CARB certified Finally!!!!!!

[klenboy]

Hey guys just wanted to share with you that I finally got my CARB sticker for my swap yesterday!!!! After 7 tries I finally got my JDM B16 to pass the smog referee!!!! A true PITA!!!!

[temp]

can i see the pix? and how come it took so many times? i have a CARB certified swap in my CRX lemme know because i know people trying to get this done on their JDM motors......full details please

[Hybrid Fever]

Yeah I'm also curious how you got it to pass.

[klenboy]

Originally posted by temp
can i see the pix? and how come it took so many times? i have a CARB certified swap in my CRX lemme know because i know people trying to get this done on their JDM motors......full details please

I'll get the pix in later but here's the details (it's a really long story but I think JDM fans need to know this):-

The engine and Mods (when it passed):
OBDI Black 93 EG6
B16A SirII w/ GSR tranny
3 angle valve job
CTR Cams
SRP 10.4:1 compression .02" oversize
Eagle rods
US Del Sol VTEC ECU
DC 4-1 header
AEM Fuel Rail (Silver)
ITR Intake Manifold
Carbon fiber intake pipe on factory box
Integra GSR cat (my old one was shot so replaced into this one)
JDM Injectors...
2.5 custom exhaust with APEXi N1 muffler

Before it always fails at idle and my car was branded a gross polluter!!!! It will pass at 2500 rpm but right when they let go of the gas to make the engine idle the car just burns too rich. On idle and 2500 rpm the maximum hydrocarbon passing points is 100. At idle my car burns at 500 but at 2500rpm it burns at 33, wierd shit I tell you! I tried race gas and it had a dramatic difference; @ idle the car burned only 123 (but still failed). But I found out what made my car fail at idle all those 6 times is because I needed a valve adjustment because whenever I hit VTEC at 3rd gear a puff of smoke comes out (and the car had less power). Also just to make sure I used hotter plugs. So after the valve adjustment and hotter plugs we ran it around for a bit and by the way the A/F meter is behaving I wasn't confident that it still won't pass. So I said the hell with it! I used my Field VTEC controller, hid the wiring under the carpet and the controller in my glove box..

The settings on the VTEC controller are as follows:
Fuel @ 1000 rpm -23%
2000 rpm -17%
3000 rpm -15%
4000 rpm -5%
5000 rpm -5%
6000 rpm -5%
7000 rpm -5%
8000 rpm -5%
Ignition timing: 17 degrees BTDC (Factory is 16 BTDC)
I'm sure I didn't need need to set it up this drastically but frustration does this kind of thing to you... Yes I admit I cheated but as long as I passed it's okay...

I will scan the smog sheet and pics later... But there are JDM engines out there that do pass straight from the junkyard when tuned right and all wiring is correct. And there are some that don't pass 2500 but they pass idle. I still don't know if mine will pass without the VTEC controller but I can always go back and do a manual mode run to see if it will. After that I will post the results and the setup so that there will be baseline setup to follow for others who are frustratingly going through the same ordeal I went through. Luck wasn't on my side during those 6 tries but I guess 7 was my lucky #. Hope you guys find this informative...

[Hybrid Fever]

I know JDM engines can pass the actual smog test, but how did you pass the visual inspection? Didn't they look at you engine code stamp on the block?

[klenboy]

Originally posted by Hybrid Fever
I know JDM engines can pass the actual smog test, but how did you pass the visual inspection? Didn't they look at you engine code stamp on the block?

Yes they did look at the stamp on the block. At first they wanted to test it as an OBD II car because the only B16 they know that was offereed here in the US was the 99 and 00 Civic SI. I told them that they were also offered in the 94-95 Del Sol VTEC and lo and behold it appeared in their database that was true. When we got that settled I had to get certification from a Honda dealer that the computer I had running the engine really came from a U.S. Del Sol VTEC. After that everything went smooth. I guess you could say that they are not as strict here in Nor Cal as in So Cal. I keep hearing that they won't even pass you on visual if you don't have a USDM motor. Is that true?

In the visual inspection they look at whether you have all your sensors working. All the hoses in, including the breather hose to the intake pipe. They don't allow breather filters.

[CRXican]

I'm going through the same shit here in California. I'm in So. Cali. I have gone twice and failed twice. I can't even pass the tailpipe test. I pass at the low speed but fail at the high speed I believe (my engine swap guy has the papers). My Japanese PR3 computer won't pass visual so like you I have to get the Del Sol computer however I think the one I'm using is gonna be Japanese, they look the same. The crazy thing is he doesn't care about the fact that the engine is a JDM B16. He just wants it to "look like" a Del Sol. Therfore I am getting a Del Sol intake manifold so all of the sensors match. Right now I have two O2 sensors I can only have one. I also have a VTEC controller and that helped fix my idle and I belive it helped on the sniffer test. If you see anything I missed let me know. Thanks.

[klenboy]

Unfortunately the Del Sol VTEC computer will not fit your engine harness because it has OBD 0 connectors... You'll have to have a harness made for it or rewire it to make it OBD I... what car is the engine in? The only way to make a B16 pass in visual inspection is to make it OBD I or II depending on the year of the car you're smogging... but it seems that you and your smog ref. already have a prior understanding in your visual requirements... I sincerely wish you good luck man...

[CRXican]

Ya, I'm having the whole thing rewired. It's gonna be a phatty pain in the ass and it's gonna cost money. It'll be worth it, I'll pass some day, I hope.

[klenboy]

If all else fails Race gas and VTEC controller won't fail you... (although it will fail if the smog ref sees it) =)

[CRXican]

Actually, funny you should say that. My VTEC controller is out in plain sight and was for the last test. The guy doesn't know what it is, he didn't say a thing about it. It was up and running the whole time.

[klenboy]

If he asks tell him it's a big radar detector... =)

[CRXican]

LOL. Either that or XM Radio.

[temp]

tell him its your communicator to your home planet......that otta get them off your back

[scottigee]

So all this is a workaround for not going to see a referee. Any reason why you guys just haven't gone to see one and get badged?