depends on the state. In cali they do not look at the cat under inspection, atleast that's what I was told when I smogged my acura a few months back that has a gutted cat.


You can trick the cel

 

Trick the CEL by wrapping cat material around the O2 sensor!

 

Actually there is a visual inspection which you will fail if you don't have a cat on the car. Obviously if it's gutted, the guy doesn't know any better. I'm assuming your car passed the sniffer, smog guy looked under and saw the "cat" and passed you...

 

There is no way a car will pass the sniffer test (hot or cold) in Calif without kats.

 

not true, we've discussed this a few times. My cat is gutted, basically doesn't have anything inside of it, just a case. I also have busted 02 sensors and was throwing a CEL at the time. I passed w/o a problem. There are also ways to tune the car to pass temporarily.


I don't know if I'm lucky and found the right guy, but when I asked him about my cat after I passed, he told me it doesn't matter. Maybe it was cause I was throwing a CEL and the ECU was in limp mode


Zam, the visual test is VERY easy to overcome. I still had my nitrous kit installed, he didn't care. My intake wasn't CARB legal either, he didn't care. I've also smogged honda's w/ custom made turbo kits w/ zero problem.



Chad, there are also shops that will have you bring in, say a stock 2001 turbo, scan your car but run that stock car on the rollers

how do you AWD guys do the rollers? Do you have to find a special center to handle AWD cars?

 

Yeah, visual is rarely ever a problem. And if you know the right people, the sniffer isn't a problem either

BUT, legally speaking, you could've been failed for any of the mods you listed.

 

yeap, "legally speaking" is correct

 

For both of my cars they just left the car in neutral and revved it to about 3K with a sensor in the exhaust. I don't think too many people have AWD rollers available.

 

No inspections in Michigan!

 

How often to you over governed Californians have to go through this "inspection"? Do you get bonus points for metrosexuality?

 

new cars after 4 years, then every 2 years after

 

Do you have to pay?

 

yea, like $35; most places will retest you till you pass as well

 

I have never seen a 996tt without kats pass a sniffer test. They can't put a 996tt on a rolling smog dyno.

If you ever get pulled into a referee station you are SOL.

Now if a smog operator wants to take a chance at losing his license, fined and possible jail time ................... well then anything is possible.

 

A while back, my winter toy (Eclipse GSX) passed the sniffer test with a straight pipe... modern cars are pretty clean.