PA Inspection Question. 2002 wrx - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

EV0EATR · 10-27-2010, 12:53 AM

SO. SRS catback on, sounds amazing. jizzariffic. Now ordered AP....stage 1 soon, want stage 2 within next couple weeks.

ISSUE: Inspection and cost, Invidia bellmouth DP = 220$
Invidia v3 CATTED DP = 500.

SO my question is, is it possible to pass PA inspection with a catless DP. Curious, because Ive had many tuners tell me PA is gas cap and OBDII check only. Yet some places do visial even though theyre not supposed to.

Anyone here running a catless DP and passing flawlessly?

Thanks. ;D

Zombie1890 · 10-28-2010, 03:45 AM

All depends on the county I just my Manuel but pretty much obd2 is usually a visual a gas cap check and depending on the county they either check for codes or do a dyno test. But if your not throwing a cel and you take it to someone who is not super strict they may not notice it missing or care that it's missing. But you could fail in which case go home put the stock dp back on take it back and you do not have to pay for it to be inspected then after put the catless do back on

jpalamar · 10-28-2010, 08:12 AM

You cannot remove the cat from the car and have it still be legal. Granted, it isn't all that hard to find a place that will pass it.

All this potential headeach for the car to smell like **** and have possible inspection/emission issues for 1-2 HP. I won't go catless again thats for sure.

httrdd · 10-28-2010, 11:10 AM

Most counties around here are visual inspection only. So I would say no. Go high flow cat and be done with it!

07TWSi · 10-28-2010, 01:31 PM

i'm catless as well, and the place that i go to for my inspection only does a visual and they check the gas cap for leaks ... i'm also throwing a code for the secondary O2 sensor, and they never said anything to me about it ... granted i sort of know the guy since my family has been going to him forever, but i know the inspection is only visual and gas cap

Buster · 10-28-2010, 02:15 PM

as far as a real inspection goes, as long as 4 out 5 readiness monitors are set and you have no cel on, you wont have to worry. key to this whole thing is to go to some one you know wont give you trouble. for 96 and newer there is no reason to pop the hood for inspection because of obd. some techs will. but they shouldnt.
personally the gain and money saved isnt worth the environmental damage.
i would pass your car but if it came back to me i would just say it wasnt like that when i did the inspection.

SuperSlow764 · 10-28-2010, 03:31 PM

^^true. If you live in a county where there is an emissions test, as long as you pass the obd2 test and gas cap meeting the above criteria as far as monitors are concerned then you have passed emissions. In counties where there is no emissions testing they have to perform a visual to make sure all emissions devices are present. I've had the cat off of my car for like 2 years now and I am able to bypass the rear o2 with my tuning software so I go right through emissions testing.

terfer · 10-28-2010, 11:03 PM

If you ordered an AP....it should be able to turn off any lights. If the computer plugs up to the car and doesnt flag any codes. You'll pass.

EV0EATR · 10-29-2010, 01:19 AM

Yeah, I agree somewhat with the High Flow cat here, problem is, itll still fail visual. Since I have 2 cats in my exhaust, catless eliminate both, catted DP eliminates one, replaces one with high flow, so therefore im still "tampering" = failure.

And catted v catless is like, 200 v 500 dollars.

Buster · 10-29-2010, 09:51 AM

then save another 300 if you are so worried. i dont know what else you need, as long as you have no cels and no monitor issues you pass.

656of1000 · 11-07-2010, 10:36 PM

Berks County requires an OBDII test for emissions. There is no visual for that test. If your CEL is not on, and all but one readiness monitors are complete, you will pass. The safety portion of the inspection does not require there to be a cat, so you should have no worries there. If a shop fails your car for safety inspection for no cat, you can call them out. But if your CEL is on, all bets are off. Unless you drive less than 5K a year- then you'd be exempt.

I inspected my friend's '99 GSX that has no cat, but he has tuning software that eliminated that code from the ECU. It passed with no problems.

The consensus is- and I agree- there is no really good reason to eliminate the cat. I could easily get my car to "pass" emissions every year with no cat, but i'd rather be legit, so I have a high flow cat.

eightplustwo · 11-11-2010, 03:50 PM

I'm new here so this is my first post, but thought I could offer some insight.

I have an '03 WRX with a 3" catless DP and have passed inspection 2 years in a row at 2 different shops, neither of which I've had any connections to. I do have a spacer on my downstream O2 sensor which tricks it into reading a slower rate, i.e. thinks the cat is still there.

As was stated already, as long as there's no code being thrown it should pass. Mine doesn't throw a CEL because of the spacer. I do also have a cat in my uppipe as its stock, so I'm not running completely catless.

If I could do it again I'd go with a highflow catted dp; its loud especially with a 3" catback.

dizzysn · 12-03-2010, 01:51 PM

I passed PA inspection with a 2004 GTO with a tint, cam, no cats, no muffler and no resonator.

Robert.Colianni · 12-03-2010, 02:55 PM

Just find someone that understands your outlook and have them give you the stickers. It's the only way. The dirty way.

jpalamar · 12-03-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzysn

I passed PA inspection with a 2004 GTO with a tint, cam, no cats, no muffler and no resonator.

