California Smog Check

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by Stigmaru

It just looks like it's possible to pass with one cat vs the two.

Not possible unless the shop is sloppy.

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[Stigmaru]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

Not possible unless the shop is sloppy.

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Sloppy or not seems like the software passed it.

Originally Posted by pauletello

Good news, I passed my SMOG. Was very nervous about it because I have bolt ons and ran E-85 religiously but I can happily say, I passed. Some notes for you guys and I highly recommend the spot I went to.

I used a Stage 2 UEL E-85 tune (OFT) for the last 2 years. I flashed my stock image back to the car about 2 weeks ago, and switched back to gasoline (91). Let the car get close to Empty and would fill up and waste gas so that I could get all the E-85 out of the car.

Mods I have:
K&N Air Filter
JDL UEL Header (not catted)
JDL OP
JDL Front Pipe (catted)
Greddy Supreme SP Cat-Back Exhaust


If you guys are from the 626 area like I am, I highly recommend going to Kevin's Smog, its on Baldwin Ave and Lower Azusa Ave on the West side of Baldwin in El Monte.

It cost me $40.00

They did not lift my car, they rev'd it a couple times. Took about 10 minutes at most.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by Stigmaru

Sloppy or not seems like the software passed it.

any real smog shop will failed that car on the spot with aftermarket cats. In CA only stock cats will pass. Aftermarket ones even with the same total number and same locations will fail. Smells fishy to me. I know there are shops and individuals that will pass cars but unless you know someone, you won't find them.

[Stigmaru]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

any real smog shop will failed that car on the spot with aftermarket cats. In CA only stock cats will pass. Aftermarket ones even with the same total number and same locations will fail. Smells fishy to me. I know there are shops and individuals that will pass cars but unless you know someone, you won't find them.

Well.. apparently this shop is in El Monte of all places. if there was a place in CA where a smog shop doesn't give a fk it would be in this city

[ZC6_STi]

Thought it would be helpful and clarify to most of the members here who are trying to get their car smog in SoCal and haven't been updated since 2022.

I recently finished & passed a smog check at "The Smog Spot Star Certified" in South El Monte after returning the modification and reflashing back to the stock settings. This includes the stock airbox and sound generator tube for visual inspection. I didn't remove my Tomei Overpipe, which has DEI black heatwrap on it. Also, my Radium Dual Catch Can and PTuning Flex Fuel Kit (which is hidden by the brake booster and catch can). If you fail the visual inspection for the overpipe or flex fuel kit, I advise removing them, so it depends on the smog inspector.



My advice when returning to the stock tune is to do a drive cycle with "No A/C Running". Let the car idle for 10-12 minutes up to operating temperature. This will help the catalyst converter & O2 sensors heat up completely during the drive cycle. Then drive it around the city for 10-15 minutes to let the car relearn the ECU. After, go onto the highway and keep at a constant 55-65 MPH for 15-20 minutes. Also, decelerate from 55-65 MPH to 25 MPH without touching the brake (This must be done several times). I put about 40+ miles to get everything ready before the smog check.

EVAP System readiness is usually a hit & miss, but it's okay to be incomplete as long as the CATALYST, OXYGEN SENSOR, & OXYGEN SENSOR HEATER are complete, so 3 out of 4 need to be complete to pass smog, depending on the smog inspector. I advise having an OBDII monitor to watch all the readiness needs to check. If the inspector failed you due to EVAP not being completed, but everything else passed, you can file a complaint at https://www.bar.ca.gov/complaint



Also, if you are running an oil separator/catch can. They aren't "illegal" according to the bar.ca.gov smog manual. So, it will easily pass when you can bring this up to the inspector or CHP, since it does not require being CARB legal, as it does not have anything to do with anything with the emissions. I would keep a print copy in your glovebox if you get pulled over and they inspect your modifications.



All information is up-to-date at https://www.bar.ca.gov/pdf/smog-check-manual.pdf