Smog Check

[Darkcyd]

Hey guys, was hoping someone would have a suggestion.

I took my car yesterday into the same place that I've taken it over the last several years, where it's passed no problem, and promptly failed.

The guy there said I needed to have a CARB certification sticker for the modified air intake that I have. I've had the same pipe with K&N filter on the end since I bought the car in 2001.

I also failed on the NOX at 15 mph. In comparing it to previous smogs, the rpms were lower, which leads me to believe that he ran it in second gear.

I put in some of that Guaranteed Emissions Pass stuff you can buy at Pep Boys and then took the car into the dealership for an oil change. I plan to have it retested and will run the car hard for about 15 minutes before taking it in to heat up the cats.

My question is, does anybody know why the issue with the air filter now and not before? And do any of these K&N or Proline air filters have CARB certification? I'm thinking to take it to another place instead of where I did it, and could use some recommendations. I live in Westwood, so somewhere not too out of the way would be preferential.

The only thing I've done since the last test was add headers. I have the K&N filter, DC headers, and Anytime exhaust. Prior to headers, the car passed no problem. Could the headers really have that much of an effect?

If anyone could shed some light on these questions, I'd be grateful. :smile:

 

[scorp965]

I would skip the pepboys snake oil, and instead use up the gas, then put in perhaps a half tank of 100 octane fuel, and run the test on that; this should help reduce the NOx level you had problems with... warming up the car is intended to reduce hydrocarbons... alwasys a good idea, but not the area of concern according to your post.

The intake element is up to the smog technician's descretion... it's part of the visual, and is not CARB certified... as far as I know there aren't any CARB certified intake elements for the NSX, and several dyno tests have shown them to be ineffective with regards to power increases in any case. I would go about trying to source an OEM airbox (around $150-250 here on nsxprime), and a unifilter element - this should result in a power gain for your nsx, and will avoid any issues with a smog tech later on.

For the moment I would try the 100 octane fuel, and an alternative smog testing location... many techs cruise through the visual prompts on the testing machine without much analysis, it seems the smog tech was perhaps new, was a 'test only' facility, or wanted to give you crap for some reason.

If you're in the Orange County area, or if you pass through it, send me a PM for a smog place in the Huntington Beach area.

 

[SoCalDude]

Hey Vince

I take my car to the smog place in the Quick Lube complex on Sepulveda near Sports Authority. I have Comptech headers which are carb legal but the guy didn't check so he might not look at the air intake either.

My car passes each time.

 

[Darkcyd]

Thanks for the responses guys. You know what's funny Gene, that's the same exact place I go! Never had a problem until this last trip. Maybe I need to cruise by on a different day and try to get a different tech. I'll try the octane booster thing too. Gotta run out the gas first. I was at the dealership today and got an oil change too. Tried to source the OEM airbox, but they wanted something like $360 for it. Ridiculous.

 

[SoCalDude]

I've been there on Saturdays with the owner I think. Early-Mid 50's grumpy asian guy?

 

[Darkcyd]

I think I've had that guy before. This time I took it in on a Friday morning and got a young African-American guy. I think he may have been kind of new to the job also and probably went by the book. Maybe I'll try my luck again on the weekend and if that doesn't work, I'll take it somewhere else. The retest is free anyway. Does the DMV keep track of how many times you take the test? I don't want to be red-flagged or anything.

Also, I think like most of you, we're required to take the car to a 'test-only' facility. Are they more strict or what's the deal?

 

[Semnos_NSX]

Also, I think like most of you, we're required to take the car to a 'test-only' facility. Are they more strict or what's the deal?

Yes, test only stations are stricter when doing the visual part of the test.

 

[BenDF]

Yes, test only stations are stricter when doing the visual part of the test.

Depends on where you go.

 

[sokudo88]

i need a smog check soon as well. do i have to let the car warm up real good before taking it to the tech? i only have exhaust and intake for mods. im sure it wil pass...........right ?

