Virginia Inspection Knowledgeable (Solo Axle-Back)

[CamaroJim56]

Question....

Is the solo axle-back exhaust, which appears to be a muffler delete with j-pipes, legal in VA, as in will it pass the state inspections?

Thanks,

Jim

[BAD DAB]

Yep......no problem

[CamaroJim56]

Jus1Dab, you an inspector, mechanic, or you have one?

Thanks,

Jim

[BAD DAB]

Yes I have one. My car has had two inspections since the install.

[Msmall143]

Be careful wi lth the feedback you get here. Northern va is much more strict than the rest of va. The majority of the state doesn't even have emmisions testing which I'm sure you're familiar with.

That said, you can fail an inspection for altering your exhaust in anyway. But in my experience you should be fine passing a state inspection. Especially if you just take it to a local chevy dealership to get it done.

I think you could pass inspection without issues if you deleted the mufflers. But it is still illegal and is certainly a ticketable offense:

Will you pass inspection...probably 9 times out of 10

Is it illegals and ticketable....yes

If you do it have your car inspected and an emmisions test done right before install so you don't have to deal with it for at least a year

[CamaroJim56]

Thanks guys, just happened to take the wife's Equinox to the dealer today for a recall and inspection. Had the service guy ask the Inspector about it, he said as long as the cats are on, and no leaks, no mufflers are needed.

[LostPony]

VA is indeed strict. Even in counties with no emissions, such as Fauquier, you will fail a safety inspection if you have deleted your cats. I know of a shop that is lenient if you run into issues, one even in Centerville. The one in C'ville passed my car once by just asking me if everything worked! The best part was that the state inspector of inspection stations happened to be there when he "inspected " my car! If you have issues, shoot me a PM and I'll tell you the shops, as I don't want to publicly out them.

[IMPERIALBLUE2SS]

Yes it will pass. I am a Va inspector but hi flo cats won't . It's all supposed to have carb cert's on all of it. Most would care less as long as they're there, but you will run across some sticklers for the rules.

[CamaroJim56]

Thanks all, looks like the Solo Axle-Back will be in my future, just didn't want to run into any issues getting a little more sound out of this thing.

Cats are not an issue, not interested in a complete system. Just the rear end for a little more volume.

[Msmall143]

passing a safety inspection and being legal are 2 different things. Just because you pass a safety inspection does not mean your car is legal, all it means is it has passed the state safety inspection. Thats why its called a safety inspection and not a "is my car legal inspection".

A perfect example is my window tint, it is 100% illegal, but the state safety inspectors do not give a shit because its not on there list of things to check. I've certainly been pulled over for the tint and ticketed. A state safety inspector doesnt enforce the law, they are checking for safety features the state tells them to check. Its not the responsibility of the safety inspector to know the law or advise you on it. Removing mufflers in va is illegal and you can be ticketed. Just be aware of that.

If you do it you'll probably never have an issue, but it is still illegal. Really, making any modification to exhaust is illegal in va but many do it including myself. At the end of the day it will be a fix it ticket.

And yes, you can pass inspection with high flow cats, but again this doesnt make it legal. I've even had inspectors try to fail me for high flow cats and i argued the stock cats failed and these were the replacements i chose.

[Infern0]

It will pass emissions.

[StreetSS]

Originally Posted by Infern0

It will pass emissions.

Has your car passed emissions with the mods in your sig? If so, would you be so kind as to pm me the place you took it to?

[Infern0]

Yes it passed.

I did it at an Exxon on the corner. Doesn't matter where you take it since it's an OBDII computer check. The process will be the same anywhere you go. If it's gonna pass it's gonna pass anywhere.

The exhaust you mentioned wanting to do will have no effect on the OBDII checks that far down the pipes.

A tune would be needed for cat, or header modifications in order for it to pass.

[Msmall143]

Originally Posted by Infern0

Yes it passed.

I did it at an Exxon on the corner. Doesn't matter where you take it since it's an OBDII computer check. The process will be the same anywhere you go. If it's gonna pass it's gonna pass anywhere.

The exhaust you mentioned wanting to do will have no effect on the OBDII checks that far down the pipes.

A tune would be needed for cat, or header modifications in order for it to pass.

Agreed, you can tune anything to pass obdII and sniffer. But some places do a visual which could cause issues. And honestly I'd be overly pissed if I had to tune my car and voided my warranty just to pass emmisions. If I'm gonna tune I'm going to go well beyond a cat back exhaust.

I'm not being a stickler on this but its not fair to tell the guy he'll 100% pass and that means it legal. By modifying the car he could find some prick at a shop that fails him for both emmisions and safety inspection.

I just wish people would provide an honest answer so he knows what he's getting into.

Most likely if you don't have a cel and you're not throwing codes emissions will pass. Most likely safety inspections as long as you have cats wont be an issue. But it is still possible you have issues. If that happens just take it to the next shop. It's also very unlikely he would ever get a ticket, but its still a possibility.

Go to your local car meet up. Ask ten guys with modded cars if they're ever had emmisions or inspection issues. I'd bet a paycheck one of them says yes. And they probably just went to another shop.