Hello all,

I am from Victoria BC, Canada and I am working with a local auto wholesaler to buy a 2005 RX-8. This company sources the majority of their vehicles from California and I was wondering if someone could let me know how the C.A.R.B restriction regulation works in California? Do models sold to dealers in California have low flow cats to reduce emissions? Do these regulations affect performance of the cars at all if there is something to this affect added/changed on the car? I have "heard" things like this before and want to make sure that if they/I get one from California that it won't be choked (restricted) in performance etc.

I searched this forum and others, as well as googled it a variety of ways but I could not find anything definitive.

I appreciate any help or guidance that someone may be able to provide me.

Regards,

Brandon

 

Im not a CARB expert so I cant really explain everything to you ... but I'll give it a shot.

CARB is a SMOG-Restircting Standard in California, I think its probably the world's most restictive thing out there. It requires certain class vehicle to meet certain standard in lots of areas, including the infamous carbon monoxide.

Thats why you see all these "PZEV-Partial Zero Emission Vehicle "or LEV-Low Emission Vehicle" kind of thing.

Any kind of SMOG-controlling law WILL effect automobile's performance. Just imagine a car with no CAT at all, biggest size turbo and you can run whatever kind of gas you want.(even leaded gas)

Actually CARB is a pretty good thing, it forced auto companies to make better products.

If you only go for bolt ons like Intakes, high flow CAT, minor stuff you know, you should be fine with emission tests.

but if you go for serious performance, you can forget about CARB or Whatever emission standard you guys have in canada, you're not going to pass any of them, trust me.

Thats excatly why Mazda hold the 8 off at the port back in 03/04, and actually have to downgrade the original HP claim(buy back program), and made a flash out to make it run Ultra rich to save CAT life(didnt meet the standard)

 

2004 RX-8's were 50 state emission cars (Same performance for all states)
2005 and 2006 models have a "California" flash as well as a 49 state flash.
As far as I know there are no hardware (Parts) differences, only the electronic
tune is changed. I don't know what effect there is on performance nor have I seen any big difference in dyno HP in 49 state cars to Calif cars.

 

Cool, so it sounds like there are no hardware restrictions only an ecu restriction. I guess I could bring it in to my local Mazda service center and have them dump them most current flash in it.

Another question: Do only dealers have access to these ecu update/flahes or can independent garages/ tuners get access to these from Mazda? I have one place local to me who are rotary gods and good friends who would do it for free. If I could get them to do it rather than pay a dealer to do so I would rather that. I have an 03 P5 and a 92 MX-5 right now and have not had to do anything of this sort with either of them to date so I am new to this re-flashing process.

I'm hoping to get this third Mazda and really live up to my member name of MazdaFamily.

Thanks all