what headers are smog legal in cali

(209)Stockton · 03-20-2009, 02:18 AM

hey im just wondering if i buy headers which ones are legal in cali?when i go do smog if i have headers do i have to take them off?

tsxtasy · 03-20-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (209)Stockton

hey im just wondering if i buy headers which ones are legal in cali?when i go do smog if i have headers do i have to take them off?

I know for sure DC is because I got a CARB sticker. But I wouldn't recommend them. The first header I got had a finish that was screwed up. This upcoming monday will mark the 3rd week since I got the screwed up header. I have been told by the distributor AND now by DC that my headers will be delived on 8 different days now. They still aren't here. It has been a very big headache, and if they aren't here tomorrow I will probably drive out to City of Industry (where DC is) to get this taken care of.

Never buy from them. Garbage company.

If they would give me my money back I would go with CT.

TSX_WS · 03-20-2009, 03:19 AM

Any header that leaves catalytic converter in place will pass smog. Why wouldn't it? I myself passed smog with my header. I need to try it with new cat. Yes, I live in CA. The problem is the CARB sticker. Passing the test doesn't make a header legal.

tsxtasy · 03-20-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSX_WS

Any header that leaves catalytic converter in place will pass smog. Why wouldn't it? I myself passed smog with my header. I need to try it with new cat. Yes, I live in CA

Passing smog and being smog legal are totally different... Being smog legal refers to being CARB (California Air Resources Board) legal. Anything you put on your car technically needs to be CARB legal, and if it is CARB legal it will come with a sticker saying that it is. If it isn't CARB legal, and the person doing the smog check actually does their job, you won't pass the visual inspection.

There are a lot of smog places that don't do it right, so you would probably be safe without a CARB legal header. There are also places that you can pay a bit extra and they will pass your car no matter what you have on it

You just have to find a hook up that will do that stuff.

IntegraGSR23 · 03-20-2009, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSX_WS

Any header that leaves catalytic converter in place will pass smog. Why wouldn't it? I myself passed smog with my header. I need to try it with new cat. Yes, I live in CA

Not necessarily true! A CARB exempt header is desired. You'll fail visual inspection despite passing the sniffer test.

TSX_WS · 03-20-2009, 05:32 PM

^ I HIGHLY doubt failing visual inspection on TSX because the header is placed behind the engine and there is a strut bar in the way of seeing it, unlike say.... B series engines which had headers right before the the engine block. I mean if u have a loud exhaust then yes, they may ask u about header as well. As for CARB exempt/legality, I guess I should have read the question more carefully...

IntegraGSR23 · 03-20-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSX_WS

^ I HIGHLY doubt failing visual inspection on TSX because the header is placed behind the engine and there is a strut bar in the way of seeing it, unlike say.... B series engines which had headers right before the the engine block. I mean if u have a loud exhaust then yes, they may ask u about header as well. As for CARB exempt/legality, I guess I should have read the question more carefully...

It doesn't matter of the placement! A visual inspection is done!

Regardless of the strut bar or not, it can still be seen.

Unless you're short and cannot see into the engine bay??

TSX_WS · 03-20-2009, 06:20 PM

^ The point I am trying to make is that the shop wouldnt really bother for a very close inspection if there is nothing that provokes their eyes (too much shine and colorfulness under the hood, loud exhaust ect). It was even pointed out already that many smog shops dont bother to do this

tekneek · 03-20-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSX_WS

^ The point I am trying to make is that the shop wouldnt really bother for a very close inspection if there is nothing that provokes their eyes (too much shine and colorfulness under the hood, loud exhaust ect). It was even pointed out already that many smog shops dont bother to do this

you're assuming that the shop is not doing their job. just because you don't get caught with something illegal, doesn't mean that it becomes legal somehow. you're making a valid point, but i don't agree with your assumption.

samxeyeam · 03-20-2009, 09:28 PM

You guys are all crazy...

SoCaliTrojan · 03-21-2009, 03:53 PM

The smog stations I've gone to will do a visual inspection. However, being in southern california, they have prior experience from other modded cars. They know the car will pass, so they go ahead and smog the vehicles despite the lack of CARB stickers.

When my intake was stolen (I put the CARB sticker right on it), the shop replaced it with a generic intake. It was crappier, generic, and wasn't CARB-approved. Smog stations have never pointed it out to me.

As long as the car will pass, who cares if it has a sticker? It's like Microsoft's program in which companies have to pay fees and have their software tested before they can get Microsoft's seal of approval. That's why drivers that are un-signed still work; the company didn't pay Microsoft.

TSX_WS · 03-21-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekneek

you're assuming that the shop is not doing their job. just because you don't get caught with something illegal, doesn't mean that it becomes legal somehow. you're making a valid point, but i don't agree with your assumption.

so what r we arguing over ? u guys agree that shops dont do their job and I already said that passing smog doesnt grant it a carb sticker....

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCaliTrojan

The smog stations I've gone to will do a visual inspection. However, being in southern california, they have prior experience from other modded cars. They know the car will pass, so they go ahead and smog the vehicles despite the lack of CARB stickers.

When my intake was stolen (I put the CARB sticker right on it), the shop replaced it with a generic intake. It was crappier, generic, and wasn't CARB-approved. Smog stations have never pointed it out to me.

As long as the car will pass, who cares if it has a sticker? It's like Microsoft's program in which companies have to pay fees and have their software tested before they can get Microsoft's seal of approval. That's why drivers that are un-signed still work; the company didn't pay Microsoft.

^ Good points.