Enlighten an East-Coaster on California emissions & smog inspection
Enlighten an East-Coaster on California emissions & smog inspection
I am looking to permanently relocate to California (San Diego/Temecula area) in the coming year. The RX-8 is being shipped out first to be driven/stored by my brother in law for the time being. Unfortunately he's not a car savvy guy, nor does he own any older vehicles, and it doesn't help that I am not familiar with California emissions & smog laws (is significantly less lenient than New York).
My RX-8 is cat-less, however I am swapping back the OEM catalytic convertor soon before the shipment. Would there be any concerns with road legality after that? I have briefly read the smog testing requirements online, but I would like some input from some true west-coasters with RX-8s.
Thanks!
My RX-8 is cat-less, however I am swapping back the OEM catalytic convertor soon before the shipment. Would there be any concerns with road legality after that? I have briefly read the smog testing requirements online, but I would like some input from some true west-coasters with RX-8s.
Thanks!
Here are a few items I can think of which may or may not impact inspections:
- Regarding the exhaust, I have a Greddy Evo-T catback attached to the MazSport Dual Res. M.P.
- Intake is factory minus VFAD
- Suspension is KW Variant 3 set to factory ride height with Hotchkis swaybars and RB adjustable end links
- BHR ignition coils
- Failed air pump often prompts P0410 (CEL) which I clear with my Cobb AP
- Regarding the exhaust, I have a Greddy Evo-T catback attached to the MazSport Dual Res. M.P.
- Intake is factory minus VFAD
- Suspension is KW Variant 3 set to factory ride height with Hotchkis swaybars and RB adjustable end links
- BHR ignition coils
- Failed air pump often prompts P0410 (CEL) which I clear with my Cobb AP
the air pump is there for a reason and prolongs the life of your cat, i would say its important if you are gonna go back to having a cat. pretty sure i have one sitting in my garage if you want to buy one
I am aware of the impacts on the life of the catalytic converter due to the lack of secondary air injection upon start up. I was already catless by the time the air pump failed and never bothered to replace it until recently.
I'll definitely give you a shout if my OEM cat somehow degraded during its years of storage. Thanks!
I'll definitely give you a shout if my OEM cat somehow degraded during its years of storage. Thanks!
Hello. Every other year for renewal you will have to get a smog certificate. This entails a check of codes thru the OBD2 and visual inspection for engine mods as well as tailpipe readings. Unfortunately clearing the codes is not gonna automatically pass because they also check how long since codes where cleared.
I have not registered an out of state vehicle before but I understand they will give it a once over at the DMV covering more than just emissions. Here is a link for further reading:
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article...alerie-mellema
So in your case hopefully it's all good. Make sure muffler is not too loud and window tints are not too dark in the front.
I have not registered an out of state vehicle before but I understand they will give it a once over at the DMV covering more than just emissions. Here is a link for further reading:
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article...alerie-mellema
So in your case hopefully it's all good. Make sure muffler is not too loud and window tints are not too dark in the front.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 338
Likes: 98
From: San Diego
I have all of your answers and live in San Diego.
First get the air pump fixed.
Second install your oem intake or have an intake that is CARB legal. It will need the CARB sticker on it that has the certification number on it.
Third with no CEL and everything done above go to a Star certified smog center in your are. They will plug into your OBD2 port and scan the car. No sniffing needed.
Fourth, go to the DMV and they will do a vin verification of the car. With your smog info in the system you will get plates on the spot. They only take cash or check at the DMV.
Hit me up if you need any help or need a mechanic for stuff. But California smog is super simple with an RX8 as long as you don’t have a CEL and run CARB certified stuff. Like the AEM intake.. I swap out my cat every 2 years just for smog. But I don’t need to replace anything else since it’s all legal.
ive registered 3-4 cars from out of state and the rx8 is a 50 state car. Under the hood there is a sticker that says US EPA and California. That tells the DMV your car is ok to register within the state with no effort.
First get the air pump fixed.
Second install your oem intake or have an intake that is CARB legal. It will need the CARB sticker on it that has the certification number on it.
Third with no CEL and everything done above go to a Star certified smog center in your are. They will plug into your OBD2 port and scan the car. No sniffing needed.
Fourth, go to the DMV and they will do a vin verification of the car. With your smog info in the system you will get plates on the spot. They only take cash or check at the DMV.
Hit me up if you need any help or need a mechanic for stuff. But California smog is super simple with an RX8 as long as you don’t have a CEL and run CARB certified stuff. Like the AEM intake.. I swap out my cat every 2 years just for smog. But I don’t need to replace anything else since it’s all legal.
ive registered 3-4 cars from out of state and the rx8 is a 50 state car. Under the hood there is a sticker that says US EPA and California. That tells the DMV your car is ok to register within the state with no effort.
Last edited by speed7; Nov 1, 2018 at 02:55 PM.
Thanks for the help!
The P0410 CEL (secondary air injection) requires frequent clearing now at damn near every code start. That said, it's definitely time to swap in a replacement air pump. I just finished swapping in the OEM cat this past weekend. Unfortunately, I'm having some stable idling issues. It may or may not be a map issue given the fact that I changed to the "Cobb Stock Map".
The P0410 CEL (secondary air injection) requires frequent clearing now at damn near every code start. That said, it's definitely time to swap in a replacement air pump. I just finished swapping in the OEM cat this past weekend. Unfortunately, I'm having some stable idling issues. It may or may not be a map issue given the fact that I changed to the "Cobb Stock Map".
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 338
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From: San Diego
Yeah 2001+ cars just need to be scanned now. So as long as you have no CEL flashing.. you should be good to go. This was the only reason why I came back to the rotary... I was always "close" to the edge with the rx7's.. but now it doesn't matter what it reads outside of the tailpipe.. as long as the computer reads everything is ok.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 338
Likes: 98
From: San Diego
Thanks for the help!
The P0410 CEL (secondary air injection) requires frequent clearing now at damn near every code start. That said, it's definitely time to swap in a replacement air pump. I just finished swapping in the OEM cat this past weekend. Unfortunately, I'm having some stable idling issues. It may or may not be a map issue given the fact that I changed to the "Cobb Stock Map".
The P0410 CEL (secondary air injection) requires frequent clearing now at damn near every code start. That said, it's definitely time to swap in a replacement air pump. I just finished swapping in the OEM cat this past weekend. Unfortunately, I'm having some stable idling issues. It may or may not be a map issue given the fact that I changed to the "Cobb Stock Map".
So do we get an update or what?? Are you in San Diego now, away from that crappy NY salt and snow?
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Joined: Jan 2021
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From: San Bernardino, CA
Hi, I'm in the same boat about registering my out of state rx8 to california, but am struggling to find a CARB compliant cat to place on my vehicle i've looked at other threads, and checked over prices of the OEM cats but am trying to find a cheaper method to pass smog. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
you'll need an OEM catalytic if the technician really gets under there and looks, anything other than OE is a fail. (AFAIK, there are no other CARB compliant catalytic converters available for our Car)
check the FS threads here or look at local junk yards because buying new will run well over a thousand dollars.
check the FS threads here or look at local junk yards because buying new will run well over a thousand dollars.
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