I just failed a smog test because they claim my exhaust headers are aftermarket and I don't have any numbers on them. The thing is they are original except for a welded up exhaust leak, which is leaking again.

How the hell am I supposed to prove these are original?

They said it looks different than the rest of the exhaust and it doesn't belong. He showed me and said "Do you see the difference?". I said "Yeah, one's clean and the rest is muddy."

I guess I need some kind of receipt showing I had them replaced or some number stamped on them... I think this guy has his head up his a$$.

Edit:
I failed to mention that I replaced the head gasket about 2 years ago, but passed smog from the same place just fine last year. I'm not sure why I'm having to smog so frequently... but that's another issue. I did inform him that I had a head job done.

 

What state?

What year XJ ?

 

go to another testing facility.

or take in many pics of similar exhaust from as many other xj's as you can.

go to a scrap yard and start snapping pics with your phone.

 

California... of course. 1998 XJ.

It had the classic manifold crack and a buddy and I just hit it with some (crappy) welds.

 

I found and read up a little on California smog rules.

They mention that modified exhaust must come with some OE number. It's like a sticker or stamp that basically says "Everything is good. This is ok."

It also states that OEM and aftermarket OEM exhaust are fine and should have some CARB number on them. However, there is a note stating that some cars come stock with tubular exhaust and to be cautious of this. So that tells me that normally exhaust manifolds are NOT tubular, but some are.

So I think this kid said "Hey, the exhaust manifold is really clean... oh look welds... and the exhaust is tubular... I bet it some hack job or cheap non OEM part... FAIL! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!"

I have got to say, these young kids are WAY too dumb and don't realize it. He was probably in his mid-twenties. Eager to apply his book-learning.

 

The stamp is a CA thing and just means the company making the product paid the CARB board to be able to sell that product here. Though the stamp and tag law has only been around for about 25yrs, you will find on some vehicles a tag similar to that on a axle stating yes this is the part for this car but for the most part not.
You really want to screw with a smog guys head take in a 77 to 84 truck with the 6800lb GVW(especially one from out of state, these are half tons with the HD or 3/4 ton rating), all they have for emissions is a crankcase filter, PCV, and oh yeah that's all..... Drives them nuts.

 

Forgot to update you all on how this turned out.

Basically I went back to the same place the following Monday, first thing in the morning and told him I talked with a mechanic and smog tech and they both said it was stock. I didn't tell him that it was one guy and that he was my buddy.

He "did some research" and discovered he was wrong. He retested it and it passed. Just took that smog tech to school.

 

What a jerk.. I've had with know it all inspectors before. Sometimes you gotta speak to the higher ranks.

Moved to chat.

 

I'm about to run into this same issue since I'm up for smog in the next month in CA. I have APN headers and back when I went to buy them a year or so back, I contacted the ineedparts.com company and asked if they're legal in CA and they said yes, it's basically an OEM swap (which duh, it isn't). Didn't think twice and bought em anyways.

Now looking back at their site here:
http://www.ineedparts.com/index.php?...oduct_id=15343
There's now a note in red saying they're under review by the state. Fantastic. Looks like I get to buy some new headers in the meantime

 

Do yourself a favor in the future if you have any problems smogging your xj...make an appt with the smog referee, they are the end all be all when it comes to smog, and it only costs $8.50....a teacher I had for an automotive class taught me this, and not only is it way cheaper, but if you have any issues at all, they give it to you straight. And they can issue those stickers you need. Just smogged my XJ after moving from out of state with them, they were totally cool....

 

Im a smog tech in nevada. And thats crock of ****. I take care of the jeep guys and dsm;s. Since i own one.
Go to dmv and demand a challang test. The dmv will test for free, pass the vehicle {as long as everything is up to par} and that will proove the smog station was wrong and will also fine the tech.
On most oem exhaust mani.. There is no carb or stamp on headers, plus how could the kid see them when there under the intake mani.

Thts my rant for the day.

 

They should not make you pay.. it was there error.

 

where are you in cal i can send you to a pass for sure place

 

I'm in Socal. Huntington Beach exactly.

Where is this place?

Edit: I need to do it at a "STAR Station", whatever the difference is

 

not sure what a star station is the place i know is in hawthorne kinda of a drive from HB let me know ill send you a pm with info PM me if you want the info