I passed emmisions with test pipe, header, intake and resonator cut out....I did not have my exhaust at the time. 2001 MY I've ran 93 from the getgo.

I had my car inspected at a Midas. I can guarantee you that at 99% of the places, they do not do all the steps listed above on the DMV website. I've owned 9 cars and cared for over 15, and that includes alot of inspections. If it looks normal, they plug in the computer through the cig. outlet, and get a reading while holding the meter right by the tail pipe. I've never seen anyone actually INSERT anything in the tailpipe before.

Now what they WILL get you for is tinted windows/wiper blades/gas cap/tires. those are the money makers for those shops.

 

Right on, so you think Midas would be the ideal place to take it?

 

i was just saying midas was the place I went. I will assume the guys at meineke, firestone, and procare are on the same level. You know, about quick in-out service for something like an inspection. The tech only makes like 3 bucks on the inspection. So he wants to hurry up and get back to that 1200 job or so.

 

nice tip!

 

Esp if you go at the end of the day - the mechanic wants to get out so won't bee too dilligent.

 

ANOTHER good tip!

 

Ok, so I took the car to get it inspected this morning. Well, I have a few observations that might help others. First of all, the car WILL pass emissions with the test pipe/ o2 sim on as all they do is hook it up to the computer now. Second of all, do NOT take it somewhere where they have a dugout to go under the cars with as it makes it too damn easy to examine the underside of the cars and the test pipe sticks out like a sore thumb. The visual examination can be tricked by taking the heat shield off the old catalytic converter and welded to the testpipe... I WOULD do this but Im not sure if the o2 sim sticking out from the sidfe of the cat will still catch their eye or not. So I passed everything BUT the visual tampering test, just to save my ass the hastle im going to throw the old cat back on just to pass and im ripping it out afterwards.

Now, all that brings me to a quick question, if the cat is bad will the CEL come on... the o2 sensor is new and shiney. I guess the CEL wont matter seeing how I already passed everything else but the tampering test and thatll be all they check for.

 

if you reset the ECU..it will take a while till ecu finds that out...specially if you drive under 6k...

 

Dolemike.........under 6k.......buwahhahahah