Smog shops that look past the FMIC? Moving to Roseville soon

[Ludachris]

If anyone knows of shops that are FMIC-friendly, or even more friendly than that, please PM me some info. I might have a tough time getting mine passed. We'll be moving to Roseville this spring/summer and I am looking to get both DSMs registered if possible. If not, definitely my 2G. But it has a FMIC, which is the only thing that would not pass the visual.

Please PM me info on some shops in the area that I might be able to use. Thanks in advance. Please don't post info about shops publicly, as we don't want to get anyone in trouble.

 

[hubbazoot]

Have they said WHY it doesn't pass? Or is it a "Oh, FMIC = not pass."

Just some ideas that may make it pass the visual:
- Paint the FMIC and associated pipes to look like a radiator. Matte black hi temperature paint.
- Maybe make a "jumper pipe" just from the turbo to the wastegate and take out the FMIC system when you have to do a smog.

 

[eligst21]

When i got my car smogged (up here north of sac), i had a front mount and i just said that it has no effect in adding air and that i have my bov recirculated and they said ok i was right and passed it. You can try that since its semi- true.

 

[Ludachris]

Have they said WHY it doesn't pass? Or is it a "Oh, FMIC = not pass."

Just some ideas that may make it pass the visual:
- Paint the FMIC and associated pipes to look like a radiator. Matte black hi temperature paint.
- Maybe make a "jumper pipe" just from the turbo to the wastegate and take out the FMIC system when you have to do a smog.

In CA, anything that looks aftermarket will be an automatic "no test". The shops out there are required to not test any car. They even get audited by under covers to ensure they're not testing cars that are modified, and shops lose their licenses all the time because of this.

I won't be painting the FMIC and pipes, but will likely remove the setup if necessary. I just hope I don't have to do it.

 

[Strm Trpr]

FMIC's are not an issue if your car came Intercooled from the factory, which it did.
Just make sure and use a non-adjustable 1g BOV and you'll be fine.

Use an airbox if possible.
If not, use a CARB approved intake like the K&N Fitler kit, or the Injen intake pipe.

EGR, Charcoal Canister and Catalytic Converter are a must.

Just route all of your vac lines and you should be good.

2g's are gravy, 1g's are a mess.

 

[TSimage]

In CA, anything that looks aftermarket will be an automatic "no test". The shops out there are required to not test any car. They even get audited by under covers to ensure they're not testing cars that are modified, and shops lose their licenses all the time because of this.

I won't be painting the FMIC and pipes, but will likely remove the setup if necessary. I just hope I don't have to do it.

This is not ture.. Cali is bad, but not nearly as bad as many make it out to be.

FMIC has no bearing on your test.. If the place tells you otherwise.. They are morons.

Same with your exhaust... Just needs a cat.

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

FMIC's are not an issue if your car came Intercooled from the factory, which it did.
Just make sure and use a non-adjustable 1g BOV and you'll be fine.

Use an airbox if possible.
If not, use a CARB approved intake like the K&N Fitler kit, or the Injen intake pipe.

EGR, Charcoal Canister and Catalytic Converter are a must.

Just route all of your vac lines and you should be good.

2g's are gravy, 1g's are a mess.

Yup definetly. you can even look up the the rule book or what ever its called, print it out and prove it to the guy at the smog shop that a FMIC is not an illegal mod on a factory turbocharged vehicle. theres an actual section in it that states that a FMIC is acceptable.


Here ya go smog inspection rule book.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARResources/ftp/pdfdocs/Smog_Check_Guide.pdf


Read the 4th page before the last. Hopefully most of the rules havent changed since 08 when it comes to turbocharged vehicles.

 

[Ludachris]

This is not ture.. Cali is bad, but not nearly as bad as many make it out to be.

FMIC has no bearing on your test.. If the place tells you otherwise.. They are morons.

Same with your exhaust... Just needs a cat.

Maybe it's different in Sac, but the Bay Area was a pain it the ass when smog time came around when I lived there. If it looked aftermarket they wanted a CARB sticker, didn't matter what it was. My Buschur polished upper I/C pipe got me turned away from a couple shops back then, as did my FMIC after that (with black piping even). But the Bay Area probably has a higher concentration of raceboys than Sac does, so maybe that's why it was more difficult.

