James,
I am aware of the difficulties in getting the CARB exemption. But if you make auto parts to be sold in CA, and those parts render the vehicle in violation of state regulations, it is your responsibility to obtain the exempt certification.

This is not meant as criticism. The lack of CARB exemption of the SRI made by your older and more "famous" competitor demonstrates their lack of commitment and customer support just as much as their poor design and quality.

To demonstrate the importance, to Californians, of the CARB exemption of an after-market intake system, this is my previous experience:
I sold my Ford F-150, with an after-market intake system installed. When I delivered the truck to the new owner to collect payment, I took him with me to a local smog test business to get the smog certification that is required when you sell a used car.

The smog station owner took one look at the engine and said "I can't test or smog certify anything with a modified intake system!". I then pointed to the CARB EXEMPT sticker supplied by the intake system manufacturer, and the unobservant smog guy went ahead with the test and certification.

If you make parts that are likely to be a potential problem to the owner regarding smog regulations, (maybe even involving "fix it" tickets from local law enforcement) that can be solved with the proper certification, and make no effort to provide that certification, it leaves some doubt in the minds of potential buyers about your commitment, and how long you are likely to be around to honor such things as warranty issues.

I bought the wrong intake once, out of misplaced trust and brand loyalty. I'm not going to do it a second time if there are any warning signs about potential future problems. Your product looks extremely good in all respects except for that ONE, BIG waring sign, at least for Californian Fit owners.

 

i'm gonna be honest, i'm gonna have to side with the hfit folks on this one. the additional testing, certification, etc. is extra cost that they'll (hfit) will have to pass onto their customers, california or otherwise.

with that in mind, may i request that you retain your stock intake for the purposes of smog, resale, warranty claims, etc. and not make CARB exemption a deciding factor?

 

Thanks for your input, but--

I am using another "illegal" intake right now, with the stock box sitting around for the next 3 1/2 years waiting for the first time I need a smog check (CA new car owners have a 5 year grace period before the first smog cert. is needed by the state).

H-Fit is located in the state with the highest population, and the highest potential number of Fit owners. Without the CARB exemption, Fits with this or any other non-exempt intake are not legal in this state. By not even being in the process of obtaining the exempt certification, H-Fit is undermining the "reliable innovation" image that they have tried to establish in their posts on the forums.

This post is written for the benefit of James, and the decision-makers at H-Fit, not to some guy in DC who is urging me and others to ignore the legalities of this state.

The lack of concern of the intake maker for the legality of their design in the state where they live and hope to sell their products is the only doubt that I have about their product.

If their reply to my original question had been "We have filed the paperwork and paid the fees, just waiting for CARB to grant the exemption", I would know that they were aware of their responsibilities, and had covered all of the bases. And my order would be waiting for their on-line folks to process. Spending a lot of time and money on marketing, and none on legal compliance in their home state, is a trait shared by the another intake maker that goes by their initials.

That's what warns me away from this system at the present time.

Got that, James?
Merry Christmas!

 

i appreciate the differences of state laws, but i do my best to not be overly parochial. however, the fact of the matter is economics and business finance are the same no matter what the local laws are, so please try to look at it from hfit's persective. by that, we are talking about hfit, not KN, which is a small company catering to a very niche community, not the world's single largest retailer of cotton gauze filters with a significantly larger R+D, legal, administrative, etc. departments and budgets.

the current price of the SSI, i'd bet, doesn't exactly leave a big margin for hfit, so you have two choices:

1. recommend that hfit raise its prices so they can pass the cost of getting it CARB exempt.
2. accept that at its current price, the risk is yours to take.

i guess the third is to stay stock. i know what i did when i lived in california. i assumed the risk. and if i were hfit, as decent as they have been to folks as is, i wouldn't bother with CARB exemptions either.

 

kennef-

You can belabor this issue all you want. You are apparently unaware of my many supportive posts for H-Fit in this giant thread. Lack of concern for legalities inhibits my total belief in the reliability of this company. I would like nothing more than to post a photo of my K&N crap tumbling into the recycling bin. Anyone who expects my money needs to earn my belief in both the maker and his products.

