Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Registering an out-of-state Civic HX in California? Search tips?

figit090 · 07-10-2014, 07:12 PM

Hello all,

I'm in California and I'm trying hard to find a good Civic HX, and I was wondering if I could get some advice on finding one out-of-state, and what a good price would be?

I know that I should check that the engine is D16Y5 and that the vin starts with 1HGEJ7 to make sure it's an original car, but beyond that and ordinary chassis inspection I'm not sure what to look for nor how to successfully get the car into California.

I'm also concerned with smogging a Federal ECU car in Cali but I've seen that it's been done successfully before to a CA car with a Federal ECU installed...
Does anyone know if there's any paper trail/legal barriers as far as registration of a car that's not made for California smog?

I think I can make it smog here just fine, if I have to I'll source a CA ECU to pass the sniff test, but I was mildly afraid the DMV wouldn't even accept that if the car is labeled as a car that cannot pass because it was never made for California.

Any tips are greatly appreciated, I can't find much of anything in California so I'm getting desperate.

07-10-2014, 07:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
figit090 EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 89 Black Bovine - '86 Toyota Supra N/A base 90 day: 16.86 mpg (US) Grey Sandy - '03 Toyota Rav4 Sport Package 90 day: 21.3 mpg (US) Panda - '03 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon GLS 90 day: 44.17 mpg (US) Thanks: 18 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Registering an out-of-state Civic HX in California? Search tips? Hello all, I'm in California and I'm trying hard to find a good Civic HX, and I was wondering if I could get some advice on finding one out-of-state, and what a good price would be? I know that I should check that the engine is D16Y5 and that the vin starts with 1HGEJ7 to make sure it's an original car, but beyond that and ordinary chassis inspection I'm not sure what to look for nor how to successfully get the car into California. I'm also concerned with smogging a Federal ECU car in Cali but I've seen that it's been done successfully before to a CA car with a Federal ECU installed... Does anyone know if there's any paper trail/legal barriers as far as registration of a car that's not made for California smog? I think I can make it smog here just fine, if I have to I'll source a CA ECU to pass the sniff test, but I was mildly afraid the DMV wouldn't even accept that if the car is labeled as a car that cannot pass because it was never made for California. Any tips are greatly appreciated, I can't find much of anything in California so I'm getting desperate.