PA emissions laws?

[Rush]

So, I'm finally starting to look into redoing my exhaust.

I heard a few years back that it's a requirement to have two cats in your exhaust system -- is this true? Are there any other little quirks I need to know about before I start throwing together parts?

 

[JCell]

some cars only come with one cat from factory, so i doubt it

 

[Katya4me]

So, I'm finally starting to look into redoing my exhaust.

I heard a few years back that it's a requirement to have two cats in your exhaust system -- is this true? Are there any other little quirks I need to know about before I start throwing together parts?

The Proteges came w/ a pre-cat and a cat. I want to say that PA checks OBD-II and as long as you're not throwing a code, you should be OK if you are missing the pre-cat, but I'd advise against going catless.

 

[Rush]

some cars only come with one cat from factory, so i doubt it

In a convo' that I had with a guy at an exhaust shop, he said that some cars DO only come with one cat -- but that they're made to do the work for two. I'm not sure if he was full of s*** or not.

The Proteges came w/ a pre-cat and a cat. I want to say that PA checks OBD-II and as long as you're not throwing a code, you should be OK if you are missing the pre-cat, but I'd advise against going catless.

There's no way I'm going catless, so no need to worry about that! I'm just trying to figure out if I can get away with just a single hi-flow cat .. or if I'm gonna have to have two to pass emissions.

 

[BradC]

Go with a single high-flow and go to a private shop for inspection. As long as it passes testing, I dont think they would fail you for one cat, just act cute!

 

[Protephile]

From what I understand, if your car came with two cats and one (or both) were removed, you would fail a visual inspection. It is illegal, technically speaking, to remove a cat even in states where no emission tests or laws are applied.
You would still pass a sniffer with one good cat, though, because the pre-cat is really for startup emissions. So unless your engine was stone cold on a sniffer test, it would pass.

That said, I just passed in June with my header installed. It helps to stay friendly with your local state inspection station!

 

[Rush]

From what I understand, if your car came with two cats and one (or both) were removed, you would fail a visual inspection. It is illegal, technically speaking, to remove a cat even in states where no emission tests or laws are applied.

Yeah, I just did a crapload of reading through various sites .. And it sounds like, bottom line, you have to have all the components that were originally on the car during purchase. As in, if your car came with two cats stock -- then it has to continue having two cats throughout it's lifetime to pass inspection.

I am friendly with the shop I get my car inspected at -- I have some tint on my car that's BEYOND illegal, and it's passed for the two years that I've had it -- but I don't know if I wanna push my luck with them. I feel bad.

I'll prolly just get a 3" downpipe (though God knows where I can find one of those), two 3" hi-flow cats, and then just straight 3" piping back to the muffler I have now.

 

[sidpro5]

The Proteges came w/ a pre-cat and a cat. I want to say that PA checks OBD-II and as long as you're not throwing a code, you should be OK if you are missing the pre-cat, but I'd advise against going catless.

Yup. What she said. Had my insp. done in July...one cat, Ractive header, non-fouler fix. No code, no problem. For what it's worth, I'm in Montgomery County.

 

[Rush]

For what it's worth, I'm in Montgomery County.

.. Where in Montgomery are you located? I just got a new apartment with my sister, and though I have yet to move into it yet (I'm finishing up at a job in NJ), it's in Elkins Park. Basically on the 'border' of Montomery and Philadelphia counties.

 

[sidpro5]

I'm in Lansdale. Not too far off 309 N. Had the inspection done by a guy in Ambler I've been using for 8 years or so.

 

[BradC]

I'm in Lansdale. Not too far off 309 N. Had the inspection done by a guy in Ambler I've been using for 8 years or so.

THink I might have seen you a week or two ago.

 

[sidpro5]

THink I might have seen you a week or two ago.

I've actually been seeing a few Silver P5's around............Was there a Skinhead with a somewhat long goatee driving? And whereabouts was this?

 

[BradC]

I've actually been seeing a few Silver P5's around............Was there a Skinhead with a somewhat long goatee driving? And whereabouts was this?

Over by Sumneytown and the TP. Silver P5, we both kinda did a double take when passing.

 

[sidpro5]

Over by Sumneytown and the TP. Silver P5, we both kinda did a double take when passing.

Sumneytown PK and the Turnpike? Weren't me. Haven't been over that way in quite awhile. At least not that I can recall.

 

[BradC]

Sumneytown PK and the Turnpike? Weren't me. Haven't been over that way in quite awhile. At least not that I can recall.

Ahh, well then there was a nice looking silver p5 over there!

 

[Doodsmack]

i have one RT hi-flow cat, throwing CEL w/o 2nd o2 sensor, turbocharged, and have passed two inspections.

 

[jadonP5]

Over by Sumneytown and the TP. Silver P5, we both kinda did a double take when passing.

i was over there about a week or two ago. had no idea where the hell I was though...got lost coming back from montgomery mall...

i made sure that i honked at a lady that had a sign that said "honk for peace" though haaha.


as far as the topic goes...you just gotta find your local "slap it on sam". every township has one, you just gotta look.

 

[gone_fishin]

Hey rush,

Chester County here. I've got a GHL full 3 inch turbo back, one hi-flow cat and no problems passing emissions. If you're concerned about passing inspection or emissions like someone else suggested, go to a privately owned shop that you're friendly with and they can "overlook" a lot of things-- not that contibuting to the atmosphere's demise is really appropriate or whatever, but if you're in a bind, well than you're in a bind.

For PA Emissions requirements go here:
http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/drivecleanpa/default.htm

For PA Inspection Requirements for "Modified" Vehicles:
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/inspections/recon.shtml

For PA Standard Inspection Requirements:
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/inspections/safety.shtml

Hope that helps.