# Is Exhaust Part of NYS Inspection

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [July 19, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853 "2013-07-19T13:41:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cory\_matthews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@cory\_matthews](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cory_matthews)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/1 "2013-07-19T13:41:40Z")

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Can a 1990 vehicle (OBDII exempt, not emissions exempt) fail inspection due to an exhaust leak?  
Can somebody point me to somewhere where it specifically states this?

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**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/2 "2013-07-19T13:49:13Z")

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Yes

> **[LMGTFY](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=nys+inspection+exhaust)**
>
> LMGTFY

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**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/3 "2013-07-19T14:04:49Z")

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How bad and where is the leak? Also depends on who you take it to.

Technically yes; real world… depends.

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**Author:** ![cory\_matthews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@cory\_matthews](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cory_matthews)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/4 "2013-07-19T14:30:25Z")

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> [@tpgsr](#):
>
> Yes
> 
> [http://bit.ly/12PS4nE](http://bit.ly/12PS4nE)

You think I didn’t google it before posting?  
That doesn’t give me the answer. I had already skimmed through that. Just because the word exhaust is in the document doesn’t mean its part of the NYSI for cars. I believe the section quoted there is for trucks. Exhaust isn’t mentioned in the inspection procedure for light vehicles, and I didn’t see it in the emissions section. They mention catalytic converter function though.

I’m not trying to argue that it’s not part of the NYSI, I just want to see the answer in writing because I’ve been unclear on this for a long time. I figured someone on here might be very well versed in it and know exactly where it’s stated.

For the record I needed a sticker and took my car to a shop that I thought was somewhat lenient. I had to remove part of the exhaust the night before before and re-used a gasket thinking a little leak wouldn’t matter for the inspection. Now I’ll have to wait for the new gasket to arrive in the mail.  
Not that it matters but that gasket was only 2 weeks old, but I guess they really only crush once.

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**Author:** ![livin4hockey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@livin4hockey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/livin4hockey)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/5 "2013-07-19T14:39:48Z")

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Well was the exhaust leak big enough to throw a code? I’m not saying it would fail because of the code, but perhaps if it’s throwing a code the shop was more likely to fail it? In the end I’m sure it all just depends on where you go. My wife’s car had a pretty damn good exhaust leak and still passed. Just take your car somewhere else, like Valvoline or some other quick oil change shop.

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**Author:** ![cory\_matthews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@cory\_matthews](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cory_matthews)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/6 "2013-07-19T15:21:05Z")

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It’s a '90 with no o2 sensor downstream. But even if it did throw a code, I could just take the bulb for the CEL out.  
This place is within walking distance and all the guys in the shop seem cool, but apparently the guy who inspected it is not, because…

I was able to talk them into a sticker when I went to go pick it up!  
The guy who works the later shift thought it was ridiculous that they failed it.

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**Author:** ![pirite](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pirite/32/5308_2.png) [@pirite](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/pirite)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/7 "2013-07-19T16:27:42Z")

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okay. _i have my inspectors license_.  
**_an exhaust leak does NOT fail inspection._**  
and, anything that is a '95 or older can have a check engine light on and will still pass.  
OBD1 is just a visual check of your cat, egr, evap and other emission control systems. all they have to do is be there, they dont have to function, they just have to be there and hooked up like they were from factory.

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**Author:** ![airhead](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/airhead/32/7471_2.png) [@airhead](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/airhead)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/8 "2013-07-19T17:45:25Z")

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^What he said. I’ve passed with half the exhaust missing, and once or twice with exhaust leaks, at more than one shop.

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**Author:** ![livin4hockey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@livin4hockey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/livin4hockey)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/9 "2013-07-19T18:56:37Z")

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> [@pirite](#):
>
> okay. _i have my inspectors license_.  
> **_an exhaust leak does NOT fail inspection._**  
> and, anything that is a '95 or older can have a check engine light on and will still pass.  
> OBD1 is just a visual check of your cat, egr, evap and other emission control systems. all they have to do is be there, they dont have to function, they just have to be there and hooked up like they were from factory.

/thread

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**Author:** ![challengermike](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/challengermike/32/5106_2.png) [@challengermike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/challengermike)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/10 "2013-07-19T18:57:08Z")

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> [@pirite](#):
>
> okay. _i have my inspectors license_.  
> **_an exhaust leak does NOT fail inspection._**  
> and, anything that is a '95 or older can have a check engine light on and will still pass.  
> OBD1 is just a visual check of your cat, egr, evap and other emission control systems. all they have to do is be there, they dont have to function, they just have to be there and hooked up like they were from factory.

I disagree, If it has a pre cat leak it will fail. 1990 still has a cat and it should be on and working.If it looks like that cat has been modded it would fail also.

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**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/11 "2013-07-19T19:09:53Z")

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Hmmmmm.

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**Author:** ![honda4life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/honda4life/32/5300_2.png) [@honda4life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/honda4life)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/12 "2013-07-19T19:30:53Z")

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> [@challengermike](#):
>
> I disagree, If it has a pre cat leak it will fail. 1990 still has a cat and it should be on and working.If it looks like that cat has been modded it would fail also.

Reread what he said, the cat can be there it doesn’t have to function. Also a leak will not fail.

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**Author:** ![nitroinsane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@nitroinsane](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nitroinsane)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/13 "2013-07-19T19:54:43Z")

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A precat leak will fail

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**Author:** ![MR.TWOSINISTER](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mr.twosinister/32/6198_2.png) [@MR.TWOSINISTER](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MR.TWOSINISTER)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/14 "2013-07-19T19:59:57Z")

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It took 10 posts for somone to get it right? Technically any leak ahead of the last converter is considered a failure. Most inspectors will not fail it unless it is more than a pinhole.

Pirite, shame on you. Honda4life, are you an inspector? Not to call you out, it is just that you are spreading incorrect information. It’s all right in the regs on the machine.  
All convertors that were there from the factory must be present, they can be replaced but not deleted. If you hollow one out and put it back on, it is a federal crime and you “can” be prosecuted. A hollowed or missing catalyst would have to be noticed by the inspector during visual inspection, so often it is missed or ignored.

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**Author:** ![honda4life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/honda4life/32/5300_2.png) [@honda4life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/honda4life)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/15 "2013-07-20T07:21:02Z")

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No i am not, but i have a nys inspection book. Nothing says 95\> the cat has to work properly. A leak after the cat will fail… Fuck I hope all these people get their cars fixed.

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**Author:** ![HouseS2K](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/houses2k/32/100273_2.png) [@HouseS2K](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HouseS2K)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/16 "2013-07-20T07:27:36Z")

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I would of passed it hands down

Sent from my iPhone 5

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**Author:** ![Pauly](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pauly/32/7493_2.png) [@Pauly](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pauly)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/17 "2013-07-20T07:35:37Z")

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Exhaust leak upstate pre 96 wont fail. if someone failed it they got it wrong  
Down state where im240 (sniff test) was in effect yes. The reg book is a little confusing  
Cat Has to be there and not have been tampered with.

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**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/18 "2013-07-20T07:44:34Z")

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So am I reading this right? Anything before 95 is not required to have cats?

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**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/is-exhaust-part-of-nys-inspection/231853/19 "2013-07-20T07:49:44Z")

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> [@Pauly](#):
>
> Exhaust leak upstate pre 96 wont fail. if someone failed it they got it wrong  
> Down state where im240 (sniff test) was in effect yes. The reg book is a little confusing  
> Cat Has to be there and not have been tampered with.

/end thread
