NOVA emissions exhaust question
 

Hey guys,

I have a question. For emissions testing in NOVA which exhaust setup should I do if I want to pass. One of the CATs as to be visible right?

Option 1: catless headers with Catted frontpipe

Option 2: Catted headers with catless frontpipe

Question is would both setups work for emissions or do both header and frontpipe Cats have to be visible? I'm trying to figure out the exhaust setup I'm trying to buy.

Thanks

Option 1 might be safe if you have a tune

If it's not a visual inspection of the emissions system, you have nothing to worry about as long as your ECU hasn't stored/thrown a code for broken catalytic converter.

If it's a visual inspection, you are breaking federal law and you are going to pound-me-in-the-ass jail.

as above, depends on if the inspector wants to do the visual look. i had no cats on my is300 with an o2sim wired in and passed emissions every time. either way, if you throw a code, its no bueno.

Just FYI, my info may be outdated since I moved out of NOVA a few years ago. I now live in an area of VA that does not require emissions inspection, so I can run cat-free and VA can't do a damn thing about it.

The police, on the other hand, can send me to jail. Because tampering with emissions devices is still a federal crime.

The cat on the header is primary cat. It also works with the O2 sensors/ECU. I think option 2 is safer but as long as you have one cat you should be alright. A front pipe is easy to swap too.


Do they read what is coming out of the tail pipe in NOVA?

AFAIK, sniffer tests are only used on OBD-I cars. OBD-II cars (anything manufactured after 1996) will use an ECU readiness check.