So, I took my coupe in for a smog test a few days ago; everything passed fine. For any wondering (I have a Stillen intake), this particular shop did look for the CARB exemption sticker and stated I would have failed the visual inspection if I did not have it.

That got me thinking...what is the purpose of a visual inspection anyway? Isn't the concern what comes out of tail pipe. Passing the emissions portion, but failing the "smog test" because your car doesn't visually pass, really doesn't make sense.

 

exactly. Cali wants your $. The only concerning matter should be the emissions not what parts you have on the car.

 

^but, you only pay for the certificate if you pass and if you don't pass, you can't register your car (meaning that the State won't get paid). So, it doesn't sound like that's it.

 

except if you have anything aftermarket thats not smog approved a cop can cite you for it. Also now they will send you to a referee station for inspection which costs more money on top of the citation you have to pay.

 

cops and receiving a citation is a different subject. (And notice there isn't an enforcement officer at the smog test place and it is not a safety inspection either). I'm talking about simply what is the reason for having to pass a visual inspection during a state required smog test if your car's emission concentrations are under the state constituent threshold limits. Remember, you're talking about a car that passes emissions, but failing the test because of the visual component of the test and thus causing the state to not receive its registration revenue.

 

Last year when I had my smog check the tech didn't ask for the CARB sticker for my (then) Stillen CAI and I even offered. Kinda depends on where you go and how big an azz they are. I was lucky this year, no smog check but there's always next year....
Gary

 

^ yah, I'm sure it depends...

No smog this year cause once you start it's once every two years IIRC.

 

Bottom line, CA is retarded when it comes to vehicle modifications.

BTW - KDAY does smog tests up in LA somewhere.

 

that ain't **** i gotta pay $20 for not having to smog my car...wtf