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Old 01-14-2020, 11:54 PM   #26
subaru_gc8
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Originally Posted by Hagbeard View Post
I'd be curious how they could check for a tune, are they going to have a database of the checksums of all OEM tunes? We'll have to see. The easy target is tunes that force readiness monitors, THAT they can check. Accessports (at least my old one) don't have the ability to force readiness monitors, but I don't know if that's the case for more recent versions.
according to a guy that I know that used to work for the BAR, he said they can tell. I figure that it isnt that hard for them cause the dealers can tell as well
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Old 02-27-2020, 04:22 PM   #27
Dannysti_
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So I recently got state reffed in January of this year (2020). I’m on a slightly weird setup with a catted dp, stock mid, and a muffler delete axleback as well as Cobb intake with a protune. If I put my full stock exhaust and reflash to Cobb ots map 1, will I pass the referee this way? Or would I have to get a non tuned ecu? And if I do pass and go back to my old setup, I can just reflash to my protune off the accessport right? Please help, I need answers
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Old 02-27-2020, 06:06 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dannysti_ View Post
So I recently got state reffed in January of this year (2020). I'm on a slightly weird setup with a catted dp, stock mid, and a muffler delete axleback as well as Cobb intake with a protune. If I put my full stock exhaust and reflash to Cobb ots map 1, will I pass the referee this way? Or would I have to get a non tuned ecu? And if I do pass and go back to my old setup, I can just reflash to my protune off the accessport right? Please help, I need answers
umm it hard to say, I have heard about people going to the ref with a tune and they get turned away. so they can tell its been tuned. I would personally put it back to stock from the intake box to the cat pipe with a stock tune and go in

something to think about as well, is once you get sent to the ref your car gets red flagged by the state so get prepared to do smog checks every year
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Old 06-06-2020, 08:29 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dannysti_ View Post
So I recently got state reffed in January of this year (2020). I’m on a slightly weird setup with a catted dp, stock mid, and a muffler delete axleback as well as Cobb intake with a protune. If I put my full stock exhaust and reflash to Cobb ots map 1, will I pass the referee this way? Or would I have to get a non tuned ecu? And if I do pass and go back to my old setup, I can just reflash to my protune off the accessport right? Please help, I need answers
Did you ever go to the referee?
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Old 06-06-2020, 09:16 PM   #30
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I never change my map from stage2 to stock map when going for my smog. I simply change out my downpipe to pass the visual and stay out of boost on the way to the smog shop. Passes everytime.

Made the mistake of flashing my brothers car that is stage2 to the stock map when his smog was due. Car wouldnt pass because the readiness monitors were ready. He had to drive the car 60 miles. Let the car cool down and start it up again. Just caused a bunch of headache.

You CAN pass with the accessport. Its the visual and how strict the shop is.
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Old 06-06-2020, 10:09 PM   #31
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Originally Posted by BoxerLover View Post
I never change my map from stage2 to stock map when going for my smog. I simply change out my downpipe to pass the visual and stay out of boost on the way to the smog shop. Passes everytime.

Made the mistake of flashing my brothers car that is stage2 to the stock map when his smog was due. Car wouldnt pass because the readiness monitors were ready. He had to drive the car 60 miles. Let the car cool down and start it up again. Just caused a bunch of headache.

You CAN pass with the accessport. Its the visual and how strict the shop is.
You can force the readiness monitors in software like romraider/ecuflash...js
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Old 06-06-2020, 10:37 PM   #32
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There is a Cal ID that they are checking for, supposedly they only have the numbers for 08'+.
Another thing they can see 08'+ is start up values (how many times the car has been started, and parking brake pulls (how many times you've used the hand brake). Both get zero'd out with any kind of flash.
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Old 06-06-2020, 10:54 PM   #33
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Just passed CA snog in January 2020 with a Cobb intake and a stage 1+ OTS map on my 2008 STI. No issues.

Not sure about a referee though. This thread makes me want to take my cat bank exhaust bank off again though....
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Old 06-08-2020, 10:06 AM   #34
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Just passed CA smog on Friday with the WRX with a 2.5L block, 3-port EBCS, STI intercooler, AOS, straight uppipe, Cobb custom tune, and stock heads, turbo, and downpipe. AOS and modified intercooler are exempted because they don't impact the emissions, don't let a smog shop tell you otherwise. I swapped in the stock uppipe when I went to the state ref for a modified exhaust ticket and had no issues.

