Sorry if this is in the wrong place, if it is could a mod please move it.


Hello all,

I have a quick question for anyone in California. My car has a HPtune done to it, along with a K&N drop in filter, ZZP airbox to turbo pipe, and a Borla muffler in place of the factory unit. Would this pass emissions in Cali? I have a job oppotunity that would move me out that way, and I know you guys deal with more laws when it comes to emissions. None of the systems in the vehicle are disabled, and I still have the factory dual cat downpipe. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you for your time,
Tyler.

 

im not from cali and i know they are super strict out there but i honestly dont see you having any issues there man

 

I would think that as long as you don't have an engine light on and all cat converters you should be ok. But i'm from pa so there could be more requirements for ca. Maybe someone from there will chime in.

 

Thanks for the replies. That's what I was thinking as well, because here in Illinois all we need is the OBD-2 scan to have all readiness monitors up, and no codes. But in Cali I know they do visual inspection, and I can't find any info other than rumors but I heard somewhere they fail your car if you have a tune, something about the calibration ID. I just figured it would be best to ask the guys that deal with this all of the time.

 

As long as you have the CARB sticker in the K&N you should be fine

 

Do to need a CARB sticker for just the drop in filter? I thought that would only apply to an actual aftermarket intake.

 

I skimmed reading the first post. Drop in should be fine, as long as it's not super loud you should be fine

 

Drop in filter with stock air box is perfectly fine. Also, yes they do a visual inspection but most people are so lazy they don't even bother to drive it up the ramp to check. Lol if I recall correctly, they plug their scanner into your ob2 port and as long as everything is ready and there is no cel, u r golden. They used to put the sniffer in and run it on the dyno but they just stopped a few years ago. If u really want to play it safe then simply swap the stok downpipe back on and u should pass. A tune will not cause u to fail smog!

 

Sweet, thanks for the info, that was pretty much what I was looking for. Thanks again for the help guys.

 

U got it man, that's what we're here for. Cali used to be super **** about emissions but they're a little more laxed now since the air quality has improved a bit due to all the promoting of car pooling, not idiling your car, etc...

 

Hate to bump my own post but I figured I could ask another question here instead of starting another thread.

How are they when it comes to replacement intercoolers and charge pipes? I'm not looking to make more power, just more of a durability thing. I've tried using Google, and get mixed information, none of which is actually for a Cobalt. I did find the C.A.R.B. thread, but that seems to pertain to the SS/SC, with no info for the SS/TC.
Any help is appreciated, as I should be making the move in the next 3-4 months after I finish my on job training.

 

U will more than likely get away with the intercooler but not the chargepipes. Just keep the stock ones n swap it back to stock every 2 years for smog.

 

I don't see how the charge pipes would violate CARB, you can always keep the stock pipes and see if they'll pass you with aftermarket charge pipes. iirc a GM dealer or tech released a comment about warranty and changes to charge pipes wouldn't void the warranty so I would assume it won't violate CARB

 

Thanks guys, I'd keep all the stock parts anyway just in case. Some of the info I found online was as long as the turbocharged vehicle came stock with them, you could change them, as long as you didn't change locations, aka change a top mount to a front mount. But like I said before, I couldn't find anything specific to the Balt, just Evos, STIs, RX-7s, etc.