Still Pass Emissions w/ Vacuum Line Removal???

[Flash]

First off I'm planning on getting a 1g throttle body and 1g intake manifold soon, and I was thinking about removing my vacuum lines like http://www.taboospeedshop.com/emissions1.htm I was wondering if I could still pass emissions without all those lines?

 

[kmartind]

In the Denver metro area, you can if your tailpipe emissions are clean (may need to run a cat) and you drive by one of the RapidScreen vans once on several different days during the months prior to your registration renewal date (any time from 10 months to 2 months before registration expires). If you register two clean readings you pass without having to do the formal test, so no visual inspection at all, no dyno test, you just have to include the emissions testing fee with registration fee. You are not penalized for failing the drive-by test so it never hurts to try several times. You won't know the results until your registraion renewal card shows up though. You have to accellerate slightly while passing the van for the test to register, but if you are venting your BOV to the atmosphere don't shift anywhere near the van (stay in the same gear for quite a ways before and after).
See:
http://www.aircarecolorado.com/rapidscreen/index.html For additonal info and van locations, etc.
If you can't pass that way, you may fail the visual inspection unless the technicion is clueless (might try going to Jiffy Lube or someplace like that for the test on a busy day).

 

[Flash]

You have to have a visual inspection too! I thought it was just tail pipe emissions. If I remove the vacuum lines, and fail emissions, is it easy to reinstall everything?
Thanks!

 

[kmartind]

Right, passing with RapidScreen is the only way to avoid a visual inspection. But like I said, if you drive by the van and pass that twice (it photographs your license plate on the way past), then you are done and you never have to actually go in for a test that year.
If you can't arrange to drive by the van several times during the year or if you don't pass that way, you have to go in, and depending upon your county you need a tailpipe test and visual inspection, or that plus a dyno test. Even 4WD vehicles have to do the dyno test, and if you have very low profile tires they force you to put on standard tires for the test at your own expense. I try to make sure to drive by the RapidScreen vans as often as possible during the year so that I can hopefully avoid the whole thing.

 

[Flash]

Now, I CAN'T do the dyno test if they make me put stock wheels back on. I got big brakes, and 17" wheels won't even fit over them!

 

[kmartind]

Now, I CAN'T do the dyno test if they make me put stock wheels back on. I got big brakes, and 17" wheels won't even fit over them!

One option might be wheel spacers. Also the Big-O tire shops closest to the testing centers will often rent wheels/tires for the test (for around $50-$100 I think, including install) and they may have something that would fit and also be OK for the test.

Dyno is only required if registered in the following counties:
Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Broomfield and Jefferson, with the exception of the rural portions of Adams and Arapahoe counties east of Kiowa Creek.
If you live in other counties, then it's just tailpipe idle test and visual (as well as gas cap and OBD2, but OBD2 is "advisory only").
Some people have been known to go register their cars in a different county not listed above (for instance Weld county) to avoid the dyno if they have relatives there or something they can use as the address. That and they "forget" to mention they work or go to school in one of the stricter counties.

If you have at least 3 months until registraiton expires I'd just go look up the RapidScreen schedule and start driving past the van whenever it's convenient for you. I figure if one drives past enough times it ought to pass sooner or later (but a maximum of once per day).

 

[karbon]

If they see capped ports leading from the throttle body I'm going to venture a guess they're going to send you home. Around here you need to pass a visual inspection of emissions equipment. Is it that big of a pain to hook it up once a year or once every 2 years? I'm so glad my county doesn't do smog checks.

 

[Mitchel63]

As far as visual inspection goes.....it is only O2 sensors and the cat. Both of my DSM's passed just fine with all nipples on the TB capped off......of course this was in Larimer county.

 

[kmartind]

As far as visual inspection goes.....it is only O2 sensors and the cat. Both of my DSM's passed just fine with all nipples on the TB capped off......of course this was in Larimer county.

In Larimer you can go to someplace like Jiffy Lube where they aren't particularly knowledgable and they just want to get you out the door, but in the "enhanced" areas you have to go to Envirotest, and they seem a bit more strict. May still get away with it though. Technically I think they're supposed to verify the whole "air injection system" which probably includes the crankcase vent, charcoal canister line, BOV return, etc (if they actually understand what they're looking at).