How are people who live in areas that require emission testing or state inspections getting around the fact that their modified vehicle no longer complies? Or do they in some cases?

 

they do comply with proper tuning....

 

it varies state to state and even county to county

 

tuning takes care of the obd2 plug in, as far as under hood visual emission checks- most inspectors don't know what to look for as all cars differs (there is a sticker under the hood that shows what emissions equipment is on the vehicle, but mine is all worn out- you can't read anything on it)

I threw just one large catalytic converter on mine so it wouldn't smell like gas real bad, as most inspectors wont bother looking under the car/truck if it a) isn't really loud or b) doesn't smells like exhaust fumes

there is still a chance they can find something to fail you about (such as the whole "catalytic converter moved from stock location" deal)

as long as the check engine light isn't on (and stays off, erasing it for the inspection won't work) and your truck doesn't seem like something that would attract a lot of attention, you should be fine

 

So from your experiences if it has a cat, has no MIL light on, and nothing looks suspicious under the hood you will generally pass? Do they do the sniff check on the rollers anymore or are they mainly just checking compliance?

 

Most place have gone to just an OBDII check. If there is no codes present and most of the readiness test have passed then they will pass you. A lot of places aren't doing rolling road test or visual inspections any more. Cost the state too much money.

 

1996+ vehicles they plug the obd2 in

1995 and under they put it on the dyno and sniff it (until it is 25 years old)