 

[GsxEcutioner]

PM Me, if your willing to drive to San Francisco Area.

 

[bboyjohn04]

my uncle won't say anything about the intercooler thats for sure, he's located downtown sacramento riverside blvd next to marlon auto

 

[tstkl]

so let me get this straight.........

Every time I make the exact same thread as this it gets deleted and defiant comes and gives me a warning and whatnot, but you make it and everythings a-ok.



THE HYPOCRACY!!!!!!!!!


welcome back to the warmer side of life luda.

Find out if your test only or not first and then you know what exactly your looking for. To my knowledge most bay area dsms are flagged for test only.

 

[97 Demon]

the bay area is worse than the Sacramento area just due to how the demographic whatever-the-hell-its-called falls.

sac is actually pretty lenient on their smog station rules. if you can tell them that its an OEM replacement then you'll have no problems.

take it from a guy who spent the better part of 15 years in Sac. i still have family living in the area and they say that nothings changed. they live in west roseville if that helps any Luda...

 

[Ludachris]

the bay area is worse than the Sacramento area just due to how the demographic whatever-the-hell-its-called falls.

sac is actually pretty lenient on their smog station rules. if you can tell them that its an OEM replacement then you'll have no problems.

take it from a guy who spent the better part of 15 years in Sac. i still have family living in the area and they say that nothings changed. they live in west roseville if that helps any Luda...

Awesome, thanks for the info. I'm keeping the 2g looking as stock as possibly outside of the VRSF FMIC, which does have polished aluminum piping. I might see if I can wrap that with some black material to tone it down a little. The turbo won't look stock either, but I'll give it a try anyway.

 

[97 Demon]

don't worry about shiny, most of the guys that work the smog shops in sac are coming out of UTI and understand whats up.

if you have to explain anything tell them that the parts you installed are for show but are OEM spec parts.

 

[Ludachris]

don't worry about shiny, most of the guys that work the smog shops in sac are coming out of UTI and understand whats up.

if you have to explain anything tell them that the parts you installed are for show but are OEM spec parts.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

 

[tsi209]

Have you had any luck with your smog issue?? If u haven't passed pm me I have a guy in stockton that will look pass everything as long as you know it will pass. He has helped me out a ton of times

 

[Ludachris]

Have you had any luck with your smog issue?? If u haven't passed pm me I have a guy in stockton that will look pass everything as long as you know it will pass. He has helped me out a ton of times

I haven't moved out there yet. Thinking it won't be until late June or mid July. Thanks for the help, I'll refer back to this thread when I get out there.

 

[Ludachris]

Should be out there first week of July, looking forward to meeting up with some DSMers out there.

 

[98yctuner]

i can help you out if your willing to drive twards my direction! just pm me

 

[FireyIce01]

Did you find a shop that does FMICs without any trouble? I have been to 3 different shops in Carmichael, and none of them will look at my car.

 

[2g_DSMer]

Did you find a shop that does FMICs without any trouble? I have been to 3 different shops in Carmichael, and none of them will look at my car.

Well I don't think you will find anyone in Carmichael that is that friendly I've notice that there really strict even when there in the wrong but what it comes down to is its what ever they say kind of gose...

 

[TSIGuy510]

im in the same boat i need a smog asap and idk if it will pass, im trying to get someone to let me borrow the stock air filter housing but with no luck yet. it has black hard piping and a high flow cat too so im hoping it will pass

 

[FireyIce01]

im in the same boat i need a smog asap and idk if it will pass, im trying to get someone to let me borrow the stock air filter housing but with no luck yet. it has black hard piping and a high flow cat too so im hoping it will pass

Yea, I'm having a hard time finding a stock air box for the gsx. and none of the parts places seem to have them.

 

[GsxEcutioner]

Junkyards are your best friends.....

OR

4 doors

 

[FireyIce01]

Junkyards are your best friends.....

OR

4 doors

Yea, called a few junkyards, all the mitsu ones. PickNPull. I think I found one in the classifieds though. As for the 4 doors... *shrugs* I'd like a GVR4 or an EVO, but I've got the GSX already