Mine passed too

Doesn't mean its legal.

Subie_sleeper · 12-03-2010, 06:07 PM

Ditto. My exhaust peeks out right under the passenger side rear door too. Hahahaha

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

eightplustwo · 12-03-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subie_sleeper

Ditto. My exhaust peeks out right under the passenger side rear door too. Hahahaha

That's not legal??

HA!

hvymetal86 · 08-10-2011, 11:23 AM

Cat on my STi is hollowed out, works like a charm for passing the visual and still having basically a straight pipe.

grimm · 08-10-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvymetal86

Cat on my STi is hollowed out, works like a charm for passing the visual and still having basically a straight pipe.

one dude a few years back tapped on my cat and heard it was hollowed out, but he still passed me.

by the way, tampering with a catalytic converter is a federal offense subject to a $3k fine.

c7scayman · 08-11-2011, 10:23 AM

I had this problem every year for the past 5 years. In Philadelphia. When it is time for inspection, I always have the CEL on because of the loose gas cap. The shop refuses to pass it unless I drive about 100 miles after I reset the CEL to reset the ECU so that it can be read properly by their computer. They know it is the gas cap, but they said the CEL has to be Off.
But in State College, PA, they don't care if your CEL is on. They mainly check the wheels, brakes, and lights.

10-27-2010, 12:53 AM	#1
EV0EATR Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Reading, PA Member #17954 My Ride: 2002 Subaru WRB WRX iTrader: (0)	PA Inspection Question. 2002 wrx SO. SRS catback on, sounds amazing. jizzariffic. Now ordered AP....stage 1 soon, want stage 2 within next couple weeks. ISSUE: Inspection and cost, Invidia bellmouth DP = 220$ Invidia v3 CATTED DP = 500. SO my question is, is it possible to pass PA inspection with a catless DP. Curious, because Ive had many tuners tell me PA is gas cap and OBDII check only. Yet some places do visial even though theyre not supposed to. Anyone here running a catless DP and passing flawlessly? Thanks. ;D __________________ 2002 WRB WRX To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

10-28-2010, 11:10 AM	#4
httrdd Tri-State Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NEPA Member #15277 My Ride: 99 Black Legacy GT H6 iTrader: (1)	Most counties around here are visual inspection only. So I would say no. Go high flow cat and be done with it! __________________ 2000 Dakota QC- His 2007 Nissan Xterra- Hers This spot blank for upcoming project car! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

10-28-2010, 02:15 PM	#6
Buster TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Holland Pa Member #449 My Ride: 2008 Mustang GT/CS iTrader: (3)	as far as a real inspection goes, as long as 4 out 5 readiness monitors are set and you have no cel on, you wont have to worry. key to this whole thing is to go to some one you know wont give you trouble. for 96 and newer there is no reason to pop the hood for inspection because of obd. some techs will. but they shouldnt. personally the gain and money saved isnt worth the environmental damage. i would pass your car but if it came back to me i would just say it wasnt like that when i did the inspection. __________________ III To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

10-28-2010, 11:03 PM	#8
terfer Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NYC Member #8626 My Ride: Turbo Benz & Evo's iTrader: (0)	If you ordered an AP....it should be able to turn off any lights. If the computer plugs up to the car and doesnt flag any codes. You'll pass. __________________ C250 Coupe 335i Mtech RSX Too many Evo's

10-29-2010, 01:19 AM	#9
EV0EATR Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Reading, PA Member #17954 My Ride: 2002 Subaru WRB WRX iTrader: (0)	Yeah, I agree somewhat with the High Flow cat here, problem is, itll still fail visual. Since I have 2 cats in my exhaust, catless eliminate both, catted DP eliminates one, replaces one with high flow, so therefore im still "tampering" = failure. And catted v catless is like, 200 v 500 dollars. __________________ 2002 WRB WRX To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

10-28-2010, 03:45 AM	#2
Zombie1890 Noob-Jersey Join Date: Oct 2010 Member #18065 My Ride: 1993 del sol iTrader: (0)	All depends on the county I just my Manuel but pretty much obd2 is usually a visual a gas cap check and depending on the county they either check for codes or do a dyno test. But if your not throwing a cel and you take it to someone who is not super strict they may not notice it missing or care that it's missing. But you could fail in which case go home put the stock dp back on take it back and you do not have to pay for it to be inspected then after put the catless do back on

10-28-2010, 08:12 AM	#3
jpalamar TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: May 2009 Location: Collegeville, PA Member #13773 My Ride: 03 Corvette Z06 iTrader: (3)	You cannot remove the cat from the car and have it still be legal. Granted, it isn't all that hard to find a place that will pass it. All this potential headeach for the car to smell like **** and have possible inspection/emission issues for 1-2 HP. I won't go catless again thats for sure.

