california emissions

**tav8ws6** · 12-19-2008, 12:57 PM

Im looking at a trans am that seems to have california emissions on it from the build sheet, but its from the east coast. what is the difference of the emissions? will the car have lower #'s because of stronger cats, or because of a different tune in the ecu? and if it does, how easily can i get it changed? it also states federal emissions override if that helps.

thanks!

**Boat** · 12-19-2008, 01:16 PM

Hmmmm...I always thought they were all the same.

**Orcus79** · 12-19-2008, 01:35 PM

California emissions is a vestige from the 70s and 80s where cars destined for California were optioned differently then other cars. Now, it mean nothing if very little, since all cars share the same emissions equipment.

**tav8ws6** · 12-19-2008, 01:37 PM

ok, but couldnt the car have a slight computer tune to make it more emissions friendly? i dont think they would specify an option if it meant nothing...but i could be wrong

**SteveC** · 12-20-2008, 03:05 AM

I would not mess with the emission settings living in a state that requires smogging the vehicle, I live in California, and they run a smog pretest, where they plug into the computer and read the smog settings, it checks 5 modules (I do not know what they are), and if they read ok, then they will put the vehicle on the dyno for the actual test.

SteveC