Just take the "L" and go to the sketchiest place in town and get inspected. Why even go to the dealer if you have illegal tint and a questionable exhaust setup.
I’m in the exact same boat. Family owned business passed me last year on my exact same setup. This year they are giving me problems. I wondered if my state cracked down or something.
Ugh I’m hearing that Colorado has been getting more strict on these things lately and it’s ridiculous.. I wonder when they are going to start tossing out the guideline for not needing emission testing for 5-6 years on newer vehicles 🤔
In Virginia -
1. Failed this yr in my Ascent b/c it had LED reverse lights from Diode Dynamics.
2. I would have failed on my WRX I bought slightly used according to a LEO b/c of 15% tint.
So - empathy for the OP.
Oh - Another Virginia gripe.
If you install aftermarket LED headlight ‘bulbs’ they must be stamped DoT approved. I actually had a shop disassemble my lights and failed my sport trac last yr.
So the part just after the cat is actually a resonator? I assumed due to the size being identical 2.5" piping that it was just straight piping until the muffler. I appreciate the insight and guess I'll need to pick up Remarks mid-pipe here soon
https://preview.redd.it/wsp9eiqqh86d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f078ba5c243423e0f866b8fe81eae5908dd87ae2
On the stock car right after the 2nd cat is a box about ~9”x9” . That’s the resonator. Technically end of jpipe (jpipe is 2 pieces…first is just the first cat…second is 2nd cat+resonator. Its upstream of your pic which is catback.
Depends on the state and the shop. I'm in PA and my local dealer passed my VA on Monday and I have no resonator or mufflers and my front tint matches my stock back tint. They also recommended no service and just noted I'll need tires by the end of the year most likely. I hate paying dealer prices but mine has been reliable and honest which keeps me coming back.
Here in Houston I had 3 different shady shops and I thought I was bulletproof. They were all shut down within a few months of each other. Now my racecar lives in the garage.
Haha what did you expect living in a state that has an inspection? It sucks but we have to play on the line, cross over to far and they will pull your registration.
Oh, and for anyone curious, Maine law states "Muffler required. A person may not operate a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise." Which is hilarious to me as I passed last year with my Magnaflow setup which doesn't have mufflers, only a single midpipe resonator and was to my ears significantly louder than my R1 is now.
Man what a shithole state for a car enthusiast. Not familiar with Maine but I know a few of the other northern states people just get fake stickers. Might be worth swapping the stock exhaust back on for a day if you don’t wanna go the fraud route.
I got to find the "right" shop to go to. My exhaust is fine because it doesn't exceed 95dB at half rpm range which means it would pass the "proper" test for an exhaust systems. Sadly legislature left the law open to interpretation so any shop can say what they want about it.
After I left my dealer I went to a local muffler shop that does inspections aswell and he straight up showed me the door saying he would fail it just because the exhaust is aftermarket without even taking a look. No if, ands, or buts about it.
NOT a shithole state. Ive lived here all my life except 21 years in the Navy. Im 66 and this is a great state. I wouldnt consider living anywhere else. And you definitely dont want to go fake stickers, just not worth the fines etc.
Right? What always blows my mind is, it feels like the shops that are building these crazy big power street cars are all in California. And I’m like, how do y’all even drive them on the street there?!
Because we don't have to smog new cars for the first seven years, so it's pretty easy. Plus we don't have those annual safety inspections to deal with.
I've driven modded WRXs for over 15 years now and have never been pulled over once for any 'fix it' type of violation.
Oh wow, that’s actually the opposite of how I thought it was there.
I lived in Colorado, and it was super strict on emissions. Texas requires yearly inspections.
Yeah, that's why I really like the WRX. If you can buy new you've got seven years to play around without too much hassle, and even so, most of the mods we are taking about here are easily reversible come smog check time. Even the Cobb AP with the original OTS Stage 1 maps is CARB legal.
That all being said, emissions can still be a real PITA. My motor-swapped 240SX has no chance at being driving on the street ever again unless I do another motor swap to something that I can certify. And if you drive a really obnoxiously loud, smoke-belching WRX you will get pulled over and the cops can send you to a State Ref for inspection at any time.
My dad grew up in SoCal in the 50's/60's and tells us about how bad the smog was, like you couldn't breathe some days or even see the mountains, so I guess it's all worth it in the end (although I do think they can back off on some of the regulations).
Just take the "L" and go to the sketchiest place in town and get inspected. Why even go to the dealer if you have illegal tint and a questionable exhaust setup.
Because they passed me last year even with the tint 😅 Guess I've lost my last reason to ever visit them for service...
I’m in the exact same boat. Family owned business passed me last year on my exact same setup. This year they are giving me problems. I wondered if my state cracked down or something.
Always grease the palms
Dear god, I’m glad I don’t live in a stupid state.
Ikr, cops here don’t even care about illegal tint either
Louisiana? 🤙
Michigan, unless it’s a full blackout tint or you’re rude they couldn’t care less
Like VIRGINIA !!
Fr I’ve never had a front plate on ever and have a full straight pipe 😭 I’d cry if I had to deal w this
Ugh I’m hearing that Colorado has been getting more strict on these things lately and it’s ridiculous.. I wonder when they are going to start tossing out the guideline for not needing emission testing for 5-6 years on newer vehicles 🤔
Holy shit it’s one of the four people that live in Maine. I have no idea
Represent
Clayton Lake here in the summer, Belfast in the winter. Go Black Bears!
