California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 2 - Department of the California Highway Patrol
Chapter 1 - Licensed Stations and Muffler Installers
Article 1 - Licensed Muffler Certification Stations
Section 608 - Station Operation

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 608

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

The operation of licensed muffler certification stations shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) Tools and Instruments. Each station, in accordance with its classification, shall be equipped with the tools to test, inspect, and replace the exhaust system parts on vehicles regularly serviced by it. Stations that issue certificates on the basis of sound level readings shall be equipped with the sound measurement instrumentation specified in Section 1032 of this title. Stations not so equipped shall issue certificates only for systems or parts certified by the manufacturer of the system and installed by the station.

(b) Maintenance of Publications. Each station shall maintain readily accessible and current copies of the following publications:

(1) Muffler certification publications furnished by the department to licensed stations.

(2) Instrument manufacturer's instruction manual and calibration procedure, if the station uses a sound level meter.

(3) Publications, documents, or other means of assuring that an installer can identify the exhaust system part to be installed and determine the make and model of vehicle or engine for which the part is certified. Such publications may include manufacturers' catalogs, certification documents from manufacturers, or other means which meet this requirement.

(c) Purchase of Exhaust System Certificates. Licensed stations shall purchase exhaust system certificates only from the department in books of 50 at a cost of $.25 per certificate and shall not sell or otherwise transfer unused certificates.

(d) Inspection of Exhaust System. A licensed muffler station, before issuing an exhaust certificate, shall inspect the installed system to determine that it is assembled from parts certified for the particular make and model of vehicle. If the parts cannot be identified, or if uncertified parts are on the vehicle, a station licensed to use a sound level meter shall make sound level tests to determine compliance with the exhaust noise limit for the vehicle. When the original engine has been replaced by a different size engine, the certificate may be issued if the exhaust system is certified for use on any one of the vehicle models in which the engine was originally installed, or if the exhaust system complies with the sound level test limit.

(e) Issuance of Exhaust System Certificates. Licensed stations shall, upon request of the vehicle owner or operator, issue an exhaust system certificate when the exhaust system complies with the pertinent requirements of this title and is not significantly louder than the original muffler for that make and model of vehicle. An exhaust system shall be considered significantly louder than the original when it is obvious to a person with normal hearing that the system produces noise that stands out above that of most vehicles of the same make and model operated on the highway.

(1) The certificate shall be signed by the owner or employee who performed or supervised the work and who is knowledgeable of the exhaust system certification laws and regulations and proficient in determining compliance.

(2) The certificate shall show the manufacturer's or supplier's name and the part number of the components for which the certificate is issued.

(f) Clearance of Enforcement Document. After exhaust system defects stated in an enforcement document are corrected and the system is brought into compliance with the exhaust system laws and regulations, either the person specified in preceding subsection (e) or a peace officer may sign the document and certify that the exhaust system complies.

(1) Documents cleared by licensed stations shall contain the signature of the owner or employee who performed or supervised the work, the station's license number, and the date of correction, with all such entries made in ink.

(2) Failure of the owner or operator of the vehicle to authorize additional suggested repairs shall not be cause for the station to defer certification of correction of the specific defects listed on the enforcement document.

1. Amendment filed 6-16-77; designated effective 7-15-77 (Register 77, No. 25).

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