[rxter]

Anyone know what happens when you bring a 968 (1993) to CA with respect to emissions? Can you register the car in CA?



Any CA guys have problems passing smog checks?



Thanks

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[FRporscheman]

You'll need to have it inspected by the state. They will check for things like the OBD 1 plug, the check engine light will need to be operating properly, and have NO error codes. 1 oxygen sensor must be present, and a catalytic converter. I think I got it all.



Then when you go in for the actual smog check, they will give you the tail pipe sniffer, along with an engine bay visual inspection. Basically, no intake mods are allowed whatsoever. Bob will say that modding the airbox is legal because it is upstream of the filter. The guy at the smog station doesn't care. He failed me due to a holey airbox, so I switched it out for a stock box for the smog check.



I have also failed for having a cone filter, so none of that shenanigans.



With a stock looking engine bay (prepared specially for trips to the smog station <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ), my car will pass smog very easily. If it fails CA smog it's not because 968s are pigs, it's because there's something wrong.



Good luck!

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[rxter]

Thanks FR. The engine bay is 100% stock, at least for now... Does the chip hurt at all?

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[PorscheDude]

where can I find these shenanigans you speak of?

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[sp4149]

[quote name='rxter' post='48832' date='Mar 7 2008, 09:11 PM']Anyone know what happens when you bring a 968 (1993) to CA with respect to emissions? Can you register the car in CA?



Any CA guys have problems passing smog checks?



Thanks[/quote]



Almost five years ago now, we brought our 95 Cab into California (originally a Florida Car). It passed initial smog check no problem. Registered it thru AAA's DMV office, much easier than going to DMV. Since then it has been tracked as a "Test Center Only" smog check every two years. That means it goes on the dyno for emissions checks and the smog check costs almost twice as much. when they did the first "dyno" smog check, the 968 nearly failed. After the test I checked and found that they disconnected or broke off the connector for the Hall Sensor mounted under the distributor cap. Disconnecting the sensor retards timing, and the engine doesn't run as clean. I watched them playing with the connector during the test, at home i found it was disconnected and the plug broken. I had our Pontiac fail when they tugged at a vacuum hose for the A/C system; breaking it at the firewall and creating a large vaccum leak and gross polluter status. Last years smog check wasn't much better. Hydrocarbons were at the max allowable at the 25 mph test. A previous lease operator (actually during a Porsche lease in Florida) had replaced the catalytic converter with an aftermarket cheapie. I suspect that converter is about dead. If you have the original catalytic converter, you should be fine. Do check the connectors on both Hall Effect Sensors, they become brittle with age. Had the same problem with our 1984 944, so I'm somewhat snake bitten by those damn connectors.



I'm in Chula Vista, some of the smog check shops here charge extra for 968's, some don't.



-sp4149

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[S_Cal968]

SP: I can't imagine why they'd charge more for a 68, it's the same inspection, perhaps because it's a P-Car[?] I would definitely go elsewhere.



My car runs near minimum on all readings [knock on wood], I've passed every time.

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[flash]

the airbox might draw somebody's attention, especially if it looks cheesy (like without the trim rings) - however, you would win the battle with CARB if you chose to fight it - the problem is that many of the guys at the smog stations are so scared of losing their license that they run from ANYTHING that looks non-stock



if you are slick, you can get a header past them - if you draw attention to stuff, or have a dirty engine bay, causing them to look around, or have things that look out of place, you run the risk of the fear factor



remember, these guys get almost NO training on what is and is not legal, or why



some chips will cause the engine to run rich, especially at the part throttle spots that the smog tests are done - some don't - which one do you have?



most aftermarket cats are not going to work - definitely not the small ones - the oem one does a phenomenal job though



as for the inspection, it can all be done at the smog station, if you go to a full service one, and not just a "test only", and can be done at some of the test only stations, depending on the willingness and knowledge



just a couple of weeks ago, i went to get the bone stock 15k mile white cab tested - the local station would not do it - he said "i just don't know enough about these cars" - he further explained about the smog cops, and his desire not to lose his license

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[midblu]

My car is due for a smog this year (infact I was going to get it done this week) and it will be the first time with the airbox mood and chip....will I be ok or do I need to source a new airbox and change the chip back to OEM? All input welcome as I am not excited about failing a test the my car has always passed with flying colors. Thanks in advance.



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[flash]

you should be fine - i was, even with the header

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[ds968]

[quote name='midblu' post='48909' date='Mar 9 2008, 05:11 PM']My car is due for a smog this year (infact I was going to get it done this week) and it will be the first time with the airbox mood and chip....will I be ok or do I need to source a new airbox and change the chip back to OEM? All input welcome as I am not excited about failing a test the my car has always passed with flying colors. Thanks in advance.

Ron 94 coupe/6 speed[/quote]



Ron, nothing to worry about.. mine passed with such a large margin, there would have been room left for a twin turbos and supercharger running on leaded fuel !

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[midblu]

Thanks!



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[rxter]

Thanks Gents,



Sounds like I should be OK. I'll pays my money and takes my chances.

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[midblu]

Got the smog yesterday and passed without incident($50). I have a chip and the airbox mod. I was concerned that the HC(PPM) at 15MPH measured 85 (max allowable is 85) when the average staed on the printout is 21!? The other numbers were much closer to the average numbers. Anyone have any ideas why my car had the high output of HC?



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[flash]

could be all that oil coming out the tailpipe



might be the promax chip you have in there - known to be rich down low - it used to be so rich it threw the idiot light



this makes me wonder about long term ring damage from fuel wash - i'll have to think on that one after i look at the charts again

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[midblu]

If it was "all the oil coming out of the tailpipe" then why would the other numbers be average or below? It doesn't appear to make much sense.



Ron

94 coupe/6 speed

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[flash]

your situation could easily be a cumulative effect - a chip that is slightly rich running down low, with slightly low compression numbers, and a bit of an oil passage into the combustion - add to that low rpm running, and you get a dirty output

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