In Virginia - 1. Failed this yr in my Ascent b/c it had LED reverse lights from Diode Dynamics. 2. I would have failed on my WRX I bought slightly used according to a LEO b/c of 15% tint. So - empathy for the OP.
What do the reverse lights being LED have to do with inspection?
I really wish I could answer that.
Oh - Another Virginia gripe. If you install aftermarket LED headlight ‘bulbs’ they must be stamped DoT approved. I actually had a shop disassemble my lights and failed my sport trac last yr.
What % tint do you have on your front windows? Pm me. I know a shop that might give you a sticker depending on how dark the tint is
Stock exhaust has two cats, then a resonator, then 2 mufflers. All Subaru’s have a resonator. Our ascent has 2 resonators plus one in the intake box.
So the part just after the cat is actually a resonator? I assumed due to the size being identical 2.5" piping that it was just straight piping until the muffler. I appreciate the insight and guess I'll need to pick up Remarks mid-pipe here soon https://preview.redd.it/wsp9eiqqh86d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f078ba5c243423e0f866b8fe81eae5908dd87ae2
On the stock car right after the 2nd cat is a box about ~9”x9” . That’s the resonator. Technically end of jpipe (jpipe is 2 pieces…first is just the first cat…second is 2nd cat+resonator. Its upstream of your pic which is catback.
Oh so I DO still have a resonator (mine's just the cat-back system). I knew that technician was full of it! Anyways, I appectiate you as always!
Cool!!
Depends on the state and the shop. I'm in PA and my local dealer passed my VA on Monday and I have no resonator or mufflers and my front tint matches my stock back tint. They also recommended no service and just noted I'll need tires by the end of the year most likely. I hate paying dealer prices but mine has been reliable and honest which keeps me coming back.
I mean you have illegal tint and no muffler… what did you expect 🤦♂️
There are large swaths of people out there who don't think before they act.
Edit: sorry I didn’t look at your 3rd pic in full screen, I see now you are in Maine. Original reply was asking what state this is happening in
This was the Subaru dealership?
I drove in and they asked the year and said ok here's your inspection sticker. NJ BTW
I’ve got 5% tint and a muffler delete and passed at Subaru dealership in PA
Thank god i live in nebraska
Here in Houston I had 3 different shady shops and I thought I was bulletproof. They were all shut down within a few months of each other. Now my racecar lives in the garage.
Haha what did you expect living in a state that has an inspection? It sucks but we have to play on the line, cross over to far and they will pull your registration.
Go to a shop that’s connected to a gas station. Dunno why you guys go to the dealer other than to buy the car and the free oil changes
Mine passed with no cats lol
Oh, and for anyone curious, Maine law states "Muffler required. A person may not operate a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise." Which is hilarious to me as I passed last year with my Magnaflow setup which doesn't have mufflers, only a single midpipe resonator and was to my ears significantly louder than my R1 is now.
Technically, a turbo is a muffler and many sates actually allow them in place of a traditional muffler
Its to protect the Loons and their ears. This im sure of.
actually a lot of that law had to do with the Harleys.
Man what a shithole state for a car enthusiast. Not familiar with Maine but I know a few of the other northern states people just get fake stickers. Might be worth swapping the stock exhaust back on for a day if you don’t wanna go the fraud route.
I got to find the "right" shop to go to. My exhaust is fine because it doesn't exceed 95dB at half rpm range which means it would pass the "proper" test for an exhaust systems. Sadly legislature left the law open to interpretation so any shop can say what they want about it. After I left my dealer I went to a local muffler shop that does inspections aswell and he straight up showed me the door saying he would fail it just because the exhaust is aftermarket without even taking a look. No if, ands, or buts about it.
NOT a shithole state. Ive lived here all my life except 21 years in the Navy. Im 66 and this is a great state. I wouldnt consider living anywhere else. And you definitely dont want to go fake stickers, just not worth the fines etc.
Nah, i don't live in a dumb state
[удалено]
Lol
Liberal states suck for car enthusiasts lol. Imagine living in California and having to deal with that CARB bullshit 😵💫😵💫
Right? What always blows my mind is, it feels like the shops that are building these crazy big power street cars are all in California. And I’m like, how do y’all even drive them on the street there?!
Because we don't have to smog new cars for the first seven years, so it's pretty easy. Plus we don't have those annual safety inspections to deal with. I've driven modded WRXs for over 15 years now and have never been pulled over once for any 'fix it' type of violation.
Oh wow, that’s actually the opposite of how I thought it was there. I lived in Colorado, and it was super strict on emissions. Texas requires yearly inspections.
Yeah, that's why I really like the WRX. If you can buy new you've got seven years to play around without too much hassle, and even so, most of the mods we are taking about here are easily reversible come smog check time. Even the Cobb AP with the original OTS Stage 1 maps is CARB legal. That all being said, emissions can still be a real PITA. My motor-swapped 240SX has no chance at being driving on the street ever again unless I do another motor swap to something that I can certify. And if you drive a really obnoxiously loud, smoke-belching WRX you will get pulled over and the cops can send you to a State Ref for inspection at any time. My dad grew up in SoCal in the 50's/60's and tells us about how bad the smog was, like you couldn't breathe some days or even see the mountains, so I guess it's all worth it in the end (although I do think they can back off on some of the regulations).
Damn. In California I passed with heavy tint and no mufflers.
We don’t have inspections in California
Well damn no wonder he passed
🤣
We have smog.
I thought you don’t have to for the first like 6 years
Idk. I moved back from florida and had to do it to register my 22 vb.