Ssssooooo, IF you plug the holes in the exhaust manifold to further "disable" the unit ?
I would ask since it's "technically" how you word it.😁/QUOTE]
Doug, most shops would not care about just plugging the air tube holes but "STAR" stations are not friendly. By definition on how BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) speaks, disable is specific to voiding the function of the smog pump, not "removing" any of its components
Your tail pipe could be putting out pure oxygen but if you fail "visual" you fail and that is permanently recorded on your smog history. Not the end of the world but if you have repeated "fail" tests you get mandatory sent to referee and that is absolutely game over. I don't want to get pushed through that door. The referee would make me put on any missing emission parts, including legally disabled ones and go over the car with a fine-tooth comb where there are things (exhaust CAT size) that would fail. It's just BS but the way it is. I will even pay to "pre-test" so if it fails that is not sent to Sacramento on my record. If it fails its out of state registration time
My fail-safe card is registering the car in Idaho at my brother's place...and may be what I do anyway as this every 2 year smog colonic is BS and as they keep moving the goal post in the end it is a no win. They want these cars off the road,, period.
The computer has been heavily "re-programmed" which is also an issue but fortunately it's so old they can't read CVN (calibration verification numbers) as my PCM does not have them but if they did its game over regardless of whether those actually effect tail pipe emissions. That fing deal just started this year. Mostly spurred by diesel trucks coal rolling and rice cars doing exhaust pop programming. My car won't run with a stock "tune" and if it did the check engine lights would go off big time which is a fail. Its a 383/T56, header, larger injectors, TB, etc, etc car that had none of that, so the PCM is major re-programmed. I even have a 2nd PCM just for smog testing (less timing, fan temps raised, less fueling, etc) as they keep lowering the allowable #'s to the point the car will not pass as those #'s are lower than the car was new. For example, they lowered allowable HC PPM from 51 to 45 for the 15-mph test. My "smog tune" does address this and other things and so far, has worked great
Its this newly discovered pipe that is cracked which has been the nemesis for the last few years so fixing it should get me through testing easily...fingers crossed. I will hook up my scanner to see if fuel trims become = on each bank and my 02's are going up/down ape shiat vs pegged at 800 on left bank (side this pipe is on). Again, an exhaust leak post metered air and before 02 is a HUGE factor in rich condition which = high HC on tail pipe. My CO & NOX are not a problem
