What California's New ECU Law Means for Tuned Cars

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

GordoJay

FRF Addict
Joined
Feb 8, 2020
Posts
7,644
Reaction score
16,660
Location
Colorado
My point is - in VA for example, you need to get your car inspected yearly. If your tires are too worn, FAIL. If this isnt in compliance, FAIL. We don't have that in CA ever. Just bi annual smog checks which are a breeze.
I haven't had to get a smog check or any sort of inspection for more than thirty years. And I live in a solidly blue state. Some of the red states are better. :)
 

RadRaptor

Full Access Member
Joined
May 5, 2019
Posts
221
Reaction score
156
Location
Central Oregon
I live in both Ca and Oregon... dealers are much better to deal with outside of CA.. plus no tax and no stupid expensive tags...
I tuned my last one.. I will probably tune the new one.. there is a way around all this.. but its a bit of a pain in the a@@
 

Donovan

FRF Addict
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
4,690
Reaction score
4,584
Location
DC
My point is - in VA for example, you need to get your car inspected yearly. If your tires are too worn, FAIL. If this isnt in compliance, FAIL. We don't have that in CA ever. Just bi annual smog checks which are a breeze.
Much as VA sucks, would rather be in VA vs CALI for other purposes

..as I am typing this... VA State Police are rough... I dunno now.
 

DFS

FRF Addict
Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Posts
1,068
Reaction score
2,413
Location
USA
Good lord, I can't imagine being grateful for biannual smog tests "being a breeze". I guess it's all about perspective huh?
 

BoostCreep

FRF Addict
Joined
Jun 25, 2021
Posts
1,855
Reaction score
2,373
Location
SoCal
I haven’t gotten there with the Raptor since you only need to smog after the 6th year from new, but if the vehicle can run on the stock tune that’s the obvious choice. I also own a Subaru that’s far too modified to run on a factory tune and is a 2009. I recently registered it at my parents in AZ because CA made it completely impossible to enjoy my car. I pay the same for a 5 year tag in AZ that CA cost per year. This place is a cesspool, but it’s where we live. For now.
 

smurfslayer

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’re hunting sasquatch77
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Posts
17,689
Reaction score
27,295
My point is - in VA for example, you need to get your car inspected yearly. If your tires are too worn, FAIL. If this isnt in compliance, FAIL. We don't have that in CA ever. Just bi annual smog checks which are a breeze.

Ok, so you can be sharing the road with other drivers who have very possibly never checked their brakes, tires, tire pressure, possibly never even lifted the hood since purchase, but you do have breezy bi-annual smog checks. It’s like MD then. Lifetime inspection in MD and it’s obvious where the term rust bucket came from.

So... in CA it’s an infrequent and breezy boot licking :-D
 

nikhsub1

FRF Addict
Joined
Mar 5, 2017
Posts
4,330
Reaction score
5,043
Location
Los Angeles
JFC you people are just argumentative... IDGAF about inspections and smog checks, I was just stating facts. Don't get butt sore about this stuff.
 

smurfslayer

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. We’re hunting sasquatch77
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Posts
17,689
Reaction score
27,295
JFC you people are just argumentative... IDGAF about inspections and smog checks, I was just stating facts. Don't get butt sore about this stuff.

We’re not arguing with you. Just pointing out the fact that if you’re being subject to a biannual smog check, you’re boot licking :p

All states have weird and stupid $hit laws, rules and regulations, just take a tour of your states respective administrative code. The previous Virginia reference was apt. Virginia: Stealing your freedom since 1607. Time was, VA was the most belligerent government in the western hemisphere, now it’s just a 3rd world wannabe kleptocracy compared to the west coast states.
 

K223

FRF Addict
Joined
Sep 15, 2019
Posts
5,192
Reaction score
3,459
Location
Florida
I’m glad FL sold off there auto inspection buildings and cancelled off that whole mess years back. It got to the point most cars were newer, cleaner and basically stock. So the cost and time wasn’t worth it.

But when it first came into play, many people way back in the day who had modded vehicles. Had to work all kinds of tricks into them so they would pass the sniffer or not get caught by the cat mirror.
 
Top