Posted: Feb 04 2007 at 2:18pm | IP Logged

Hey everyone, I've been skimming the forums for awhile so thanks to everyone who posts up good advice for the lookers like me.

I recently bought a used 2001 Frontier (SC) with 70k miles so I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

Here is the dilemma.

I took it in to get smogged yesterday and the guy told me that my piping is "illegal as F*%k"

I have an aftermarket K&N that was put on by the previous owner before California starting cracking down for the smog tests. The smog guy told me that since January 1st, it's really been getting bad with smog companies getting fines for this type of thing. I asked him what the difference between a California certified pipe setup on the K&N and a non certified setup and he said that it's just a sticker and there isn't really any different in emissions.

What it means for me is that the next time I get my truck smogged, I'm going to have to either get failed or spend 150 bucks to redo the airfilter for something "California legal"

He also told me that the Mass airflow sensor has a good possibility of getting fried by a typical cleaning job on the air filter itself. Is this true? He said a couple drops of oil that hit the sensor can short it out and it's about 300+ dollars to fix it.

The guy was honest and he knows my family so I don't think he'd BS me but this is a little annoying because of California and their laws that don't really make sense.

Any ideas on how to get a special sticker on my air filter? Should I call the Nissan manufacturer? Call K&N?

Any other ideas on what I can do?

Thanks.

Posted: Feb 04 2007 at 9:47pm | IP Logged

..

US_Ranger;

... Welcome to the Frontier Group and welcome to Kalifornia…  I left there long ago.

There is and old saying that applies to all bureaucracies in the world but in the case of the left-coast….

’There is the right way, the wrong way and the California way'!

I would call K&N and find out what they and SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufactures Association) think about it.

Have a good one, and Carry on with the insanity.. Don S..

Posted: Feb 05 2007 at 7:06am | IP Logged

Is it K&N CAI kit, or just a drop in filter.  Also, most of K&N kits do meet California's emission standards.

As for the MAF, he's halfway correct.  Oil will eventually get onto the MAF, but it won't immediately short it out.  All you have to do is remove the MAF, and clean it with Electrical cleaner, or CRC's MAF Cleaner.  DO NOT use Brakleen, or Carb Cleaner.  This will destroy your MAF sensor. 

If his statement were true, then K&N would have gone the route of AEM's dry filter ages ago due to customer complaints.

Posted: Feb 05 2007 at 7:18am | IP Logged

I had the same problem at Nissan.  I had inquired about different cold air intakes and they said that anything that involves oil will eventually kill the MAF sensor and I will be footing the bill for it and apparently it aint cheap.  I asked about other ones  - AEM and the Nismo - and they were cool with it.  I believe though that most of your problem - and please dont take offense to it - is you live in California.  I was looking to transfer there but decided not too.  I am in Law Enforcemtn for the Government and I own several assault rifles and was told I would have to selll them before I had an instate residence.  Screw that.  Good luck with the K&N thing.  You maybe able to call them and just ask for the sticker.

Joel

Posted: Feb 05 2007 at 3:26pm | IP Logged

Thanks for the Calfornia love everyone.

As for my intake, it's a K&N FIPK Generation II

I looked on the damn manufacturers sticker and it says "made in Riverside CA" so wtf is going on here?

"Most are CARB Exempt and street legal in all 50 US States"

^----taken from their website

http://www.knfilters.com/FIPK/fipk.htm

I would understand if it was the "Aircharger Performance Intake" as that's not CA legal but this one should be so I'm confused. I really hope it wasn't some really big crackdown on January 1st that now involves all intakes.

I'm going to email the K&N guys and give them my part number and maybe they can explain the new rules a bit. If they say anything interesting, I'll post it back up here so everyone can know for future knowledge of living in the wonderful land of California.

Thanks for the responses guys, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Posted: Feb 06 2007 at 7:11pm | IP Logged

Steve,

             Thanks for writing. Yes, our FIPK for use with the 2001 Nissan Frontier 3.3L S/C is absolutely emissions legal in all 50 United States. It is evident that you encountered an Emissions testing station that is not familiar with K&N intake systems. I recommend taking your vehicle elsewhere. If you would like, you can provide me with your zip code and I can recommend a station in your area.

^----from their tech support

So if any of you guys live in California like me and were sweating the issue, you might want to CALL K&N and get them to tell you a place where the smog guy knows what the hell he's talking about. It will save you the hassle of getting your Frontier smogged twice and having to listen to a bunch of stuff that doesn't make sense.

Whooo!