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:Background:
:Right before I drove to ZCON 06, I took my '91 TT in for it's smog check. It passed the sniffer test, and passed the visual "fairly" easily. The tech noted that my main cats didn't look factory. My OWN cats were borrowed, and never returned. They were replaced with a set that were shorter, and have maybe a 3 inch long pipe between the end of the cat and the flange on the pipe. I shrugged my shoulders and said "I don't know anyting abou it".
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:Fast forward to today.
:Here are the problems the same tech, at the same shop found and pointed out to me. Note: each one earns me a Fail.
:1) The emission sticker under the hood reads "TCC", and the tech explained that means "three way catalytic converter". Of course my Z has 2 main cats. The tech assumes they are aftermarket since the sticker doesn't read "TTC(2) indicating there should be two. He said he can call CARB/BAR and get an answer.
:2) He noticed the split downpipes, and said he'd have to reasearch if the car came with those from Nissan. (No mention of them in 2006)
:3) He mentioned the same main cat issue from 2006, but says a year and a half ago things changed. They must be factory cats, and mine aren't factory.
:4) Black box with vacuum lines and filters, with "HKS" on it. He said it's probably a boost controller, but he'd have to spend some time to see where the lines run.
:He didn't perform the sniffer test, but didn't charge me either.
:So, my questions:
:1) What the hell? I can't be the first one to have this problem. Anyone else in Ca deal with CARB/BAR and the sticker under the hood?
:2) This might be a major problem.
:3) I'm sure I can borrow someone's factory cats.
:4) Not sure if I remove the box, and cap the lines what would happen.
:What do you other California residents do?
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:Now I'm getting worried. I went with a Stillen Cat back and intake many years ago, and never had any problems. I didn't bother with the CARB documentation (either keeping it or having the #'s in the engine bay), because I "just" went stage III.I have another check due in about a month.
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