I am fortunate to have an APR Stage 3+ kit recently installed in my 225 TT coupe. However, I am also misfortunate to receive a notice in the mail telling me that I am in need of a smog test in order to complete registration. (I thought I was due next year.) The garage that completed the install did an excellent job, and they told me, about three times, that the car should pass smog as it is now. I am unsure, however.

The car had the stock cat removed, but has been replaced with a high-flow OBD1 cat. If the new cat does its job and keeps the levels to a passing amount, then I will cross my fingers and hope that the tech doesn't notice the FMIC or any associated APR hardware! The CEL (check engine light) does not come on at all, so I know I am good there. As for the visual part of the test, I have read mixed opinions on this, but the basic idea I get from these forums is the test will be largely subjective, based on the whim of the tech. My car is Quattro, so I am pretty sure a dyno will not be involved, but I am not completely clear on this either.

Finally, the reason for this posting is to provide like-minded individuals out there with an answer to this question; will a Stage 3+ 2002 Audi TT pass CA smog? I will be getting the test done on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. (May 27th, or May 28th of 2008.) I will return with the good or terrible news then. Wish me luck!

 

In wi we have a light smog test, they same thing without the visual inspection. For WI, as long as you don't have a check engine light, you are ok. I would concider brining some cash to bribe... might be a good $100 spent.

 

CA smog testing is pretty tough, but if I recall correctly, the most important part of it is the emissions. If you pass emissions, and don't have a jerk of a smog tech, you should be fine.

 

I can understand visually inspecting for a cat and CEL, but what would an intercooler have anything to do with emissions? Dyno testing at emissions testing? I'm glad to see CA wasting so much money...

 

THey dont actually dyno the car. In OH they used to put you on the rollers and run it at like 40mph for a few mins to test emissions. With the new obdII cars, they just have to scan it.

 

ok ok. i jus had my smog couple months ago in SOCAL.

popped my hood, bam airinx air filter. that was automatic fail. tampering with the emissions system.

...but unless you have a C.A.R.B. sticker or an EO#, in which i had.


as long as your cat works (you could tell by the water exiting your exhaust, or if ur running a testpipe, you = screwed ) , you should be fine. since mine was quattro, he ran the sniffer off the dyno and ran it on idle and rev up to 40 mph in NEUTRAL. sweet.

soo my word of my advice to you, get an EO#, carb sticker or go back to your stock intake to successfully pass the visual inspection. also mash around on the freeway before you get your smog check done to get your cats nice and hot and to free up some carbon deposits.

make an appointment. gluck

 

On my mustang, I never had an issue with the smog people and the highflow cats. They just look to see how many are supposed to be on the car, then count. Most don't even know the difference or care. As for the air canister that the other guy mentioned, they do recognize aftermarket cold air, intakes, superchargers and check for carb numbers on those. I think mostly because they don't have to climb on the ground to get to them. Just take it in, and see. At most you are out $50-$60 and you get a retest at most places.

 

Thanks for the feedback thus far! Honestly, you guys make it sound much better than it sounded last night when I posted this topic!

My car looks stock under the hood - especially because almost everything is covered up in the TT. Therefore, I will go in confidently and pass!! (Or, the guy with the H2 will pass and I will fail because I have one cat instead of two. Ha ha ha. Yuk.)

 

If your down in San diego or not to far, I could hook you up with your smog. If it can pass emissions it will be normal cost and he will wave the visual. If you cant pass emissions it will be around 200.00

 

Yes they dyno cars out here. But since the California emission system sees all audi TT as AWD they just do a standing idle/ rev test.