Need help passing emissions in CT
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 147
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Need help passing emissions in CT My 99 T/A recently failed emissions in CT because they have instituted a visual inspection and my car does not have cats on it. The guy at the shop said that it is a new law and admitted that he had to put cats back on his car as well. He suggested that I get one high flow cat and have it welded in just after the "Y" in the Y pipe because they just need to see that there is a cat on it. How would you all suggest I take care of this? I want to spend as little money as possible and I do not want any more restrictions on my exhaust. If I had a cat welded in, it would definitely be gutted. Please let me know what you think.
FYI: prior to this new law in CT there was no visual inspection and you can pass emissions on 1996+ cars if you SES light is not on and there are no codes being thrown. I have removed all emissions equipment from my car (air pump, egr, cats) but the mechanic only mentioned looking for cats. I've had my tuner delete the codes from my car so it will pass without rear 02's and the other equipment.
FYI: prior to this new law in CT there was no visual inspection and you can pass emissions on 1996+ cars if you SES light is not on and there are no codes being thrown. I have removed all emissions equipment from my car (air pump, egr, cats) but the mechanic only mentioned looking for cats. I've had my tuner delete the codes from my car so it will pass without rear 02's and the other equipment.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 147
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There is currently no sniff test in CT (hopefully never) so I think I'll buy either have one gutted/fake cat welded in just after the "Y" or try to fabricate something that just looks like a cat that I can throw on there with some U-bolts for the test.
Anyone ever get a ticket from a cop for not having cats on? In my opinion if you pass emissions without them then you could not be liable for any ticket BS. But I also heard that CT (and i'm sure most states) now have crazy ticket amounts for not having cats because their in such poor financial state.
Anyone ever get a ticket from a cop for not having cats on? In my opinion if you pass emissions without them then you could not be liable for any ticket BS. But I also heard that CT (and i'm sure most states) now have crazy ticket amounts for not having cats because their in such poor financial state.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Anyone ever get a ticket from a cop for not having cats on? In my opinion if you pass emissions without them then you could not be liable for any ticket BS. But I also heard that CT (and i'm sure most states) now have crazy ticket amounts for not having cats because their in such poor financial state.
Yeah I know, that really doesn't answer your question. 
I would take out a section of pipe that is nice and straight. then find a cat that fits that demension. used some band clamps to put it in place. pass your emissions test, then take piece of pipe and band clamp it back in place. viola. if you were going all out, then have flanges welded on the pipe and cat so you can switch back and forth and worry less about a leak.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Western North Carolina
Anyone ever get a ticket from a cop for not having cats on? In my opinion if you pass emissions without them then you could not be liable for any ticket BS. But I also heard that CT (and i'm sure most states) now have crazy ticket amounts for not having cats because their in such poor financial state.
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There's always been a visual inspection, it's up to the tester to actually look. When I did CT Emissions in 2005 I never looked at a single one except for this one shitbox Rodeo that failed because it had no cat and the computer told me so. My 99 Trans Am with a ORY passed with flying colors, obviously no visual inspection.
Best advice, just go to another testing station, chances are the guy won't check.
Best advice, just go to another testing station, chances are the guy won't check.
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I hate Ct even more now. Im due for my emissions I think in oct. Iv never heard this new law until now. Are you sure this is new? Because they were always suposed to do a visual but from my expirience if you go to the right shop they dont give a rats *** unless you have codes.
This should be posted in the eastern forum. It would be more help.
This should be posted in the eastern forum. It would be more help.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 130
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From: Connect I cut
Like stated above, this isn't a "new" law. Someone testers are just too lazy/don't care to look.
I don't see how you can complain about a high-flow cat/cats being to restrictive with your current mods. I bet you wouldn't notice a difference.
I don't see how you can complain about a high-flow cat/cats being to restrictive with your current mods. I bet you wouldn't notice a difference.
I would take out a section of pipe that is nice and straight. then find a cat that fits that demension. used some band clamps to put it in place. pass your emissions test, then take piece of pipe and band clamp it back in place. viola. if you were going all out, then have flanges welded on the pipe and cat so you can switch back and forth and worry less about a leak.
try going to another shop and see what happens, if u failed just say you had your batt disconnected and had to do more drive cycles...if they look then your screwed and wont pass, but you might get by, or get some fake cats cut them in half and clamp them on for the inspection, i have done that before, i have also gone to a different shop and had that work also,,,
i am now switching my headers to a brand that has a catted y pipe that i can swap when i need it for inspection.
i am now switching my headers to a brand that has a catted y pipe that i can swap when i need it for inspection.
A pre 74 car works better tho 
I'd be lying if I said I didn't know of several cars with the fake cats welded into the exhaust, or just a hollow cat case welded over a strait piece of pipe, or the like.
I can't remember the website that sells the "fake cats", but they're pretty cheap, and easy to cut in 1/2 and bang around the Y pipe so they "look" like they're there.. and unless they put the car up on a lift they're going to look under the car, see a shiny looking brand new cat on there and send ya on your way.
You could just do 1 and put it over the I pipe farther back if ya want too.. if the guy told ya that would do the trick, get the fake cat, cut the top of it out, and do that, get a set of band clamps and put it right over the existing pipe. Done deal.
I can't remember the website that sells the "fake cats", but they're pretty cheap, and easy to cut in 1/2 and bang around the Y pipe so they "look" like they're there.. and unless they put the car up on a lift they're going to look under the car, see a shiny looking brand new cat on there and send ya on your way.
You could just do 1 and put it over the I pipe farther back if ya want too.. if the guy told ya that would do the trick, get the fake cat, cut the top of it out, and do that, get a set of band clamps and put it right over the existing pipe. Done deal.
LMFAO read the disclaimer
"The product description above is for entertainment purposes only. This product does not perform the exhaust cleansing function of a catalytic converter in any way. Use of this product on or off the road violates countless laws and may prevent your car from passing emissions. It is unlawful to install this product in any vehicle in the United States, ever. If you wish to return this product at any time in the future, a full refund will be issued. This product should only be purchased by lawyers with pre-1975 vehicles or purpose built off-road vehicles that did not come with catalytic converters from the factory who know for a fact that it is legal to use in their vehicle in their jurisdiction for aesthetic reasons only. If you are not one of those lawyers, this product should only be hung on your wall to express your rebellious nature, never installed in a vehicle. This product may cause cancer."
"The product description above is for entertainment purposes only. This product does not perform the exhaust cleansing function of a catalytic converter in any way. Use of this product on or off the road violates countless laws and may prevent your car from passing emissions. It is unlawful to install this product in any vehicle in the United States, ever. If you wish to return this product at any time in the future, a full refund will be issued. This product should only be purchased by lawyers with pre-1975 vehicles or purpose built off-road vehicles that did not come with catalytic converters from the factory who know for a fact that it is legal to use in their vehicle in their jurisdiction for aesthetic reasons only. If you are not one of those lawyers, this product should only be hung on your wall to express your rebellious nature, never installed in a vehicle. This product may cause cancer."