Exhaust Cutout illegal? - San Diego, CA

[86regalss]

I want to put a single exhaust cutout on my car. I don't have true dual exhaust, and i have a cat. Is it only illegal if I put the cutout before the cat? What will smog inspectors say?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mr-Gasket-5424-Exhaust-Cut-Out-1-pkg-JEGS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116 QQitemZ400025346496QQptZOtherQ5fVehicleQ5fParts

[parsonsj]

In California? By law, you're only allowed to alter a vehicle with a part that has a CARB number. I doubt an exhaust cutout has one.

jp

[Larry Callahan]

I live here in Cali too. I believe John is right. They are really tough here.

You might be able to hide it. I have never seen an inspector look under the car.

[dstryr]

Yeah I'd put it in and if they ask you anything about it...just play stupid and say you didnt know it was there...haha.

[class67]

I live here in Cali too. I believe John is right. They are really tough here.

You might be able to hide it. I have never seen an inspector look under the car.

x2, I've never seen an inspector look underneath, as long as the cutout is not leaking you could quite possibly be alright.

[zbugger]

.. I have never seen an inspector look under the car.
Well then that inspector isn't doing a proper visual inspection. In his training he's supposed to make sure the catalytic converter is under the car. Not there, automatic fail. Every time I got my Camaro smogged it got checked.

As for the cutout, well, I've seen cars that have passed with them and failed with them. Passed probably because the guy didn't look under the car, and failed because the guy did look and knows that no matter what they are illegal. Before or after the cat. Especially before since it bypasses the cat, but no matter what it's illegal to have one installed on the car.

[86regalss]

damn.. I could say its for offroad use only (at the track)? But then again I heard there are some laws saying that it is illegal to have a cutout that you can operate from the inside, meaning the ones with the nuts that you undo by hand are fine. I might try calling the smog guy that I go to and see what he would do :idea:

I looked up some reviews on those cutouts by cable, and people say they rattle and some don't seal well. When I am ready to put it in, I will get the cutout with the 3 wingnuts and just crawl under the car. I will probaby put it in a place thats easy to get to :) The car is lowered 3.5'' in the front. 2'' in the rear

[David Pozzi]

The ones I've heard sound terrible unless you have a separate exhaust pipe for the cutout.

[buickfunnycar.com]

The ones I've heard sound terrible unless you have a separate exhaust pipe for the cutout.

That's the system I have on my car Dave that Howard fabbed up,he had to go that route to snake around my sfc's.
I use the QTP electric cutouts and they seal perfectly everytime...no problems in over 4 years of service.

[406 Q-ship]

A cutout after the cat is not illegal, you basicly can do whatever you want after the cats (smog laws, noise is another story). The cat are the last piece in the emission system so any changes after them will not effect emission equipment performance. To be honest on your average street driver will not gain all that much bypassing the cats so it would be alot of work for not alot of gain.

[camcojb]

A cutout after the cat is not illegal, you basicly can do whatever you want after the cats (smog laws, noise is another story). The cat are the last piece in the emission system so any changes after them will not effect emission equipment performance. To be honest on your average street driver will not gain all that much bypassing the cats so it would be alot of work for not alot of gain.
true, other than noise. If it's setup to be open exhaust (no muffler) then it's likely illegal due to excessive noise if nothing else.

Jody

[fredd7924]

I just took a Pennsylvania state inspection class and here is what it says in my book.
"A vehicle specified under this sub chapter shall be equipped with a muffler or other effective noise-suppressing system in good working order and in constant operation. A muffler or exhaust systems may not be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device and a muffler may not show evidence of external repair."

so cut-outs are illegal because its too loud and also does not allow the exhaust to exit to an edge of the vehicle. you may be able to get away with it if the inspector does not care or does not see it.