NoVa Emmissions - Opinions Needed
 

Hey everyone,

I am finally hoping to become a more active participant in the NoVa/DC/MD events and threads here on the forum. I have been working on my Z for a while now, and am wrapping up getting the kinks worked out of my GTM TT kit. I figured I would post my question in this section since you guys are all residents of the NoVa/DC/MD area.

Onto the question:
I am awaiting delivery of my 3" F.I. TDX exhaust, and am wondering if I should opt to add cats to it (an option Tony currently is offering). The gas smell is pretty strong right now, but doesn't bother me too much. My dilemma is this: I can opt to forgo the cats, and get a custom tune (the cats cost 3/4 of the price of a tune), which should hopefully reduce the smell slightly, or I bite the bullet and get the cats to hopefully eliminate the smell altogether. My main concern is the extra police attention the smell may bring. I DO NOT want fines!

So, your expert opinions are much appreciated! I hope to get out to the meets in the very near future! Thanks for the help and I look forward to meeting you all!

If you plan on driving on the street in NOVA you HAVE to have cats.

Without them you'll get tagged at your annual safety inspection (they do a visual check) but you'd probably be pulled over by a cop before then when they smell the fumes.

You've probably noticed all of the emissions stations on most of the highway on-ramps. They rotate locations but they have them up year round now. You'll eventually have to drive through one of those where you'd get ticketed.

:werd:


Speaking as a guy who was tagged, that is trouble you don't want.

Thanks guys. That is sort of what I figured. Guess I might as well spend the cash up front, rather than shelling it out to the local government.

As for emissions inspections, they just do a check for emissions-related trouble codes through the OBD-II port, right? I am wondering if I will fail since I believe the GTM tune ignores the second set of O2 sensors. I wonder if they show up as "Not Ready" when they do the scan. May have to register the car in another county...

That is a good idea. My family lives in Spotsylvania County, another emissions-free county. Are you able to have your car "garaged" at that address without having one of them on your title? Also, does that require your DL address to show the Fauquier address?

Thanks for the quick responses everyone! Just sent Tony@FI an email saying PUT IN THE CATS!

oohhh I can think of so many things wrong with this. :bowrofl:

Think about it.

Good to hear! I am all for doing things "by the book", but this is one loophole I plan to take advantage of! :tup:

I don't really think it's a loophole, per se. It's tax evasion but there's not an effective way to crack down on it.

Liberals are supposed to be for higher taxes, cristo! :p

You might find yourself with an interesting situation on your hand if anything ever happens to your car when it is parked at night.

Stunning how much stalling can happen if there is a discrepancy found by the insurance company.

I could keep my cars registered in PWC at my parents house, but I am unwilling to cheat on my taxes. :p

VERY true!!!

Anyways, with HFCs and no CEL codes I would think you'd pass NOVA emissions. HFCs should be enough to pass the sniffer if they make you do it.

That is true, a little worrisome. I will have to look into how to make everything line up. I don't want to have issues with insurance, or really any other agencies. Who knows, maybe it would pass emissions the way it is setup?

Did Kirk run into any problems regarding his emissions set up?