RX8 CEL and Smog Question
#1
RX8 CEL and Smog Question
Hey everyone, first post, thanks in advance. I wish this wasn't my first post but thats how it goes. I am planning to do some serious traveling to buy an RX8 tomorrow and have some concerns. I have owned an RX7 (FC) in the past and have always been a rotary fan, so this is a nice next step.
So for those who own RX-8's, do you guys ever have trouble passing smog? I have heard that RX8s specifically are actually very good when it comes to passing unless there is a serious issue.
The car in question has under 100k miles with a dealer installed engine with less than 7k. The owner has tons of documentation from the nearby Mazda dealer documenting the last 100k miles. Oh, and its a Shinka trim with the black cherry paint.
HOWEVER, the car has aftermarket headers and exhaust that were installed recently and has a CEL. The owner has paperwork proving he had the thing smogged (pre-headers) about 5-6 months ago but lovely CA requires a smog within 90 days to transfer the title. He claims he will have it smogged tomorrow, but it is a 3 hour drive for me and I have a feeling he couldn't swap the manifold that fast.
If the thing wasn't so gorgeous and well documented I wouldn't bother, but I am pretty sure if I don't buy it someone else will. I have an OBD2 code reader so I planned to check the codes to verify it is an O2 sensor that is throwing the CEL, but is there any chance this thing wouldn't pass once a stock manifold is put back on (besides cats being no good)?
So for those who own RX-8's, do you guys ever have trouble passing smog? I have heard that RX8s specifically are actually very good when it comes to passing unless there is a serious issue.
The car in question has under 100k miles with a dealer installed engine with less than 7k. The owner has tons of documentation from the nearby Mazda dealer documenting the last 100k miles. Oh, and its a Shinka trim with the black cherry paint.
HOWEVER, the car has aftermarket headers and exhaust that were installed recently and has a CEL. The owner has paperwork proving he had the thing smogged (pre-headers) about 5-6 months ago but lovely CA requires a smog within 90 days to transfer the title. He claims he will have it smogged tomorrow, but it is a 3 hour drive for me and I have a feeling he couldn't swap the manifold that fast.
If the thing wasn't so gorgeous and well documented I wouldn't bother, but I am pretty sure if I don't buy it someone else will. I have an OBD2 code reader so I planned to check the codes to verify it is an O2 sensor that is throwing the CEL, but is there any chance this thing wouldn't pass once a stock manifold is put back on (besides cats being no good)?
#2
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If you give the CA inspectors a reason to do a visual inspection, it won't pass smog. It will pass the sniffer test if you get a working OEM cat on there, even with an aftermarket header. There is nothing the header does/controls when it comes to the sniffer test. You will obviously need to get the reasons behind the CEL solved, there may be more than 1 code in there. I would have him give you the codes before you travel out there. If he isn't able or willing to get the specific code numbers, then it's a huge red flag to worry about.
The OEM cat is $300-$500 on here if used, otherwise $1,300+ at a dealer. I am not aware of any specific aftermarket cats that could make the RX-8 pass a sniffer test in CA, though there might be some. Front O2 is ~$250, rear O2 is ~$150. Those codes are really important though, since by definition they are what you need to solve.
The OEM cat is $300-$500 on here if used, otherwise $1,300+ at a dealer. I am not aware of any specific aftermarket cats that could make the RX-8 pass a sniffer test in CA, though there might be some. Front O2 is ~$250, rear O2 is ~$150. Those codes are really important though, since by definition they are what you need to solve.
#3
I'm unfortunately clear on the smog laws in CA having had many cars and several that wouldn't (or never) passed smog. Most cars 2005 and later don't even get a tailpipe test, just a visual and a CANBUS scan.
So although the lack of a cat should make it fail a visual, in the end it's the CEL that will make it fail. Assuming it can be traced to the o2 that should be an easy fix.
Also, I would like to point out I have no intentions of trying to fake the system here. My intent is to put the manifold back to stock so I don't get the CEL in the first place.
So although the lack of a cat should make it fail a visual, in the end it's the CEL that will make it fail. Assuming it can be traced to the o2 that should be an easy fix.
Also, I would like to point out I have no intentions of trying to fake the system here. My intent is to put the manifold back to stock so I don't get the CEL in the first place.
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