 

Hi All,

We understand that CARB exemption is an important aspect in California. That is why we are looking into certification. It is a little more difficult for us to obtain certification due to the SSI being our only intake at this time. This is why it is funny to me that other manufacturers have not obtained CARB approval yet.

The way it works is like this.

We have to provide all the supporting data to the state to prove that our intake does not change emmision characteristics of the vehicle. Additional to this we have to supply a SSI kit to ARB engineering and basically pay for their time and research to verify our claims. Then the waiting begins for the ARB to find a FIT. I think this is the most time consuming part. The first product is always the hardest and most expensive.

After the first part (intake), you can opt to get approval by similarity on all future parts that share similar design and sensor placement etc. etc. This is much easier and does not require that ARB engineering do any testing.

As you have probably noticed, most CARB approval is obtained quickly by larger companies, due to their budgets and engineering resources. That is why I am surprised that Certain companies have not already obtained approval yet.

We are still looking into obtaining CARB approval on the kit, but Honestly at this point, I cannot provide any hard date that this will be completed.

As always, I will keep you updated on our progress.

Thanks,

H-fit team

H-Fit.com....Christmas Special. Supa Sucka Intake Kit $255 Shipped!

 

James-

It is not "funny", and there is no surprise, about the "certain" intake manufacturer and their lack of CARB exemption. Look at their behavior on these forums- lying to us and half-assed solutions to their own problems. There are not enough Fits for them to bother being responsible.

That is exactly the reason why I raised this issue about your intake system. You can't afford to bear any resemblance to "certain" competitors.
If you or the Air Resources Board need a Fit for short term tests, I'll drive mine down there (7 hour one way trip).

I am not trying to beat your company up. This is an important issue, and you may have noticed that I am pretty effective in making my point, in any circumstance.

 

order sent. one supa sucka(!) to DC. don't think that because it's xmas eve that you get a pass on sending it out any ole day. money sent today, supa sucka betta be in the postman's hands today!

seriously. today.

merry xmas everybody!

 

I totally agree with you Manxman. When I purchased my BMW 540i, I never had any issue when it came time for a smog test. Mind you my car had Dinan CAI, software and exhaust. This is why Dinan has taken a lead with their performance products for BMW. I think here's an opportunity for H-Fit to take lead on their products by getting their CARB approved. James, the SSI Fit fans patiently awaits.

 

Thanks Legit- I knew that there were people out there who are logical and need to see evidence of quality and responsibility in products before buying a potential problem.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Bay Area meet if you can make it, otherwise, good luck getting folks up to Fairfield!

 

Manxman,

From an outside perspective, I think you should leave your car stock, or go search for an K&N Drop in.

When you modify a car in california, you assume all risks as the owner. Remember! No one is holding a gun to your head to purchase the Super Sucka. It is at the H-Fit's discrection whether they want to apply for CARB approval or not. Your post makes it sound like they owe it to you.

I'm fairly certain that the other intake manufacture companies have throughly weight the cost and benefit of applying for EO exemption for Californians, and have probably arrived at the same conclusion as H-Fit.

Personally I do not view the lack of EO exemption as a indicator for a lack in commitment. If there were lacking in commitment, they would not have build the intake to be sold in the first place.

They did clearly state that the intake is for Off-Road uses only.

Regarding the Dinan comment, how much was the CARB approved Dinan CAI again?


-W-

 

Westie-
Why don't you buy two of them? Or 3? I will stay with my present illegal K&N SRI until H-Fit completes their "due diligence".

 

Hi guys, I've had the supa sucka for about 1 month now, and I really like it! Today I almost got sold on the Weapon-R short ram intake, but reading some posts I decided I'll stick with my SS. But on to the question..

