OK........so I unexpectedly found out I needed an emissions test done on my car when trying to renew plates on my Z. It's a surprise because they never sent me a renewal card, had they done that then I would have known...........I would have known well before changing all this stuff on my car that is.

So my question, and I think I know the answer to this already, but I thought I would solicit feedback and ask anyway.
Is there anyway to get this beast to pass emissions short of putting back on the stock exhaust and cats? I know if I go back and it fails again it says I may be able to apply for a waiver, not sure how easy those are to come by? Also, not sure what all I need to do in order to go back for a retest and then get the waiver. I just don't want to do a whole bunch of work if it will be pointless, especially with my racing season starting in 1 week. I also only have 10 days to make changes in order for a free reinspection.

Anyone have any advice or tips?

Mudd

 

Subscribing, mine will be due in a couple of years.

 

i donno how strict your emmissions are there but i passed mine with no cats and after market exhaust.. wish i could help you out but i dont know the laws there..

 

it's all down to the tune it's definately doable, talk to Tobi or Nick on the UTEC tune bud.

Or it wouldn't hurt trying some of the car boards (HAI,AWDPirates,CRN) to see if anybody has a 100 dollar hookup.

 

+1 on juztin. Tune that sucker down... or get lucky other ways...

 

Yeah I just bought my car (end of lease) and that's when the emmisions test comes due. I know Boulder Nissan had to put the stock injectors back in, the stock ECU remove the wastegate spring etc...I don't wanna do this every year!!! I have cats and stock exhaust manifolds etc... A stock Z has to clear with plenty of room, why would slightly larger injectors make such a big difference? It's not like they will even get into any boost durning the test. I will know in about a month though....
Sean
PS so Mudd you had the test done already? How far off were you? Man this SUX!!!!!

 

Here are the results, as I had it done this afternoon.

HC GPM 2.8443 Limit is 1.20
CO GPM 22.7075 Limit is 20.00
NOX GPM 5.7922 Limit is 3.00

All threw the SES light while on the rollers from the damn UTEC issue. I reset it around the corner from the testing station, but the damn thing came on too quick. I wish I would have known this earliar, before the mods so I could have bought myself another 2 years.

I will call the experts tomorrow and see if there is much I can do inn the way of tuning.

Mudd

 

The exemption isn't a viable option. My buddy had his 240SX fail due to burning oil and tried to file the exemption since he didn't have the cash to rebuild the engine. The process is strict and if I remember, you have to have a really good monetary reason for not being able to fix the engine or replace the car. He didn't qualify, so he drove it for five months unregistered until El Paso county stopped doing emissions tests. Good luck with the tune, Brian.
Will
(Go Chargers!!!)

 

well i'd say put the cats back on. The SEL shouldn't fail you anymore. But i think if you put the stock cats back on you should be fine.

 

How about reg. it in a county that is exempt, Park or Clear Creek co.
I think all you need is phyical adress in one of these co.?

 

Move to the Springs! No emissions here...

Seriously, with the UTEC issue, it will keep throwing the code, and even if you reset it, it will show that codes were recently cleared. So, first step, unplug the UTEC, and go back to the stock ECU. Maybe consider getting a TS flashed ECU so the car will still run well without the UTEC, but with the 550 cc injectors.

Next, get some high flow cats instead of test pipes. The high flow cats will pass emissions, and you won't have to change out the test pipes every time emissions are due. Or, get a set of stock cats, and change them out every time emissions are due. Either way, you are close enough to the limits that cats will clean it up enough to pass

Those two things should do it.
Dave

 

I have the stock cats so no issues there.
My concern is that being the test pipes are welded in that I would need to drop the complete exhaust, hook up all the stock stuff and then go retest. Maybe Kevin can shed some light as I am trying to remember if they were welded or not.

Kevin, tell me your 2 cents. I can't get an address is Park County like you are lucky enough to have, so I am more then likely going to have to make changes to get it to pass.

Mudd

 

Damn man....I think I need to do like Kevin says...Just get a physical address in.....How in the Hell do ya do that?!
I feel for you Bro, I bet you need to put on your stock injectors and tune it down. Contact Jason @ Boulder NIssan I think he can shed some light on this
Sean

 

Do you mean you have the stock cats on it right now? Or that you have them sitting there in your garage?

Anyways, I wold really recommend dropping the test pipes and getting high flow cats in there instead. Most tests I have seen show very little difference in flow rate and HP from test pipes to high flow cats, and the high flows also cut down on the gas smell/exhaust smell you sometimes get with test pipes.

Plus, they are emissions friendly

Dave

 

I've heard that in Colorado (this this may have changed in the past 2 years) that you WILL fail the test if they put the mirror under the car and don't see the cats.

What a buddy of mines dad did to get his truck with a built 350 (Chevy 350ci) to pass was this: He took the heat shield off the original cat and attached it to the test pipe so it would pass the visual inspection, then rather than run gasoline he ran isipropal(sp?) alcohol and pulled the timing. The alcohol runs very clean and pulling the timing was to protect the engine from damage. Doing this, he passed emissions.... Though I don't know if it will work on the Z because his 350 did not have an ECU. I bet the alcohol would cause a SEL and you'd fail.... So getting around the SEL issue might be harder... But the idea to pass the visual inspection will still work...

 

would a turbo kit fail emissions??

 

It depends on the state and local regs. Laws for Milwaukee are cetainly different than laws for Denver, Colorado.

However, many states do follow along with CARB regulations, and to my knowledge none of the turbo kits are CARB approved. The Stillen S/C is CARB approved, but thats a SC kit, not a turbo kit. Then, it all depends on how strict the local laws, and the local shops are that do emissions. A turbo kit may not be CARB approved, but the shop might not care, and only put the emissions tester in the tailpipe. Given a relatively new engine (less than 10 years old), with proper maintenance, no serious problems, and properly attached catalytic convertors (no test pipes!), most modern cars will pass the actual emissions tests, even with a turbo kit.

Dave

 

so Dave, did your JWT setup pass?
Also I thought the TN kit was CARB appoved.

 

I'm in Colorado Springs (El Paso county). No emissions here!

As for the TN kit, I didn't think so, but I might be wrong.

 

No it's not CARB legal. But from what I get from Mudd and Boulder Nissan they didn't or check what was modded, they only look at the #'s coming from the tail pipe. I am very worried about my test coming up...this is my daily driver. What Boulder Nissan went through to pass their TN kit I couldn't do once a year. Are emissions due every year in Colorado?