COBB 3" DP
 

COBB Tuning - Mazdaspeed3 SS 3" Downpipe with High Flow Cat

I'm interested in this DP, but my main concern is if anyone knows if it will pass the CA sniffer emissions test?

They do comment in their Q/A's that it won't pass CA emissions test, but doesn't clarify if that's due to visual test or actual sniffer.

From what I have read most people go back to stock down pipe and switch back. after the test.

Might depend on the location you test at though.

You can go 3" short catted downpipe and catted testpipe. That'll assure you'll never fail any kind of test and you won't have to swap stuff out. Just make sure the second cat is the highest flowing one you can get. Like a 100 cell metallic core.

It'll most likely pass the emissions test, but why are you worried about that when it will most likely fail on the visual test? From what I read, unlike Texas, a visual test is done/enforced in CA.

This is exactly why he should get a seperate catted testpipe. The dude inspecting his shit will see the second cat and pass him. Ultimate Racing gives you that option with there DP/TP

If you can somehow pass the visual inspection...I think it will probably fail the sniffer.

Even with 2 cats? Does CA have stricter standards for their sniffer test?

I think that depends on the dude inspecting his car and whether or not he is having a bad day. If he is having a bad day, he might try finding the EO# for the cat on the test pipe, which he won't find and then OP's car will fail inspection.

I think the safest path is to get a catted/catless test pipe, that you swap out for the OEM test pipe when it's time for inspection. Then you can just reinstall the test pipe after you pass the inspection. Or you can move to Florida or any other state that doesn't care about emissions testing.

I'm not worried about the visual, that's the easy part... passing the actual test once the machine is hooked up is the hard part without having to fork over massive amounts of mooolah

This would be so much easier if I was just in a smog exempt zone... :( I think it's time to move :D

As long as they don't require lower levels of hc's, nox, co, or co2 you will most likely pass especially with 2 cats. Even if they're high flow.

Thanks robb, i'll look into dual cat high flow options as well.

Right now it's a little confusing to me... Ever since CA implemented the STAR Program, supposedly they only do visual and check OBD2 readiness monitors but some cars still go on the rollers/sniffer test. I don't have to smog my speed3 anytime soon but I think my Acura is coming up next month. Two years ago it did go on the rollers/sniffer. It might depend where I bring it to also...? :dunno:

I've read before about this option as a potential solution for CA residents who need to pass smog tests.

The last smog test i got done on my speed3 when I registered it from NC to CA they didn't put it on any rollers. they just idle'd it and then rev'd it a few times, I didn't check for anything clipped onto the exhaust tho that would be checking levels. Ever since i've been getting into the mod game (which hasn't been long, pushin 8 months now), i've constantly been searching for what types of shops to look for and stay away from around my area when smog time does come up. Hell i've even had a mechanic tell me ways to mess with the O2 sensor in the DP to bypass any codes from being displayed. The answers are out there, just figuring out the right questions to ask can be the difficult part.

That's why my primary focus of this post was to ensure that there was a high chance of passing a sniffer test with this DP.

On OBD2 cars years 2000 and up Cali is no longer running the stiffer test, all they are doing now is looking for any codes stored in the ecu and checking to see if all monitors are set, plus the visual inspection.