Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches California Referee Station

Wassup guys, I'm new to ceg. I recently purchased a 1998.5 CSVT, I LOVE IT. Some things are too good to be true, I have been pulled over twice already in one week. The first time was for the front window tints, which i plan on having removed, the second time, the cop noticed i didn't have a front liscence plate, so he followed me. While following me, heard my exhaust, and decided it would be a good idea to check under my hood for "aftermarket parts", he saw my KKM intake and said it wasn't legal unless i had some sort of sticker. I hear exhaust mods are legal, as long as you don't mess with emissions stuff, and as long as it is 95db or lower. So after he was done looking for "aftermarket parts" he gave me a ticket that said I was in voilation of california vehicle code "#27156(b) modified emissions system, state referee certification required" My question is:
1. I have the bosal stainless steel catback exhaust, it sounds great, but is it louder then 95db? if so, would it be legal to go to my local magnaflow dealer / muffler shop before i go to the referee station, and have him install another resonator or some other shite?
2. I vaguely remember reading something about the muffler tips or something having adjustable sound baffling, true?

3. Is the KKM air intake legal in california?

4. Is there somewhere i can get the db level tested? police station?

5. Do i have to pay for the inspection?

6. I have no front liscence plate mounting hardware. anybody know of a good kit?

So, to sum it all up, I just wanna know if it would be a waste of money for me to go and get a resonator put in if the car will pass the inspection without it. if it doesn't pass will they let me go get the work done, then test again?

Thanks you guys for your help! hope you have some good suggestions!

Btw: I bought the car from Dopepope, maybe you guys might know him, he used to post on here, not sure if he has anytime recently though.

I'll give it a stab, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.
1&2) I don't know if it is, but I've heard it is a loud exhaust. I believe you can add baffles, and it is legal to put another muffler or resonator to help you with the sound test.

3) The KKM is NOT legal. Only parts that carry CARB EO numbers are legal. The AEM and K&N FIPK for the Cougar are CARB legal, but not the Contour (yet?).

4) The referee station should be able to test for sound.

5) I believe you have to pay for the inspection.

6) Factory mounting kit or get two L brackets and mount the plate to that with the plate hanging below the bumper. It should look like this if you use the L brackets...


You will have to replace the KKM with the factory airbox as well to pass any visual inspection (I'm assuming you have to show the air filter also if the officer wrote it up as a violation). As for the addition of the resonator or muffler, I've never heard the Bosal, but another CEG'er told me it's loud.

1a)i don't know, but we can find out pretty easily
1b)yes
2)i don't know
3)no
4)most referee stations should do this
5)yes, i should be worth it though
6)i don't know

1 the car might pass with out a new muffler, but yes you can have work done before u test.

2sounds like your talking about supertrap mufflers, they suck dont buy them

3not legal, if you need the stock intake for your test i can loan you my stock set up.

Hey! thanks guys for all the quick info! I really appreciate it! I went to my magnaflow guy, he listened to the car and said "why is it so loud!?". I had no answer. He put it on the lift, saw the huge pipes and said: "its these stupid huge pipes all these guys are using. Those pipes are as big as the ones on a corvette! Because the pipes are so big the sound reverberates around in there causes the exhaust to be loud." So he recomended cutting out the bosal resonator and replacing it with a 3" magnaflow tube muffler. He quoted me $110 installed.
The only thing i'm worried about is back-pressure. Would the magnaflow make more or reduce back-pressure? would this effect performance?
I was thinking about testing my car with the stock airbox swapped in and leaving the exhaust, but even if it passes, it's still loud enough to get me pulled over, so I think i'm just gonna go ahead and get the muffler put in this fri.

again, thanks for all the info. Let me know any other feedback or ideas you guys have.

iirc, technically...should you go and pass the test as is you are supposed to have something to show as proof that you passed so that you may show the court or officer next time he/she pulls you over. as long as nothing has been changed between the test and being pulled over you would not be fined. this is how i understood the law when i read about it last year sometime. the reason for testing is because the officer does not have a certified db meter in his ear.

when i went to bed last night i realized that didn't come out quite the way i intended.

Were you pulled over in Albany by any chance??? The cops there are terrible...
There are a couple of them "Referee" stations along San Pablo Ave. that I had the pleasurable experience dealing with!
Let me know if you need some advice or help, as I have done this 4 times already in a one month period. Refer to the thread labeled "Need help passing SMOG" if you're curious.

Greg