Testarossa Smog Test

Kinda new to the forum. Assuming a US spec'd model (not euro) does a early year Testarossa have a "50 state label"? Mainly trying to figure out how hard it will be to buy one and pass smog in CA?

 

The first gen TR ended like 1991 so at best was obd1. This generation harder to pass and you might have to do a dyno run to pass. Obd2 cars they just plug tailpipe sniffer and read the obd port so more likely to pass. Watch out for anything not oem like cats or exhaust that might be legal other states smog law but not cali. You need to pass an oem visual test, and then the running test. Obd2 was not around until 96. Last tr was 96?? Ferrari also did weird things like some obd stuff missing or not wired fully etc. A car could be 96 should have obd2 but not because some legal ferrari shuffle. Obd2 is great because you can diy diagnose so many running/smog issues and effect repair. Older cars without the diagnostics are harder ti work one. Obd1 from 91 had to short out a couple wires to get mil light to flash then figure out the code. Many more usable p codes with obd2.

 

All TR are OBDnothing . My (foggy) recollection is 1991 US TR were not sold in CA, but maybe Brian can recall better (and don't know if it would be an issue now, or not, in CA for a 1991).

 

I seem to remember something like that too. I also think there was a plug in for a ferrari tester on some of the models.

 

Yes, but that was just a socket for a custom ignition system tester (Jofatron) -- and I think that socket in the TR engine bay went away before the end (my 1991 TR didn't have one).

 

Steve C, below is the under-hood vehicle emission sticker on my 1986 US model Testarossa that says it conforms to "State of California regulations." EDoug

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Steve was correct. 85-90 50 state. California went OBD in 91 so TR was 49 state car in 91. TR512 was supposed to be a 91 but Bosch was not ready with Motronic so it was delayed. Ferrari played fast and loose with VINs and declared model year. There are a few very high numbered 90 50 state cars out there.

 

The CA label is required only if the car has less than 7,500 miles. As long the car has more than 7,500 miles you can register any 49’state car.
The only issue here would be if the car passes smog, so the car must have precats and cats that are either OEM or CARB approved (Magnaflow 338005), in reality smog technicians don’t really mind about this, as long as it passes the sniffer test on the dyno you can actually pass with high flow aftermarket cats (not OEM nor Magnaflow) and the precats are not really need it, and most of them precats have been removed already as they tend to disintegrate.
A very strict smog technician might say something about a shiny aftermarket high flow main cat but the precats are not an issue as they don’t really know how they look like, and even Tubi precats don’t look shiny after a while, and precats sole purpose is to reduce emissions before the main cats are warm, which will be irrelevant when the car is smogged.
And supposedly a properly tune car would pass the sniffer test even without any cats.


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Thanks for all the information it was very helpful. I will probably have a little adventure getting an out of state TR CA compliant but it doesn't sound like it will be too difficult and I sorta know more what to look for too boot.

 

As I said before, as long as your car has more than 7,500 miles you can register in CA without any issues at all with the 49 vs 50 label.
You would still need to smog the car regardless of where you buy it so you just need to make sure all the emissions components are installed, the only advantage is if you buy it in CA the seller must smog the car before transferring it to you.



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Those differences only mattered as new cars. No issue now.