I have noticed the battery and the SS are rubbing against each other. Is this okay? Or should I put something in between them? I'm pretty sure the intake is put on all the way, I did have to reseat the battery to give about less than half an inch of space inbetween. I think the battery is sliding even when I tighten the battery clamp down well.. probably from all the sharp cornering I do

Just wanted to know if this rubbing will harm the SS.

Thanks!

EDIT: So I opened the hood to check if the battery moved its way towards the SS and rubbed against it.. but I noticed something else far worse.. the air filter FELL OFF the SS!!! It was just resting on top of some wires.. I guess the hose clamp was not on tight enough. I put it back on tightly and now I can hear that "vacuum" roaring sound at high revs :-)

 

+1. i'll vote with my wallet. oh, already did. for something like an intake, and especially in a market like the fit where there are lots of cheaper intakes available, price sensitivity is a big deal. you'd be surprised what a price increase of 30 bucks could do to a small business and the quantity of units sold.

it would take hfit selling literally tens of thousands of these intakes (i'd bet in vegas that they are not) to be able to leverage economies of scale just to keep production costs low enough, then add the expense of certifications, then pricing the intake so that people actually would want to buy it. manxman, i respect your position, but if i were hfit, i'd just accept that you wouldn't ever be buying one of my intakes. then i'd sell a metric ton of them to everyone else that understands that if you want quality, R+D, and low cost all in one, you'll have to assume the risk of running a part that isn't CARB certified.

on another note, hfit sent my intake yesterday and my progress bar is coming today. mark your calendars. today is the last day of my wife's fit being bone-stock for the rest of its life.

 

Living on the opposite side of the country as you do, your arguments against my post, and my point, mean nothing.

 

what the hell does it matter where he lives?

modifiying is modifying and if it didn't come on your car to being with and you still want to put it on, i say accept what thousands of others have accepted and realize that its not always going to be legal. if someone took the time to make it so, great for us. if not, oh well. suck it up...YOU wanted to modify it.

besides, just because something isn't carb legal, doesn't mean that its not RELIABLE. two very different concepts. there are plenty of techincally illegal parts that many californians have on their cars that have performed reliably for years.


a bit fat .


have a good weekend everyone.

 

To make my point again for the slow learners, the lack of CARB exemption is not what keeps me from ordering this intake. I go around the "law" every chance I get, and enjoy it immensely. What keeps me from ordering this system is the manufacturer's lack of concern for the laws in their home state, and the future problems for their local customers that will come from their lack of "due diligence".

In my many supportive posts in this long thread, I have always thought, and said, that their design criteria, and the end product, is very good in this price range. Any and all of you can order as many of these things as you want, and I congratulate you for doing so INSTEAD of buying the other junk out there.

The point, again, is that when they fulfill their responsibility in filing for the CARB exemption, then I will trust them with my order. I don't expect anyone else to give a damn what I do, and my recent posts were written to H-Fit-James and his corporate people and unwary California Fit owners--not to the buyers out of state.

So if you have missed the point up until now, please stick your advice up your poop chute. Thank you very much!

 

way to take fitfreak down about 10 notches. you sure have a lot to say for someone that isn't even buying one of these. your comments are unfortunate.

btw, the accusation of "lack of concern for laws in their home state" is unfair. it isn't illegal to design, and sell, an intake that is for "off-road use only." the hypocrisy, though, is when you preach compliance with CARB requirements but are a self-proclaimed vigilante ("I go around the "law" every chance I get, and enjoy it immensely").

 

Being a SoCal resident, and having to deal with Emission related violations, I am fully aware of the implications with modifying vehicles.

Manxman, to put it in simple terms, you have no business modding your car. My best advice to you is to leave your shit stock, if you are soo afraid of Smog violation tickets. You will be waiting along time for any of the companies to CARB certify their intake for the Fit.

Regarding : "What keeps me from ordering this system is the manufacturer's lack of concern for the laws in their home state, and the future problems for their local customers that will come from their lack of "due diligence"
- How about the current K&N, AEM, and Injen parts?...They are all illegal.

 

Another lame brain who can't read, and can't understand the point. As previously posted, stick it W A A Y up there.