28 replies to this topic

[scumcity14]

thesameguy, on 31 January 2012 - 03:56 AM, said:

Apparently none of you guys live in California. They don't mess around here. Last time I got a car smogged, I had to help the tech find the smog pump on my Alfa 164Q. The visual checklist indicated the car was equipped with one, and he would not pass the car until he verified it was there and connected. Smog check places get "shopped" by undercover CARB (BAR? I dunno...) employees periodically to ensure they are doing their job properly. If they aren't, they get fined and/or shut down. Nobody is going to pass a car they aren't positive about and risk that sort of penalty, and I don't blame them. I appreciate the advice, but I'm not going to mess around with the emissions system on the car. It's just not worth the hassle to me down the road. On the upside, we don't have safety inspections so I'm free to drive around with bad brakes and bald tires, so that's pretty cool.

I have family and friends in LA and SF..you need to find a new smog tech..

please delete, on 31 January 2012 - 04:09 AM, said:

I don't think you heard correctly. You can leave the system, just install a diode. If the tech rips out your ECU and opens it up and knowns what to look for then that would be insane...

Whatever, we were just trying to help...

yeah.. this

[thesameguy]

You said:

"Last but not least, delete your SAS while you are in there. Plug the hole in the exhaust and remove the system."

And I said:

"Any smog check tech would see that plug and fail the car immediately on visual alone."

You didn't say anything about a diode. Scumcity later added

"(its essentially just a diode in the ECU and capping a vac. line..nothing really visible)"

But even capping a vacuum line is out of the question.

Again, I appreciate the advice, but I am not going to modify the emissions system. I don't want to argue with a smog tech and I don't want to create a problem for myself or a future owner by changing things that can't legally be changed.

[Tommy.]

What's really legal or illegal these days? Use it as an excuse to put a new exhaust. BOOM no hole, fuck the smog techs.

[thesameguy]

I can probably tell you what is legal and what is not legal. I literally have a dozen cars, several of which are pretty highly tuned. I've gotten this far and kept them all on the street because I know what will pass smog and what won't - and frequently I know it better than the people actually testing the cars.

Changing anything pre-cat is illegal, and putting on a cat that doesn't have a CARB EO# is illegal. You couldn't buy a downpipe without the fitting in California, and nobody would sell me a non-approved cat for fear of fines. Go look on Ebay and see who will ship non-EO cats and exhaust equipment to a California address. Answer: Nobody.

I have spent all the time I want to spend arguing with smog techs, taking paperwork to the BAR, and standing on the side of the road while CHP calls in specialists to dismantle my car in front of me looking for illegal equipment. I'm over it. Can we please drop this SAS issue? It's not going anywhere.

[fastwagonhawaii]

I have actually been through the dismantling on the side of the rode. It sucks, then we they find nothing they expect you to put it back or tow it home. California is %^&* insane. then state that crushes cars if they think you are racing.

no edit: sorry guys the memory of that event got me excited again and I forgot to read before posting lol.

[thesameguy]

fastwagonhawaii, on 31 January 2012 - 04:51 AM, said:

I have actually been through the dismantling on the side of the rode. It sucks, then we they find nothing they expect you to put it back or tow it home. California is %^&* insane. then state that crushes cars if they think you are racing.

Yep, that's us. I used to fight it, but I just don't care anymore. I like the weather, I like my job, I like the women. I'm not going anywhere. Thankfully, most of the inane restrictions have been lifted on pre-1996 vehicles (air filters, intercoolers, etc.) so I am pretty much free to pump up my XR4Ti and Saab SPG as much as I want to. I'm happy to let the Volvo can be a perfectly nice front wheel drive wagon with an automatic transmission. (One that hopefully works, that is )

[BlackBrick]

I replaced my SAS pump about 5 years ago, and already it's starting to sound like a hairdryer. I even drilled holes in the casing to allow water to drain out. This is a weak point of the 850. And the pumps cost $300. I am going diode next time. I am not in CA.

Also, all the SAS does is inject air into the exhaust usually when the engine is cold, which helps (i think) with rich exhaust so it's a little more environmentally friendly.

So basically, when I go into my smog check, the SAS isn't even running! And probably 98% of the time the car is polluting, the SAS isn't running. Doesn't bother me in the least to remove it, illegal or not. I also jaywalk sometimes.

[thesameguy]

please delete, on 30 January 2012 - 03:14 AM, said:

Also if you are going to replace your oil pan I highly recommend going with a 00+ oil pan as it has the builtish in oil cooler. Saves you the trouble of having to do the oil cooler lines and you can use the cartridge filters which are nice becuase you can inspect them after each change very easily.

I grabbed a later oil pan & cooler today, but it seems like swapping them may be a little more invasive than I'd originally imagined. The later water pipe that runs along that back of the engine mates with the water pump housing, and I can't readily see how it separates. There is no way to run a water supply to the cooler without replacing this pipe - what's involved in doing so? The other, smaller pipe looks like it just threads in - not a big deal.

(not my picture)



(Better not my picture)



I suck at images. One more go.

[thesameguy]

Answered my own question. Pipe slides into the back of the water pump housing and is sealed with an o-ring. Got both pipes from the wrecking yard, and picked up a flange gasket and o-ring from the dealer yesterday. I need to add a pair of o-rings to seal the oil cooler against the pan, a couple new rubber turbo water hoses, and the rubber hoses that connect the piping to the oil cooler. Gonna grab some other stuff, too - the hose that connects the air pump to the valve at the exhaust should be replaced, and I found a bunch of other rotten hoses (bypass valve, wategate actuator, etc).

My first order of parts should arrive tomorrow. If nobody uses them, I highly recommend eeuroparts.com - they have always been great for Saab parts, and their pricing is very competitive. Free 3 day shipping doesn't hurt, either. I should be able to get the rear main seal and transmission input shaft seal replaced and the new transmission and oil pan installed this weekend. Then I wait a few more days for Round 2 parts order to show up, and get to reinstalling. Fun times.