CA/LA Smog

[L0okitzRaj]

A quick note for us California residents.... My buddy has a supercharged e46, he had a friend who said he would pass the visual as long as we could get the monitors ready. So I forced the monitors ready, via coding found on this forum ('00' every byte method). His friend did some sort of pre-test (at the smog station, using the smog test computer), and said it would pass from what he saw. However, the caveat is that my friends specific car was ref'd under the previous owner, and when we went to do the actual test, it said the car was ref'd and we weren't able to do the test.

I know this thread has mostly shown that getting the monitors to pass, even via ecu manipulation works (if the car hasn't already been to the CA Bar, and had the data saved), but just wanted to add another data point.

[ridebikes]

I was able to successfully pass with:

• Euro Headers
• Fabspeed Catted (200 Cell) Sect 1
• Dinan Tune (which is CARB legal - the tech never mentioned anything about it at all)

All sensors were ready. I even had a pending trouble code but that didn't matter either.

Good luck everyone.

Edit: Also a good sign is that it is NOT a sketchy smog shop and the shop owner did the work.

[old///MFanatic]

Just got this from the BAR webpage, so big brother will be watching the smog inspectors when they feel like it...
"Require use of a biometric login device and a web camera by licensed Smog Check inspectors when performing a Smog Check using the BAR-97 EIS and BAR-OIS."
"Require that Smog Check inspectors allow BAR staff remote access to the inspection process, via the internet, when prompted by the BAR-OIS software."

That’s not really far off from earlier testing checks and balances. As I have posted they use to have random checks and irregular smog test data flagged of cars on the “sniffer” back in the day. If alerted the system would say “hold car, wait for inspector, do not abort test”. Been there seen it! Them being able to see on a camera or remote access the computer test while being done is not that big a leap as compared to past. Also so much easier to use than earlier procedures.
It’s a pretty simple added ability if one truly wanted to try and make smog testing more legitimate.

[Samsonite79]

Just got this from the BAR webpage, so big brother will be watching the smog inspectors when they feel like it... another big "F" to the california air resource board nazi.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/arsc/newslett...in-development

"Require use of a biometric login device and a web camera by licensed Smog Check inspectors when performing a Smog Check using the BAR-97 Emissions Inspection System (EIS) and BAR On-Board Diagnostic Inspection System (BAR-OIS)."

"Require that Smog Check inspectors allow BAR staff remote access to the inspection process, via the internet, when prompted by the BAR-OIS software."

[ATB88]

Got everything working and got myself a pass.

In hindsight my real mistake was that I didn't properly extend/connect the post-cat O2s when I originally did the euro header/cat install 2 years ago. Easy when everything's out, pita to pull cats back out to do it.

[Tbonem3]

I think our DMEs were updated several years ago to not have EGT as a mandatory sensor either.

But to be sure, EVAP is the only one that can be not ready in the current list of monitored sensors. O2s and cat monitoring is mandatory as well as SAP.

[marksae]

The only readiness monitor you're allowed to have not ready is the EVAP one.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/industry/obd-test-reference#readiness

[ATB88]

Sigh... I've extended the wiring on my post-cat O2 sensors, and it looks like one of them is dead (reads constant voltage of 0.13 V where as the other one is oscillating).

Is it possible for me to pass CA smog with one dead postcat O2 sensor if everything else is fine? I remember reading somewhere that you didn't need all monitors to be ready, only a certain number of them. Anyone know?

[Boost]

I have a good relationship with my smog guy in the SF valley but haven't had any heavily modded or tuned cars to bring in. If there is someone out there who can help us out, their name isn't going to be dropped in a public forum so you'll have to track em down behind closed doors. When I get around to my ST setup, I'm gonna reach out to someone in the FI crowd and maybe take em out to lunch to get that info.. lotta narcs out here

[old///MFanatic]

True it’s the latest data point but perhaps there’s some leeway on shops reporting or noticing. We don’t have anything more recent posted where we are at.

But it also appears true they are in fact looking at code. Unless the poster was lying, which see no reason for it. Seems like he was giving a heads up warning.

[Tbonem3]

True.
My concern is that was like 90 days after the initial implementation of new ECU test. Which smog stations said they were having issues getting in order. Now 10 months later from that data point (over year after test changed) we get this latest data point showing a failed test due to ECU coding.
I think it’s more correct to go off the last data point as current state of affairs.

I've seen several (and personally know a few) people pass CA smog with modified bins on E46. The one you referenced is the only instance I've heard about where there was an issue. I wouldn't completely assume it means that the smog system has the data to confirm if the tune is truly stock or not. I'd, at least at this point, assume that there was something else about the tune (especially being Dinan) that got flagged. Perhaps encryption? I don't know. I'd like to see more cases.

[Maxima SE]

CA has made it a complete headache to have a modified car. It’s best to just go back to stock. Whatever you can get away with now may end up being illegal down the line so might as well get your hands on stock parts while you still can. CARB EO numbers mean nothing to me since it’s only a matter of time before ICE cars are banned to begin with. I went back to stock headers and section 1 and stock intake when I moved back to Cali from Detroit. I just need to get rid of my tune and be headache free. I can’t have these kinda toys on my car but the good thing is I can shit on the corner of the street in front of little kids whenever I want and throw my hepatitis infected needles on top of it before it cooks in the sun or washes down the sewer.

[old///MFanatic]

See post 91
"I was able to pass my M3 with a non-stock tune. I have the Euro headers and cats and the Evolve tune installed, and I surprisingly had no issues. Honestly, I did not expect to pass but I had to get the test because my registration was expiring the following week. Not sure why I wasn't flagged."

True.
My concern is that was like 90 days after the initial implementation of new ECU test. Which smog stations said they were having issues getting in order. Now 10 months later from that data point (over year after test changed) we get this latest data point showing a failed test due to ECU coding.
I think it’s more correct to go off the last data point as current state of affairs.

[ATB88]

At a minimum I would extend the wires so it looks legit. O2s without wires connected (if inspected) would Fail the Visual Equipment part of test.
Honestly I haven’t talked to my test guy about our E46 ECUs, so don’t know for certain. But from reading other information CARB is most interested in code dealing with deactivation of smog equipment and check lights.

The unplugged ends of the wires aren't visible, and the guy I've been going to for years doesn't get under the car or anything. The unplugged end of the harness is underneath the engine's vanity cover, which he also can't see. So I do feel quite confident that I'd pass visual with no issues.

If I extend them, which I just might at this point, I might as well just plug them in and run them legit

[old///MFanatic]

FWIW, I do actually have post cat O2s installed in my euro cats, they're just not connected because the wires won't reach. So it seems like in the worst case scenario, all I have to do is slice things up and extend the wiring, which isn't the end of the world but is kinda annoying.

Still fingers crossed that someone out there can tell me if coding out my post-cat O2s can allow me to pass smog!

At a minimum I would extend the wires so it looks legit. O2s without wires connected (if inspected) would Fail the Visual Equipment part of test.
Honestly I haven’t talked to my test guy about our E46 ECUs, so don’t know for certain. But from reading other information CARB is most interested in code dealing with deactivation of smog equipment and check lights.