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SMOG - 996.2 Exhaust System NEEDED

PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:57 am
by Tommhnyc
Hello Friends,

My name is Tom and I'm a very happy 1st time owner of a 2003 Porsche 911.
I met few of you at the new member meeting few weeks ago. This meeting will stick with me for a very long time (read:  :bowdown: exotic car spotting).

The issue that I'm having is that my car came with a Fabspeed cold air intake which is not CARB cert and I know that I will fail a visual inspection because it doesn't have a sticker. However, I'm certain that it will pass sniff test because it passed a smog check last May (done by a previous owner).

Thus, I have few questions:
- do you know of a station that will not be too strict about visual? If so, please PM or txt
- do you have an extra OEM airbox to use just for the smog check?
- do you have any other recommendation how to go about this?

Thank you very much for consideration and comments. :beerchug:

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 2:49 pm
by rshon
I have an oem 996 airbox that you can have for chump change. It might have a broken mtg tab or two, but you only need it in for a day, right? PM me or email me at Russell@LightningMotorsports.US

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 10:48 am
by Tommhnyc
Hi Guys,

Thanks to Russell's OEM airbox, I passed the SMOG inspection 2 years ago.
I went to the same station again today and they failed me on a visual of the Fabspeed exhaust system - which was put on by the previous owner and doesn't have a cert either. Obviously, the inspector missed the custom exhaust last time but it passed the inspection anyway. :banghead:
Hence, a question about the station that is more "customer" friendly.

I live in Rancho Penasquitos, so any recommendation close by would be great - but a short trip wound't be a problem :)

Thanks so much,
TomZ.

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:15 pm
by jbrennen
Tommhnyc wrote:Hi Guys,

Thanks to Russell's OEM airbox, I passed the SMOG inspection 2 years ago.
I went to the same station again today and they failed me on a visual of the Fabspeed exhaust system - which was put on by the previous owner and doesn't have a cert either. Obviously, the inspector missed the custom exhaust last time but it passed the inspection anyway. :banghead:
Hence, a question about the station that is more "customer" friendly.

I live in Rancho Penasquitos, so any recommendation close by would be great - but a short trip wound't be a problem :)

Thanks so much,
TomZ.


How "custom" is the exhaust? I assume it's more than just a cat-back? Last year, I took a car to Penasquitos Auto Repair for a smog check with a straight pipe cat-back, no muffler, and it passed. I did have the OEM cat and functional downstream O2 sensor.

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:17 pm
by Tommhnyc
jbrennen wrote:
Tommhnyc wrote:Hi Guys,

Thanks to Russell's OEM airbox, I passed the SMOG inspection 2 years ago.
I went to the same station again today and they failed me on a visual of the Fabspeed exhaust system - which was put on by the previous owner and doesn't have a cert either. Obviously, the inspector missed the custom exhaust last time but it passed the inspection anyway. :banghead:
Hence, a question about the station that is more "customer" friendly.

I live in Rancho Penasquitos, so any recommendation close by would be great - but a short trip wound't be a problem :)

Thanks so much,
TomZ.


How "custom" is the exhaust? I assume it's more than just a cat-back? Last year, I took a car to Penasquitos Auto Repair for a smog check with a straight pipe cat-back, no muffler, and it passed. I did have the OEM cat and functional downstream O2 sensor.


It's a full Fabspeed system including mufflers, cats, and tips - not sure about the headers.
Nevertheless, it passed on the same setup 2 years ago when the inspector didn't check it visually.

Thanks,
TomZ

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:24 pm
by Dan Chambers
Welcome to the world of augmented performance cars.

I won't get into the nightmares that I've encountered with smogging my 1983 911 with a 3.6L 1989 engine. there's not enough time in the day... or enough room in one post to go into details. :banghead:

What I can recommend to you are these simple ... not inexpensive... steps:
1) Make good friends with an authorized/qualified Porsche shop and mechanic.... I mean GOOOOOOD Friends. Talk with them extensively regarding the mod's your car has, what you might need to do to get the car to pass visual and diagnostic smog tests (no more "sniff tests" for cars 2000 make and later unless under special circumstance... just a OBD reading from your computers), and what you can do to save some $$$ by doing some of the wrenching yourself.
2) Have the OEM parts for your car ready to put back on the car... if necessary... to pass visual inspection. You can get used parts thru lots of sources (Craigslist, eBay, local dismantlers, shops that remove parts from their clients' cars and sell them... etc). Be sure the parts are right for your car. Hint: Cat. Converters have numbers stamped on them that coincide with a year/make of a vehicle. A really A/R Inspector could run the cat codes and fail your visual for not having the right cat. converter for your year/make car. (and no... you cannot ask me how I know. My anger management counselling fees are already too high!!)
3) Discuss having your Porsche Technician take the car to a smog referee to determine what you need to do to be in compliance. Sometimes the ref.'s are understanding of your situation and will work with you to be in compliance.

There are a couple of shops that advertise in the Windblown Witness. Call them all and discuss your situation with their top wrenchers. They will steer you in the right direction.

I currently own 3 exhaust systems and 3 intake systems for my 3.6L. Yep, one set of each is strictly for the 2-year "Bend over and pay your smog dues" event that my proctologist giggles about every other year. :shock: You may need to stockpile the needed parts for smogging your car. I'm not the only club member that does this. You may need to do this too.

I do as much wrenching on the car to install the "smog" parts as I can. I save my mechanic a couple of hours by doing the easy stuff myself. The rest is up to him, and we have the drill down to a bit of an art. I still don't get off cheap for all I have to do to pass smog. Not by a looooong shot. It's the price I pay for outstanding performance from a 30+ year old car.

If this all sounds too "unpleasant" ... buy a Prius. Otherwise, enjoy your modified sportscar, and try to smile when the square peg meets the round hole. :x

That's my take on your situation. Others may vary. I wish you good luck. Drive fast, take chances. 8)

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:33 am
by Jad
Dan, Prius still needs a smog inspection. Buy a Tesla instead :burnout:

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:22 pm
by Tommhnyc
Dan Chambers wrote:Welcome to the world of augmented performance cars.
(...)


Hi Dan,

Thank you for your message - Greatly appreciate that. I totally get custom car builds and their complications. Hence, I replace my cold air intake for the SMOG check.
However, I really don't want to take off my exhaust system just to get the SMOG check done, especially after realizing that it would pass it.

I will try my local guys in PQ first.

Cheers,
TomZ.

Re: SMOG inspection trouble

PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:28 pm
by Tommhnyc
Quick Update:

Have not passed SMOG yet. Another shop decline due to "tampered" cats - no stickers.
Hence, I need to ask:

DOES anyone have a spare OEM exhaust system (for 996.2) for sale or to land so I can install and pass the SMOG test?

Any other recommendations?

Thank you,
TomZ.