CA SMOG & C.A.R.B. questions

[Damills]

I just recently moved to Beale AFB in Nor Cal and was looking to buy a DSM and was wondering about SMOG and C.A.R.B. I come from Indiana and we have no emissions or anything you just register your car... Is it true you cannot do anything aftermarket to your car?.?.? I have just talked to a few people on base and they said that anything you do to affect emissions is prohibited. So I was wondering what people to around here to get by it or get around it. Do you have to hide anything aftermarket?? I know people still build and modify cars around here so I was just wondering if someone had some tips or suggestions on what to do...thanks

 

[elfroggo]

Pretty much anything you do to your car is illegal yes. All aftermarket parts should have a CARB exemption sticker.

You either need to find a hookup for smog, someone who doesn't know or doesn't care about the mods or other trickery to get around it (like registering your car in places that are more lenient)

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

check my mods, and gallery of how my car and engine bay looks, i passed as it like that, no hookups or anything. and i have talked to others who have an even more extreme setup and passed.

95 awds get it easier, as obdii readiness is exempt and no dyno test.

i have seen fwds with similar setups like mine also pass.

so unless your mods are super extreme, you should pass, if not, something is wrong.

 

[Damills]

So if it is C.A.R.B. exempt do they just have to place each part on file or something.?.? Do you have to get it approved or does automatically exempt it? Is it pretty hard to pass SMOG? Once you pass smog could I run open downpipe and get away with it untill the next time it needs to be smogged or will I for sure get pulled over and ticketed? Is it true cops can pop your hood and see if you have modifcation done and write you a ticket? Sorry for so many questions but thanks for the help I am a newbie....

 

[blazebolt]

There are a lot of places that will overlook the visuals in the engine bay. Just as long as you pass the pipe test you would be okay. So make sure you have no check engine light, a good cat, and adjust your fuel trims (if you can) and you should pass.

Just don't do anything stupid to make a cop have you pop your hood or else it is off to the referree and then you'll have no choice but to change it back to stock and CARB certified only components. You probably won't get away for long running an open downpipe as it is loud and draws attention, best to keep that on the track. Straight through pipe (no cat) is fine

 

[Defiant]

You may have an exemption from having to register in California by being in the military. Check on base, they should know for sure.

Tell 17963 hello for me, it's been some years since I was up to see her.

 

[Damills]

No I checked we don't get any exemption though... Car actually has to be smogged like 14 days of being on base. I think most of my questions are answered thanks for all the info.

 

[eklypse]

just register your car in your Home of Record..i did it and i no longer have to do smog tests. Just call your home of Record DMV and ask them about it and get it done..takes about 1-2 weeks to get new plates and to fill out the info and mail it back to them.