Tamper Fail :-( Smog testing and a MAF on a 85 911
 

I'm a newbie Porsche owner and just failed my first smog test (after purchasing) for having an Autoauthority MAF. The MAF is on an 85 engine that is installed in my 1982 911 SC. I'm the third owner and do not have the original air intake system. The Autoauthority MAF installation includes a matching custom chip for the ECU.

The car passed it's smog check in April when I purchased the car. The Autoauthority MAF was installed in 1994 and the car has passed every smog test since then without any apparent swapping out of the system. The car also has an SSI exhaust which was swapped out in the past to pass emissions. I have not reinstalled the SSIs yet ...

Authoauthority has not been very helpful (no apparent C.A.R.B number for the MAF). THere is however a C.A.R.B number for the chip.

The car is a daily driver that I've been working to slowly recondition and rebuild myself. This list has been a great help so far and was hoping that someone here would have an idea on how to pass this inspection.

Should I just go get and install the original air intake an airsensor and chip ($$$)?
Is there anyway to convince the State that this is actually an improvement?

Thanks in advance,

Paul

Good ol Cali. So did it fail the visual and the dyno, or just the visual.

You have to go back to stock for smog checks. I've never heard of anyone convincing the State to change it's standards.

I think you just got unlucky with the smog station you used. As you said it passed for purchase of the vehicle with the MAF already in place. I have a Split Second MAF on my '87 and it has been a non-issue twice for me and however many times the PO had to get it smogged.

Does anyone know if the tech's reason for no pass is recorded in some way that Paul can't just go another station, maybe the one used at purchase?

Try a different station, say.....Seattle.

The guy at the smog check said my 82 car tested cleaner than most new Porsche's he'd tested. So - it only failed for the visual. On the paper work it says Comprehensive Visual Inspection: TAMPERED, Functional Check: PASS, Emissions Test PASS. There's a written note saying Autothority Mass Flow sensor not on after market DB. When I called the state they had a note in the computer that mentioned Autoauthorit - but not that it was a MAF. The smog guy claimed there is a process to get a referee ... and some type of exemption. The guy from the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair was totally unhelpful and claimed that it takes a vendor $100K to get the required C.A.R.B. number to pass the test. After market products are clearly allowed if they have a C.A.R.B. number or are in some way identifiable as an OEM replacement. THe SMOG guy woud have been happy with a Porsche or Bosch label on the parts. This may be a path to a smog legal MAF if you used a 90s Porsche OEM Bosch MAF. He also indicated that a piece of paper from Autoathority indicating that the part is an OEM replace would be adequate. He just wanted some type of proof that would prevent him from losing his license or being fined $5k

I have no clue how this car passed smog for 16 years before I purchased it - the photo below shows that it's a very obvious modification.

So far my options seem to be:
- move to Seattle ($$$$$)
- replace MAF and chip with stock intake, air sensor and chip ($$$$)
- give the smog guy paperwork of some sort
- replace the Autoauthority MAF with a later Porsche MAF and
get a new tuned chip or somehow recalibrate the MAF ($$$)
- go to court ... they have sent me a bail notice already
see no reason why the Judge would give me a break even if the car has been
passing already for 16 years - but this could at least extend my deadline
past Jan 11


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1293673708.jpg

borrow someone else's airflow meter, air cleaner housing and computer. the original plug may still be there for the airflow meter.

It's that cheapo looking aftermarket "cone" filter that's the dead giveaway.

If you can get a stock airbox and modify it to cover that mess up (the filter, the aftermarket looking wiring, etc) you'll get past the visual 99% of the time.

[QUOTE=McLovin;5753655]It's that cheapo looking aftermarket "cone" filter that's the dead giveaway.

+1. think about the obvious. now maybe your car is "ugly" in the dmv computer.

Hummm ... I'm going to check into the following:

"""Certify Vehicles with Limited Parts Exemptions

Motorists whose vehicles fail a Smog Check because of missing or modified emission-related parts, must replace those parts. The BAR's Emissions Parts Locator service helps motorists locate difficult to find emissions parts or if the parts cannot be found, a Limited Parts Exemption is issued. When a Limited Parts Exemption is issued, the motorist must take his or her vehicle to a Referee Center for inspection. If it passes all other aspects of the Smog Check inspection, the vehicle will be certified. If the parts are available in time for the next required smog inspection, they must be installed before the vehicle can be certified. BAR's Emissions Parts Locator service can be reached at (800) 622-7733."""

Did you buy the car near you? Can you go to one of the stations from where it was previously tested? Though, now that you are in the system....

I think there is an issue here that hasn't been discussed much even though John cut through the chase with his answer:

- You have an Autothority MAF that is obviously aftermarket
- At the same time you have a 3.2 induction system that is not obviously aftermarket and did not raise an eyebrow with the smog tech

All you will need to pass smog with the same tech is to put your 3.2 induction system back to stock 3.2. I do not think you will need to install CIS to pass with your tech.

Finally just a question out of curiousity: Why are you retesting if the car passed smog in April? Selling? It may be cheaper to sell with no smog or out of state.

George

Put the stock air flow meter and chip back in, retest, and get on with life. Next time find a smog station that doesn't care that you have the MAF on there.

That only works if the part is No Longer Available from the dealer or several of the recognized suppliers.

JW has the best answer. You need to make friend with someone on this board and borrow (pay with scotch, beers, dinner) the original MAF sensor and airbox to pass and then put it back.

Smog pass issue
 

The smog tech and station owner are correct to fail the car as a tamper for the original parts.The B.A.R audits the older cars as these are in the HEP -high emmiter profile category and the only way maybe to make an appointment with the state refferee station through your local BAR office so they can certify it with the existing parts .The smog tech risks not only a HUGE FINE .loss of licence . and in recent cases of illegaly passing a car - JAIL TIME also. The CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD pulls no punches when it comes to HEP cars here in CALI.

If no one is closer, we can make a day of it and use my stock 86 parts and take it to the station that passed my car.

Warner

OOPs, Santa Rosa, CA

I find the whole CA line of reasoning borders on insane. It's EMISSIONS that is the issue and this car runs cleaner than it needs to yet because it's been modified over the course of 25 years it fails? Total BS.

I have the same MAF on my car, though it is not a problem in Oklahoma. I have not been able to find any documentation on it in several years of keeping an eye out. I don't think you will have much luck getting any CARB documents so back-to-stock seems like the best plan.