Passing smog in Southern California

Does anyone know how I can pass smog in San Diego area. I have modified parts and no longer have my stock parts. I am also planning on putting the URD supercharger on my truck. Any ideas or contacts would help. I do not want to go through the trouble of returning my truck to stock just to pass smog. Thank you very much in advance.

 

If you have to ask yourself that question maybe going aftermarket isn't for you.

Either return to stock and smog it or grease a shop to help you out.

Sorry.

 

^ This.

Surprising how many people mod their cars/trucks without thinking if it is legal or not.

Sorry OP, your only option is to return to stock.

What mods do you have that are illegal?

 

ask around all, Your friends! if they know a janky smog guy , otherwise if you have headers and an aftermarket exhaust your fucked. there really can't be that much done that you can't passs smog, s he asked what have you done?

 

Find someone with a stock intake if that's what you need, I kept mine for just that purpose and loan it out to other Cali members who need to pass smog

 

What did you do? Do you still have cats?

 

$$$ and a case of beer should do it.

 

I've already put intake, headers, exhaust, tsb, and a maf chip. I like modifications on my truck and I now some are not legal and I know there's ways to pass smog because there are lot of modded cars and trucks in Socal.

 

Pretty much and smog shop that isn't a major name brand will help you out. Usually closer to 100 then the 20 it should cost. Also it might be worth just going in unless you removed the cat and 02 sensors they might still pass you

 

I had a modified 1967 VW Kombi way back when in the 90's, 1776cc motor, dual intakes, all the stuff, I had to go to 23 smog stations before I could get a guy unscrupulous enough to pass it. I really did count them, went up and down El Cajon Blvd, then down to University Blvd

 

im in san diego and I passed smog with intake headers and exhaust.. my issue with failing was because my cat was not getting warm enough due to a bad thermostat, once fixed it was easy to pass.. the codes read from the obdII tool was not getting a correct reading. i passed all visuals fine even with my exhaust dumped at the axle.

All my parts are 50 state legal aftermarket.. why arent yours?

 

In your case I would probably track down a stock intake, put it on, take it to some small ma n pa shop, don't say anything about the headers or MAF, as long as it's not throwing codes you might just be OK.

BTW, if you do decide to go that route, FYI, with the MAF Calibrator still altering MAF data, drive the truck like a grandma, this is the advice that Gadget at URD told me when I asked him if I can put the stock intake back on, leave the MAF in place and get it smogged. After it passed I asked the wrench what my numbers were, he stopped and asked me why I wanted to know that, I told him about the MAF and he told me the truck was practically a zero-emissions vehicle.

 

I'd be careful about talking about this on a public access forum, this state is sooooo over the top about smog its stupid.

you really dont have many options, like 0. Sorry but its pretty true here.

 

It is also a bannable offense to discuss it on TacomaWorld.

 

Not in California.... at least not if the sniffer test doesn't pass clean.
You might be able to bribe someone to overlook things on the visual inspection, but the machine that measures the pipe transmits directly to the DMV. The only way to cheat is if the shop uses a "clean car" and they generally won't do that unless they know you (they'll do that for small businesses with multiple vehicles).

State does "secret shopper" type things on these shops all the time... especially the little independents.... trying to catch them using a "clean car"

 

This.

First thing is to check all your paperwork for those parts.

Smog in CA requires you to pass visual check first. If there is something missing that should be there, you fail. If there is something missing and an aftermarket item in it's place, you need a CARB or EO number for it, if not, you fail.

If you pass visual, they move on to functional tests of individual components, everything that was put on at the factory must work.

Finally, the sniffer test.

Check your paperwork, you might already have exemptions for some of your aftermarket stuff.......or not.

I have known of guys who get past the smog tests, most of them will still pass the sniffer test, just not visual and functional. Stuff is either missing or they have non compliant aftermarket parts. In all cases these guys knew someone personally who was a smog tech. It is a HUGE risk to pass something that is illegal. $100 under the table to a smog tech who is making his living doing smogs doesn't mean shit, keeping his license and staying out of jail does.

I live in a smaller town, hours away from major metro areas that you would think EPA guys have their offices in. True story from a local shop: a guy took his truck into the shop where his buddy was a smog tech. Truck was completely illegal, but would pass smog on the sniffer if detuned. The owner was sitting in the truck with a laptop adjusting the tune while the smog test was underway. His buddy was running the test, ignored all the visual problems (sniff test shouldn't even start if you fail visual). EPA guy walked up and saw what they were doing. I don't know what happened to the owner of the truck, but the tech lost his smog license.

Only a moron is going to try and slip you past illegally. He may be out there, but most smog techs are not morons.

I would find someone to borrow stock parts off of if needed. Sorry if that's not helpful.