Rep Power: 0

My borther has a 01 civic lx he is going to give me but needs a new header panel. he said someone told him he need a stock one for it to pass smog. is that true or can you use and aftermarket one?

 
Rep Power: 518

I'm having a hard time understanding how a header panel would affect an emissions test result.







ehow: The header panel in a car is located in the very front on the outside, just ahead of the hood. Also called a headlight-mounting panel, the part is where the grill and the headlights are attached. The header panel does not affect the car's performance



Maybe you were referring to an exhaust manifold and catalytic converter?


Emissions testing varies greatly from place to place. What passed in St. Louis may not pass in California.

The technicalities of it depend entirely on your local rules and regulations.


But the general and safe answer is yes it needs to be there... Either OEM, or a California CARB approved unit would also suffice in most cases.
Check local regulations before wasting money on something that is not an approved part.

 
Rep Power: 0

At first I thought he was talking about the header panel in the interior of the car (the ceiling covered with fabric). But since he brought up smog testing i think he has to be referencing the engine header (exhaust manifold).

 
Rep Power: 0

ok ya must be the exhaust header thanks this brings me to my next question if i go to pick-n-pull how could i tell if it is one that i can use for smog?

 
Rep Power: 518

Wildazz guesses here....

Take the sheetmetal covers (heat shields) off yours and look at the unit carefully.
Take pictures. Maybe find identification numbering somewhere on it?(IDK)
Find a match at the yard.

Replacement unit might look unusually cleaner than the surrounding engine area.
Non-factory replacement unit might look awful dang close to factory too. Look for a name tag?


Low mileage car is more likely to still have factory parts on it, high miles is more likely to have been replaced at some point, but not necessarily if it never went bad. I have seen the cars with a quarter million miles on the factory installed cat.

EDIT: I forgot, yours is not original now, right?