1996 RPO Question

[1badlt4]

Do all 96 Vettes have RPO NB6 (Emission Systems, California, Tier 1) or Is this for California cars only? I was told all have it to be 50 state emissions legal, but I don't think this is correct. Post here if your 96 Vette has this RPO. Also, would this emission system make your car have a more conservative programming and therefore slower? Thanks for all the help, you guys are great!

 

[vetteguy]

No NB6 here. Guy

 

[JohnnyC]

I dont have NB6 either. John

 

[kfehling]

I will check to see if I have that option later today. However, I have been told by several "car" people that all cars for sale in the US over the past several years (including late model C4s) are 50 state legal. I bought my car in Ohio and brought it in to CA with no problems. Check under the hood and there should be an emission sticker that states whether it is CA compliant.

 

[Vettelt193]

The California thing only applies to cars originally sold in CA, you can bring a used car to CA with no problems, as long as it passes emissions

 

[kfehling]

I am not so sure that this is true. Primarily because several other states use CA emissions criteria including Maine, Massachusset, New York and Vermont. It would seem that GM and other manufacturers, for simpilicity, would make their cars meet all state's regs rather than different cars for different markets. I will check into this further, though and try to have an answer in a day or two.

And as for bringing a car into CA as long as it passess emissions is not quite true either. Even if it doesn't pass, you can still register it here, but you have to pay a $300 environmental impact fee.

 

[Vettelt193]

I think the new corvettes meet CA standards, since they are LEV's, but the older ones had an option for, at the time, CA and NY emissions. We would think (by using common sense) that GM would make them all the same, but knowing gm, I am sure they did a cost/benefit study and found they could save a few bucks a car by making it an option....

The environmental impact fee is a new one to me... very interesting, only 300 bucks too... kinda stupid considering each cat. converter costs more than that:confused

 

[kfehling]

OK, time to confuse things a little more. I have a '96 CE LT1 that, according to the emission sticker on the radiator, has CA emissions. However, I do not have option NB6 as asked by 1badlt4. Interesting. I have also done a bit of sleuthing and found that since 2001 all Corvettes have the same emissions system (LEV at that) listed as RPO FE9 (http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/157/id24.htm). Surprisingly, my '96 has FE9 as a listed option. However, for those Vettes bound for CA from the factory, even though they are 50 state compliant, they still have a different emissions RPO listed; that of YF5. Have we come to any real conclusion here?

 

[Vettelt193]

Isn't FE9 on C4's soft ride suspension? (the standard suspension)

 

[1badlt4]

From what I understand, FE9 is the Federal Emissions Certification and FE1 is the Soft Ride Suspension. I think kfehling hit the nail on the head. NB6 is for cars originally bound for California, New York, Mass, Maine and Vermont. Rather than come up with their own emissions standards, they just went with Californias.

 

[Vettelt193]

ahhh FE9, FE1... too many 3 digit codes stuck in my head! Yes, the other states adopted CA's standards, for simplicity, but the option code should still be there for CA emissions for all those states...

 

[twiget]

And as for bringing a car into CA as long as it passess emissions is not quite true either. Even if it doesn't pass, you can still register it here, but you have to pay a $300 environmental impact fee.

It used to be that way. However there was a class action law suit against Calfioria concering this. It was deemed unconstitutional to charge the $300, and Califoria had to refund a couple hundred million dollars. I dont remember exactly when it happend, but it wasnt too much more than 3 or 4 years ago.

Jason

 

[kfehling]

This must have happened after I moved to CA which was in 1999 because the State DMV told me that I would have to pay if my car did not have CA emissions. I was just happy that I didn't have to pay as my CE had emissions acceptable to the People's Republic of California.:cool

 

[all4c4lt4]

NB6 is for cars originally bound for California, New York, Mass, Maine and Vermont. Rather than come up with their own emissions standards, they just went with Californias. [/B]

Take all the above posts, and they have answered your question. First, I have NB6. My car was originally delivered to NY, even though I purchased it in MO. The code indicated that the car carried an additional charge (~$300) for the inspection/compliance with the strict emissions. GM passed it on to the consumer. Materially, it doesn't change anything to the car.