10-28-2010, 01:31 PM	#5
07TWSi Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: pa Member #14813 My Ride: '07 Civic Si iTrader: (0)	i'm catless as well, and the place that i go to for my inspection only does a visual and they check the gas cap for leaks ... i'm also throwing a code for the secondary O2 sensor, and they never said anything to me about it ... granted i sort of know the guy since my family has been going to him forever, but i know the inspection is only visual and gas cap

10-28-2010, 03:31 PM	#7
SuperSlow764 Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Levittown Member #17459 My Ride: 03 Evo 8 iTrader: (2)	^^true. If you live in a county where there is an emissions test, as long as you pass the obd2 test and gas cap meeting the above criteria as far as monitors are concerned then you have passed emissions. In counties where there is no emissions testing they have to perform a visual to make sure all emissions devices are present. I've had the cat off of my car for like 2 years now and I am able to bypass the rear o2 with my tuning software so I go right through emissions testing.

10-29-2010, 09:51 AM	#10
Buster TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Holland Pa Member #449 My Ride: 2008 Mustang GT/CS iTrader: (3)	then save another 300 if you are so worried. i dont know what else you need, as long as you have no cels and no monitor issues you pass. __________________ III To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

11-07-2010, 10:36 PM	#11
656of1000 Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Phoenixville, PA Member #5697 My Ride: 87 Ranger, 88 Escort GT, 90 Escort LX, 92 VR4, 02 Outback Sport, 04 Legacy, 04 RX8 iTrader: (0)	Berks County requires an OBDII test for emissions. There is no visual for that test. If your CEL is not on, and all but one readiness monitors are complete, you will pass. The safety portion of the inspection does not require there to be a cat, so you should have no worries there. If a shop fails your car for safety inspection for no cat, you can call them out. But if your CEL is on, all bets are off. Unless you drive less than 5K a year- then you'd be exempt. I inspected my friend's '99 GSX that has no cat, but he has tuning software that eliminated that code from the ECU. It passed with no problems. The consensus is- and I agree- there is no really good reason to eliminate the cat. I could easily get my car to "pass" emissions every year with no cat, but i'd rather be legit, so I have a high flow cat. __________________ Mark I. ~ Patriot Chevrolet '04 Mazda RX-8 '02 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport (lifted) '92 Mitsubishi Galant VR4 '88 Ford Escort GT

11-11-2010, 03:50 PM	#12
eightplustwo Tri-State Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Member #18292 My Ride: 08 WRX sedan iTrader: (2)	I'm new here so this is my first post, but thought I could offer some insight. I have an '03 WRX with a 3" catless DP and have passed inspection 2 years in a row at 2 different shops, neither of which I've had any connections to. I do have a spacer on my downstream O2 sensor which tricks it into reading a slower rate, i.e. thinks the cat is still there. As was stated already, as long as there's no code being thrown it should pass. Mine doesn't throw a CEL because of the spacer. I do also have a cat in my uppipe as its stock, so I'm not running completely catless. If I could do it again I'd go with a highflow catted dp; its loud especially with a 3" catback.

12-03-2010, 01:51 PM	#13
dizzysn Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Philly Member #12999 My Ride: 02 C5 Z06, intake, headers, exhaust, cam - 430rwhp. iTrader: (0)	I passed PA inspection with a 2004 GTO with a tint, cam, no cats, no muffler and no resonator. __________________ i own every car ever

12-03-2010, 02:55 PM	#14
Robert.Colianni Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Upper Darby, Pennsylvania Member #18574 iTrader: (0)	Just find someone that understands your outlook and have them give you the stickers. It's the only way. The dirty way. __________________ Selling my 6-Speed '03 Nissan Maxima SE To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

12-03-2010, 06:07 PM	#16
Subie_sleeper Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Center Valley Pa. Member #5775 My Ride: '06 Subaru Baja Turbo. Cash consuming vortex from HELL iTrader: (1)	Ditto. My exhaust peeks out right under the passenger side rear door too. Hahahaha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Time to concentrate on the damn leaky axle & gettin my exhaust straightened. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

08-10-2011, 11:23 AM	#18
hvymetal86 Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Whitehall/Allentown, PA Member #15657 My Ride: 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi iTrader: (0)	Cat on my STi is hollowed out, works like a charm for passing the visual and still having basically a straight pipe.

08-11-2011, 10:23 AM	#20
c7scayman Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Philly Member #9644 iTrader: (0)	I had this problem every year for the past 5 years. In Philadelphia. When it is time for inspection, I always have the CEL on because of the loose gas cap. The shop refuses to pass it unless I drive about 100 miles after I reset the CEL to reset the ECU so that it can be read properly by their computer. They know it is the gas cap, but they said the CEL has to be Off. But in State College, PA, they don't care if your CEL is on. They mainly check the wheels, brakes, and lights. __________________ 96 Mazda Protege DX 5MT 92HP, 96 ft-lb torque, 2378 lbs. - SOLD! 2005-2012 00 Porsche 986 5MT Est. 230HP, 205 ft-lb torque, 2777 lbs. - DD/Track Car. SOLD! 2010-2014 12 Mazda2 5MT. 100HP of Fury. 2300 lbs. DD/Autox 2015 - Current 13 MK6 GTI 2020 - Current

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