California Smog

[Jumbosock]

A tip on helping pass the visual: don't stick around and watch the tech. They get audited and might think you're an inspector. I always tell them I'm gonna grab a coffee down the street and be back in 30 minutes. They are always done quicker when I do that. And I agree with Finnegan that euro look stock so it's easier to miss.

[kcdedric]

Just wanted to update this thread with some info I've received after emailing various tuners:

ESS told me their tune will only disable the the post-cat o2 sensors and therefore will not pass CA smog unless you have modified the OEM section 1 or have stock headers.

Active Autowerke told me that if the function test of the MSS70 ecu in our cars is similar to the MSS60 in the E60 M5 and E9x M3, then it's possible to have 6 of the 7 monitors showing ready. I'm not sure if this will allow you to pass in CA, but I'm not optimistic. Maybe someone can chime in here?

I'll update as I hear back from Evolve and Epic.

[Devious21]

Originally Posted by kcdedric

Just wanted to update this thread with some info I've received after emailing various tuners:

ESS told me their tune will only disable the the post-cat o2 sensors and therefore will not pass CA smog unless you have modified the OEM section 1 or have stock headers.

Active Autowerke told me that if the function test of the MSS70 ecu in our cars is similar to the MSS60 in the E60 M5 and E9x M3, then it's possible to have 6 of the 7 monitors showing ready. I'm not sure if this will allow you to pass in CA, but I'm not optimistic. Maybe someone can chime in here?

I'll update as I hear back from Evolve and Epic.

From what I've heard, you can have ONE showing Not Ready but it cannot be one related to the cat. I think that's instant fail. It sounds to me like the ESS and AA tune are doing essentially the same thing. Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in but I agree with your "not optimistic" assessment.

You also might have another section 1 option. The DKF section 1 GB is finishing up. You may find someone willing to sell theirs. So you got Euro Section 1, Modified US Section 1 or DKF Section 1 as options.

[kcdedric]

Originally Posted by Devious21

From what I've heard, you can have ONE showing Not Ready but it cannot be one related to the cat. I think that's instant fail. It sounds to me like the ESS and AA tune are doing essentially the same thing. Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in but I agree with your "not optimistic" assessment.

You also might have another section 1 option. The DKF section 1 GB is finishing up. You may find someone willing to sell theirs. So you got Euro Section 1, Modified US Section 1 or DKF Section 1 as options.

I'll email AA back for further detail on which of the readiness monitors shows up as "Not Ready."

Based on the responses, AA seem to be a bit more aware of this issue. They told me showing readiness is a non-issue on the MSS54, but our cars are more tricky. ESS refused to address the possibility of it since it was a federal crime

[marinb]

The Evolve tune claims to pass Readiness, but after working with them for a long time and trying 5 different tune files I could not get it to work. This was with Evolve tune + Fabspeed Headers, and no relocate.

Our ECU is much harder to fool. If you want to pass Readiness then do the relocate to section 1, or swap your stock headers in just before smog time. Those are the only 2 options.

For the record, when I was running Fabspeed Headers + OEM section 1 relocate, and no tune (stock ECU), I was able to pass all Readiness sensors.

[bjbstewart]

Originally Posted by marinb

The Evolve tune claims to pass Readiness, but after working with them for a long time and trying 5 different tune files I could not get it to work. This was with Evolve tune + Fabspeed Headers, and no relocate.

Our ECU is much harder to fool. If you want to pass Readiness then do the relocate to section 1, or swap your stock headers in just before smog time. Those are the only 2 options.

For the record, when I was running Fabspeed Headers + OEM section 1 relocate, and no tune (stock ECU), I was able to pass all Readiness sensors.

Seems that the DKF section one with Fabspeed with no tune should pass as well, true?

[marinb]

Originally Posted by bjbstewart

Seems that the DKF section one with Fabspeed with no tune should pass as well, true?

DKF is solving the relocate issue, since it has all the right bungs. So as far as Readiness is concerned I think it would pass.

Will DKF + Fabspeed, pass the sniffer? Don't know, no one has this setup yet, DKF only just started shipping their product. The cats are 300 cell vs the OEM section1 200 cell, but they are also metallic vs the OEM ceramic (so that's another variable).

[bjbstewart]

Originally Posted by marinb

DKF is solving the relocate issue, since it has all the right bungs. So as far as Readiness is concerned I think it would pass.

Will DKF + Fabspeed, pass the sniffer? Don't know, no one has this setup yet, DKF only just started shipping their product. The cats are 300 cell vs the OEM section1 200 cell, but they are also metallic vs the OEM ceramic (so that's another variable).

Sounds like I'm going to have to give it a try ;-)

[RobMCoupe]

I doubt DKF will pass visual unless it is CARB certified. Got smog for another car recently. They do look under the car to check if cat exists.

[Str8 RippiN]

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

I doubt DKF will pass visual unless it is CARB certified. Got smog for another car recently. They do look under the car to check if cat exists.

The only emissions systems that are "CARB certified" are the OE CATS/manifold that came on the car. Everything else runs a risk of not passing. While the Euros offer slightly more assurance during the visual they can still be flagged as well. The best is to have a set up that passes smog and then make some friends at a STAR Smog shop


California Logic= Driver changes cats to higher cell and car passes smog better than with OE equipment= still illegal because not OE equipment

[Pheonix]

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

I doubt DKF will pass visual unless it is CARB certified. Got smog for another car recently. They do look under the car to check if cat exists.

That is why you need to find/know a guy that know that guy who knows a special shop where they dont look under the hood/car

[Devious21]

I'll just say that visual should be the easiest of the three components to deal with, and leave it at that

[Jumbosock]

Living in Cali, I would only do euro/csl headers and euro cats. I'm too tire of having to change stuff up to pass smog. Everything looks unchanged and is a breeze to pass.

[MPerdomo]

Hi, just trying to get this account verified!

[kcdedric]

Marinb, did you leave the EGT sensor in the Fabspeed headers or did you relocate it to section 1 as well?

I might as well start getting comfortable with having the bungs welded in.

[marinb]

If you are running a US ECU, in my option, it's better to leave the EGT in the headers because that's where the ECU expects it to be. Another reason to leave it in the headers is that sourcing an EGT bung to weld to your section 1 is a real pain, and the EGT wiring is really short so if you leave it in the headers you don't need to extend anything.

Some people have said that with the EGT relocated to section 1 that they occasionally get a plausibility warning... try searching for this. I also remember a one off thread a long time back where someone tried both locations and had a power loss (?) when it was relocated to section 1... I don't remember the end result of this thread, and like I said it was a one off thread.

There are a few people that have reflashed their ECU to a Euro ECU, in this case it would probably be better to relocate the EGT to section 1.

In short, if you have the option, then I'd say leave the EGT in the headers. But sometimes there is no option, like if you are running Euro headers, so in that case you might as well just relocate it to section 1.

[RobMCoupe]

Originally Posted by Jumbosock

Living in Cali, I would only do euro/csl headers and euro cats. I'm too tire of having to change stuff up to pass smog. Everything looks unchanged and is a breeze to pass.

Exact thought when doing headers mod.

[nesrevival]

I passed. thank you

[RobMCoupe]

Just want to update this thread. I passed smog with flying colors today with Euro header and cat and Evolve tune.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

Just want to update this thread. I passed smog with flying colors today with Euro header and cat and Evolve tune.

Nice! Thanks for the update!

[Walkurie]

Much appreciated. Thanks for updating us.

[mfanatic325]

Cali smog regs are a pain in the ass. That's all I will say