone it, especially shops that are they "pay from afar" sort. They go under eventually. But some smog shops just aren't super thorough, or super caring, and minor stuff like intake hoses and the likes will slip through. I will continue to register out of state so long as I am in the military. It just simplifies so much. And also why I will always run black piping and fittings in the engine bay. Good luck either way

 

I found out from my friendly, and previously lenient smog place that CARB are being much more stringent on the visual part of the inspection, and as others have mentioned have increased the penalties both for the SMOG shop and the vehicle owner.
I brought my '01 Boxster S in to CA with me back in '07 and never had any trouble with the non-CARB approved intake plumbing. After the chat with my smog guy, I took it as an excuse to trade it for a 987S

Crazy thing is, my '02 TT with an aftermarket tune passes with no issues, simply because they are no visual clues to the modification.

<tin foil hat on> IMHO the whole visual inspection thing is a scam perpetrated by CARB and the manufacturers to try to suppress the aftermarket. the Magnuson–Moss act opened up the aftermarket, thus depriving the poor auto makers of upgrade $$$$.</tin foil hat on>

It shouldn't make any difference *how* a vehicle meets the actual emissions, only that it does. Makes my blood boil just thinking about the whole scam...

 

As long as it passes smog there should be no real reason to fail= just another way for the government to bleed the working person while the bums gets every break under the sun.