 

[BenDF]

I failed a smog 3 times, and learned to...

Get your cats HOT.

I passed a car that had intake, exhaust, and chip by just driving the car like a madman on the way to the smog test.

I also kept the revs up until it was my turn.

Passed.

 

[nis350]

I failed a smog 3 times, and learned to...

Get your cats HOT.

I passed a car that had intake, exhaust, and chip by just driving the car like a madman on the way to the smog test.

I also kept the revs up until it was my turn.

Passed.

that appeared to be a common issue with the earlier car. I wondered if it is a design issue or maybe the cats just aren't that good.

I have smog other cars and never had issues where you have to drive the car really hot before smog....

 

[NSXrebel]

not all Test Only stations are strict. I have an HKS intake, no problems with visual inspection. I did take the car for a quick 5 min sprint, keeping the revs up, before getting it tested. There were no cars waiting, so my car got tested right away. Passed with flying colors, i posted my results on a different thread.

 

[BenDF]

that appeared to be a common issue with the earlier car. I wondered if it is a design issue or maybe the cats just aren't that good.

I have smog other cars and never had issues where you have to drive the car really hot before smog....

I needed new cats. They get lazy after a lot of miles. Heat makes it work better.

 

[AndyH]

I failed the test the first time too. Bradley helped me clean out the EGR valve. I took it on the freeway going 65MPH on 2nd gear for 15 minutes. Pass

By the way, my car has DC sports header, intake and a broken exhaust and it still passed

 

[myopicpaideia]

Any turbo cars out there pass?

 

[drmanny3]

I took my 01 with CTSC (6lbs), CT headers, and ARK exhaust to ABC Mobil at 13872 Redhill Ave., Tustin, CA 714-838-4268. Tom is the guy who does the work. This is my first smog since owning the car. So I was a little apprehensive because of the headers and exhaust. The aircleaner is an aftermarket foam type as well. They did not fuss about the car. Asked me if I had changed the pully on the supercharger. That was about it. They tested the gas cap (which apparently can fail the test). These guys are pretty cool. Did my car in 10 minutes for a total of $49.00 out the door. I highly recommend them. Do call first to make sure Tom is there.

Manny

 

[Nsxboy3]

Vince,

I say you should go clubbing and worry about your Nsx later lol :tongue:
Totally kidding

-Andy

 

[BenDF]

Any turbo cars out there pass?

not legally.

 

[Darkcyd]

Vince,

I say you should go clubbing and worry about your Nsx later lol :tongue:
Totally kidding

-Andy

Well I was out in Vegas this weekend and didn't worry about it then. But now I'm back and I gotta get it taken care of. Got the oil changed and run through a bottle of the Guaranteed Emissions Pass junk, and ready to go back for another shot.

 

[SoCalDude]

Well I was out in Vegas this weekend and didn't worry about it then. But now I'm back and I gotta get it taken care of. Got the oil changed and run through a bottle of the Guaranteed Emissions Pass junk, and ready to go back for another shot.

Did you go next door (from the smog place) for the oil change?

 

[Darkcyd]

Nope. Had it done at the dealership in Santa Monica.

 

[Nsxboy3]

Vincent,

Try to attend to those Arcadia SGV meets. I would love to see your Nsx. I've known you for so long and either one of us has seen each others Nsx. :frown: I'm doing a full rebuild on mine but it will be done shortly. :wink:

Have a great weekend!

-Andy :biggrin:

 

[Big_D]

The D/Cs are CARB legal and won't effect the test. Make sure you have your CARB exemption sticker handy for those. Like other posters have said, get you cats good and hot before the test. Don't let the car idle for long periods or let the car sit around for too long prior to the test. For the visual part, it is up to the tech. No intake is CARB legal that I know of.

IMHO, intakes are a waste of money on normally aspirated cars and there is no better protection for your engine than the factory paper filter. Keep looking on prime for a stock intake. Maybe post a thread in the parts wanted section.

Good Luck:smile:

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92876