Steve Wong Chip And Smog
 

So... it's just about smog time for the car again, but with a new chip this time; car is an '85 3.2 Carrera - stock engine other than the DME Chip and the exhaust. In the past there was never a problem passing smog with either the stock chip or a Weltmesiter chip.

The question is, if I just reattach the brown wire and leave in the Steve Wong chip, should it pass smog? Or should I dig out the stock chip and put that in as well? Love to hear any first hand experience.

Thanks.

My 87, 3.2 passed in Seattle (same as CA standards) with the Steve Wong chip - and a cat by-pass. I was surprised, even posted that fact when it happened...

I thought I would run it through the test and hope for the best, then put the catalytic converter back on if I had to. But, no problems. For me anyhow.

Have heard stories of the 3.2L's passing without the cat, but with everything here over the last couple years about problems passing in CA, thought I'd check for experience (my cat is still in place, so it's just an issue of the chip, and figure that reconnecting the "brown" wire for CA emissions will probably be needed as well regardless of what chip is in place).

in CA you don't want to fail the test, borrow a cat or put your cat on and get advice from SW on what to do to have the best chance of passing with his chip - if you fail you may get put on a bad person list and have to smog more often or go to different stations/etc. best to avoid all that , also in CA there is what's called a visual inspection, if you get caught without a cat you fail on the spot, why there is no visual inspection in WA is curious

The cat has never been off the car and is still there now (though such a change is always tempting); this is just in regard to the chip.

OK, fine just saying if was off by "accident" for 2 years....

My 86 passes PA smog with Steve's chip and cat in place.

Bernie

my 89 3.2 records very low numbers, these cars are clean when working properly and parts aren't wore out.

My 87 passes new jersey with fab cat bypass and SW Chip

Ask the shop if they can test it first. If the numbers do not look good connect the Brown Wire and OEM Chip, test again and numbers are good check it.

Make certain it is completely hot 194+, a cold motor will fail.

My ROW chip from S. Wong passes in CA easily with a good cat. I had a used cat that failed but put in a good one and it passed easily. On NOx IIRC it was 1,000+ PPM on the bad cat, but on the good cat is was like 235 PPM.

Man, I'm glad I don't live in CA with all this stuff. Makes it hard to have fun.

Thanks all for the comments... Steve's response was to reinstall the stock chip, although it does sound like I might be able to pass with just reconnecting the brown wire from other feedback I've had (all numbers in the past have been way under and it's never been close to not passing).

But I've dug out the stock chip nonetheless and will aim to get this out of the way in the next few weeks (at least it's only every other year)!

"But I've dug out the stock chip nonetheless and will aim to get this out of the way in the next few weeks (at least it's only every other year)!"

My '88 3.2 with its stock chip has great performance, super responsiveness,
and always passes the emissions tests way under the maximums and never requires
fooling with the DME ECM. But then there are those that think that a 'performance'
chip with all it's problems, e.g. emissions tests, potential pinging/detonation, and using
higher octanes (if available) is worth it, right? Have to love it!

Tired of swapping exhaust parts for risk of visual inspection? Just hollow out a stock cat and have a pipe welded in. Worked for years with me at Crook County IL test stations and they always looked.

Just to check back in case anyone in the future is looking for this info:

Passed CA smog today without problems (well under all measures), and did so with the Steve Wong chip and the brown wire reconnected. Had the stock chip, a screw driver, and a chip puller handy in the glove box, but they were not needed.

Same here. SW chip passed well under the limits, with an old O2 and 94k kat.