My understanding is that they are now checking the readiness monitors for software forcing. None of mine are forced so they behave like the stock car. If it's true they're tracking the 08+ closer then I'm in a sweet spot with an 04.
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Old 06-08-2020, 02:17 PM   #35
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Its not the CALID they are looking at, that stays the same when you flash the car. Its the Calibration Verification Number aka CVN that they are looking at as this is what changes when you make any changes to the map since its a checksum of all the data on the ROM.

When I went to get my swap bar'd at the Ref they made me go to subaru and get paper work stating that the CALID and CVN on my ECU was a factory subaru calibration. When I went to the ref he pulled my CALID and CVN off my ECU and compared it to the numbers on the paperwork from Subaru. Meaning I couldn't mess with the calibration as if I did the CVN would no longer match.

They are also wise to the Force pass readiness. The Ref at the end of the smog check reset my ECU and made sure it didn't default to READY.

I don't think for normal ticket ref visits they make you go to the dealer to verify the calibration(but to BAR an engine swap they 100% do).

As some of the above comments stated the newer cars offer much more data to the smog computer. CA also mandated that Manufacturers need to provide list of all the calibrations for cars they make after a certain year(I'm not exactly sure what year that went into effect but I seem to remember it being 2008+)

Also pre 2000 model year cars that use the old sniffer smog checks are in the clear for now for ecu calibrations as the old test/system doesn't have the capability to report CALID and CVN to the state nor were manufacturers forced to hand over a list of calibrations.(I guess this only really helps us pre 2000 Swap guys).
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Old 06-11-2020, 02:47 PM   #36
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So this just happened to me, went to smog my 04 today and the guy at the smog station told me I needed to take it to the Ref, car had been flagged. I've seen a lot of people speculating that they got flagged cause they look/ sound modded. I'm pretty sure that this is not the case. I almost never drive my car, I only use it for autocross and event that I rarely do anymore. I called the number on my renewal notice for the Bureau of Automotive Repair and asked them what was going on. Basically at my last smog (which I passed) they detected anomalies (their words) between the computer on my car and other cars of my model year. I don't know if this means actual differences in the various values they check because of the tune, or if its simply a higher checksum value on the ECU indicating it has been reflashed. That or it was simply a random audit. Given that my car is modded I'm going to guess it was the former not the latter.
But that is why I got flagged and likely why you did too, it had nothing to do with looking or sounding modded and it wasn't the police that flagged you. Basically that state now has a database of what various cars' ECU should look like. If something doesn't match you may still pass smog, but you could get flagged for the Ref before your next smog.
My only options at this point seem to be swap in a stock motor and stock tune before going to the ref (I have mods like non AVCS cam that can't be hidden) or register out of state.
My feelings right now, and this may just be my initial knee jerk reaction to the news, is just to sell my car, either a non op car, or to an out of state buyer. This is just too much hassle to go through every two years.
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Old 07-28-2020, 09:59 PM   #37
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I had previously posted here about passing smog on an OTS Cobb stage 1 tune with a Cobb carb legal intake.... But then I added a downpipe and invidia exhaust and went to stage 2. And promptly got a ticket for the exhaust. It is admittedly annoyingly loud. The officer notified me I need to go to state ref. Now I need to remove the full TBE and flag back to stock, them drive until readiness monitors are good. So annoying....

I even had a protune scheduled at Yimi. I bought a much quieter exhaust to run and will likely paint it black fire use after I take care of the ticket

Watch out in the San Fernando valley
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Old 07-29-2020, 08:50 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WsleepeRX View Post
I had previously posted here about passing smog on an OTS Cobb stage 1 tune with a Cobb carb legal intake.... But then I added a downpipe and invidia exhaust and went to stage 2. And promptly got a ticket for the exhaust. It is admittedly annoyingly loud. The officer notified me I need to go to state ref. Now I need to remove the full TBE and flag back to stock, them drive until readiness monitors are good. So annoying....

I even had a protune scheduled at Yimi. I bought a much quieter exhaust to run and will likely paint it black fire use after I take care of the ticket

Watch out in the San Fernando valley
as long as our exhaust is below the 95 decible level you should be okay, but you will need to change the downpipe back to stock
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Old 07-30-2020, 01:19 AM   #39
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as long as our exhaust is below the 95 decible level you should be okay, but you will need to change the downpipe back to stock
My current setup is too loud for me anyways. I doubt I am below the threshold
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Old 07-30-2020, 03:17 PM   #40
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Wow this is bad news, I thought everything 07 and under was in the clear but it looks like they're getting tougher and tougher and flagging innocent people.
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Old 07-31-2020, 10:55 PM   #41
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Wow this is bad news, I thought everything 07 and under was in the clear but it looks like they're getting tougher and tougher and flagging innocent people.
I wouldnt say "innocent", we all make modifications that we know maybe considered illegal or against the law in Ca. Theres an inherent risk to everything we do, you need to understand the risk of your own actions, even if we think its complete BS. So best bet, is to keep the old parts and be ready to swap them back in when you get flagged.
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Old 08-03-2020, 09:16 PM   #42
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My friend who works at a smog place just told me about a 1989 truck that got flagged because his previous test (2 years prior, not at the same shop) had some inconsistencies.

