Getting car smogged. What is worst case scenario?

W800

W800

Noob
OK - here's the deal. I have always owned really old cars that were pre-smog. I like old cars.

Finally I decided to buy a newer car and now I guess for it to get reg. renewal - DMV wants it smogged at a "STAR" smog station.

It's stock. Just over 60k on ODO.

No engine mods other than K&N air filter. No ECU flash, etc. . .

I did do a muffler delete, but cats are still there. I have not modified anything else. Does not throw codes. No check engine light. Runs fine.

Will the muffler delete make it fail the visual (assuming there's a visual?)

K&N?

I know my make and model of car gets modded a LOT, so I am guessing that might be the reason for the "Star" smog station. Now I am paranoid, lol.

Any suggestions or shared experiences would help. If anyone knows anyone who runs a Star smog station, feel free to shoot me a PM. I don't trust mechanics other than me, or people I know.
 
lizard

lizard

Well-known member
Caddywumpus said:
Why the hell would you delete the muffler?
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+kajillion

Really annoying to hear de-mufflered cars. Is that a thing now? De-mufflered cars make noise and IMHO, sound like shit. Cars that sound good have compression, tube headers, cams and solid lifters.
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
Based on my experience with a 2005 Mustang (still 100% stock), sometimes you have to get smogged at a star station and sometimes at a regular one.

Just take it and see what they say.
 
cheez

cheez

Master Of The Darkside
Worst case scenario? They don't pass you, you have to restore the emissions system to factory spec or using CARB-approved components and have the vehicle re-SMOGged.

Best case scenario? Your inspector doesn't give a damn and passes you.

It's doubtful you'd wind up in the hospital. ;)
 
S

Stix

Well-known member
Muffler isn’t a smog device. My 06 GTO had the mufflers and resonators gone and it passed no problem.
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
lizard said:
+kajillion

Really annoying to hear de-mufflered cars. Is that a thing now? De-mufflered cars make noise and IMHO, sound like shit. Cars that sound good have compression, tube headers, cams and solid lifters.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it's a thing, or just our area out here, but I hear them a lot out here in Cucamonga.

They like to hop on the 210 and go drag racing. We have some wide roads here and folks like to open it up. Car, bikes, heck the helicopters are quieter.
 
Abacinator

Abacinator

Unholy Blasphemies
Stix said:
Muffler isn’t a smog device. My 06 GTO had the mufflers and resonators gone and it passed no problem.
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It's not a smog device, but it is illegal to not have one.

27150. (a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.
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GAJ

GAJ

Well-known member
W800 said:
Any suggestions or shared experiences would help. If anyone knows anyone who runs a Star smog station, feel free to shoot me a PM. I don't trust mechanics other than me, or people I know.
Click to expand...

My stock engine 1994 MX5 has been STAR smogged for many years...starting around 150k miles IIRC.

It now has almost 190k miles.

It also has a K&N air filter and the original exhaust/cat.

It failed once due to a vacuum hose leak that cost a few pennies to replace.

Other than that never a problem at all.
 
Abacinator

Abacinator

Unholy Blasphemies
Also, I'm sick of flatbill douchebags romping around in their chargers and mustangs. Your straightpiped shitbox sounds like ass and is annoying AF.
 
Maddevill

Maddevill

KNGKAW
Abacinator said:
Also, I'm sick of flatbill douchebags romping around in their chargers and mustangs. Your straightpiped shitbox sounds like ass and is annoying AF.
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Besides, without a muffler, how are you going to put one of them obnoxious whistle tips in there ?

Mad
 
Johndicezx9

Johndicezx9

Rolls with it...
Most definitely worst case...

Auto_scrapyard_1.jpg
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
Abacinator said:
Also, I'm sick of flatbill douchebags romping around in their chargers and mustangs. Your straightpiped shitbox sounds like ass and is annoying AF.
Click to expand...
Naw, it's the loud four cylinder sportbikes that are always revved past 10,000 rpms that are super annoying. :twofinger
 
TheRobSJ

TheRobSJ

Großer Mechaniker
Should pass fine. For modern cars around here. You still have your cats. Check engine light isn’t on. Yeah you have the K&N filter, but as long as it’s still in the stock airbox/intake, that won’t matter.
 
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