Looks like CA is really cracking down because #1, they don't and can't scan anything prior to 1996, #2 this is an older truck without a huge mod scene so the truck probably just had burnt out cats.
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Old 08-08-2020, 06:49 PM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thejaredhuang View Post
My friend who works at a smog place just told me about a 1989 truck that got flagged because his previous test (2 years prior, not at the same shop) had some inconsistencies.

Looks like CA is really cracking down because #1, they don't and can't scan anything prior to 1996, #2 this is an older truck without a huge mod scene so the truck probably just had burnt out cats.
a buddy of mine showed me an email that he got from the bar about a 350z with a certain vin, taht if they see it they had to send it strraight to the ref

Last edited by subaru_gc8; 08-08-2020 at 08:10 PM.
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Old 08-19-2020, 12:34 AM   #44
WsleepeRX
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So I made my phone appointment with the ref do we can discuss the car and any covid procedures before going in. I am definitely going to remove my downpipe and flash the accessport back to a stock map.

I switched to a much more quiet OBX cat back. It looks fairly stock too. Definitely more quiet and less flashy than the invidia N1.

I am hoping to pass with that setup. It is easy under 95db. I think that way I can use the ref paperwork if I get pulled over again.

What do you guys think? Should I do that or go completely stock.

I'm already bummed that I need to change parts and run a Rallycross with the stock setup....
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Old 08-19-2020, 12:03 PM   #45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WsleepeRX View Post
So I made my phone appointment with the ref do we can discuss the car and any covid procedures before going in. I am definitely going to remove my downpipe and flash the accessport back to a stock map.

I switched to a much more quiet OBX cat back. It looks fairly stock too. Definitely more quiet and less flashy than the invidia N1.

I am hoping to pass with that setup. It is easy under 95db. I think that way I can use the ref paperwork if I get pulled over again.

What do you guys think? Should I do that or go completely stock.

I'm already bummed that I need to change parts and run a Rallycross with the stock setup....
Any engine mods between the airbox and last cat need a CARB EO# and sticker to be legal with a few exceptions like intercoolers on gasoline engines and catch cans/air oil separators.
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Old 08-20-2020, 01:09 AM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WsleepeRX View Post
So I made my phone appointment with the ref do we can discuss the car and any covid procedures before going in. I am definitely going to remove my downpipe and flash the accessport back to a stock map.

I switched to a much more quiet OBX cat back. It looks fairly stock too. Definitely more quiet and less flashy than the invidia N1.

I am hoping to pass with that setup. It is easy under 95db. I think that way I can use the ref paperwork if I get pulled over again.

What do you guys think? Should I do that or go completely stock.

I'm already bummed that I need to change parts and run a Rallycross with the stock setup....
What rallycross are you planning on doing? I wasn't aware of any events taking place any time soon.
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Old 08-20-2020, 11:57 PM   #47
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What rallycross are you planning on doing? I wasn't aware of any events taking place any time soon.
Johnson valley on 8/29

Then hopefully Thunderhill in September

Both those races are on!
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Old 08-21-2020, 01:25 AM   #48
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Any engine mods between the airbox and last cat need a CARB EO# and sticker to be legal with a few exceptions like intercoolers on gasoline engines and catch cans/air oil separators.
Thank you. Sounds like the plan to keep the cat back on should work then. I want to pass with that so I have something to show the police in the future if needed
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Old 08-21-2020, 02:25 AM   #49
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Any engine mods between the airbox and last cat need a CARB EO# and sticker to be legal with a few exceptions like intercoolers on gasoline engines and catch cans/air oil separators.
a silicon hose replacement does not need to have a CARB EO#. I know it sounds like you do but it will pass. They really only care about larger air coming in which cannot happen if you use a stock airbox. Plus the stock airbox handles way more power than most people think it does.
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Old 08-21-2020, 06:07 PM   #50
OUScooby
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Johnson valley on 8/29

Then hopefully Thunderhill in September

Both those races are on!
Who is hosting that? Is it another one of the enduro rallycross? Got a link to the registration?
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