[ChargedGoat]

Wow.. been awhile.

I'm learning that the smog stations here in CA are now using updated software that is causing many fails. A mechanic explained this to me, and my car is showing two codes on the scanner (no lights on the display though..) - O2 and heater. I passed easily two years ago with 'my guy'. Not this time though.

Does anyone have any more information that they can share on this? And if you can help me out, please PM. Please! Thanks!!!

 

[llafro]

Your sig says you have long tube headers. In most cases, that should be an automatic fail on the visual inspection, even if you have catalytic converters installed. The law doesn't allow you to relocate them or replace them with anything other than factory or equivalent parts. Which codes are you getting specifically?

 

[GTO-Cole]

Turn off the codes in the tune. Use your tuner of choice or learn yourself with one of the softwares available on the market.

I believe all the "ECM Emission Tests" need to report as "ready", with the exception of EVAP which does not have to report.

My car passed last August (see mods in my sig.)

If you don't tune the tests out, then you may have to complete a longer drive cycle to get all the tests to perform. Keep in mind, if you re-flash the ECM, it automatically resets the emission tests. Here's the GM instructions:

In order to get all your OBD2 monitors for your GM (Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Pontiac, Oldsmobile) vehicle ready, please perform the following steps:

1) Start the vehicle from a cold start. The time to do this is if you have not driven the vehicle for a few hours and the engine coolant temperature is less than 50 degrees F.
2) Let the engine run on idle. Turn the A/C and rear defroster on. You are trying to apply electrical load to the system.
3) Accelerate to 55 mph.
4) Hold a steady speed of 55 mph for 3 minutes
5) let go of the accelerator and coast until the vehicle hits 20mph. Don’t apply brakes to slow down.
6) Accelerate again until 60 mph.
7) Hold steady for 5 minutes at 60mph for 5 minutes.
8) Decellerate (coast to slow down).
You may need to repeat steps 3-8 a few times if the battery was disconnected recently.




Cole

 

[ChargedGoat]

Thanks chiming in here guys. I needed the punch to get going.

The car wouldn’t pass a visual on many accounts. I just got a friendly tester. But now the updated CA software is what he says is giving him the not ready readings. He reset the computer and wanted me to drive a cycle. Not knowing that I needed to drive it a certain way, I just daily’d the car for a couple weeks. But, the O2 and heater still are not ready.

Went to the mechanic next door, seemed like an honest guy who didn’t shy away from the situation I’m in, and he told me that now a’days a car with anywhere close to my mods isn’t passing 99% of the time. He said the new software reads eight calibrations. He showed me some computer stuff, and I was following, but the point was that since the CA software update, it’s impossible to get the car to pass.

I would love love love to avoid learning HP Tuners. Seriously speaking, I am very sure I want to sell this car soon. She’s been real real good to me, and I’ll hate to give her up, but after 12 years, it’s time to turn the page and allow someone younger than I to have some fun with 500 rwhp. It’s got 125k miles and is a great deal for someone with a heavy right foot.

 

[LS2-GTO]

What you'd need to learn on HPTuners is fairly simple compared to tuning.

Have you tested and failed yet?
If you did fail you should have a sheet telling you what the failure(s) were for.

99% of the time it is o2 sensors. Driving 100+ miles in any fashion should run all the tests necessary.

 

[SoSlow6.0]

Man that sucks. They just ended smog testing here in WA state.

 

[HMBLGOAT]

I was almost thinking that he was referring to the tech/software being able to detect a custom tune but it doesn’t sound like it. Some shops will let long tubes pass as long as the computer doesn’t pick up any codes or unset monitors.
To the OP, a $10 Bluetooth obd2 adapter and free obd2 app on your phone will allow you to check all readiness monitors before going back for the test. I’m surprised your drive time so far didn’t set those for you but follow the drive cycle above from a cold start and you should be good.

 

[ChargedGoat]

The 02 and heater are not ready. My smog guy is working with me, so he can’t get past the OBDII check because of what it’s showing. He’s fine with everything visual.

Now I’m away from the car until Sunday. When i get back, I’ll follow those specific steps to cycle through. Don’t know where I’m going to do that.. but I’d find a stretch.

 

[llafro]

The 02 and heater are not ready. My smog guy is working with me, so he can’t get past the OBDII check because of what it’s showing. He’s fine with everything visual.

Now I’m away from the car until Sunday. When i get back, I’ll follow those specific steps to cycle through. Don’t know where I’m going to do that.. but I’d find a stretch.

It would help to know what the exact code is. The code number will relate to a specific set of troubleshooting procedures. For example, if you have code P0135, that equates to "O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 1)"

Do you have cats installed on the car? If not, the rear O2 sensors can be replaced with "simulators" that fool the computer into thinking that there is actually an 02 sensor when there is none there. Alternatively, software can be used to turn off the code in the PCM.

Where are you in California? I'm in the Los Angeles area (San Fernando Valley). I have HP Tuners and the ability to get in and modify whatever needs it.

 

[ramiro]

The 02 and heater are not ready. My smog guy is working with me, so he can’t get past the OBDII check because of what it’s showing. He’s fine with everything visual.

Now I’m away from the car until Sunday. When i get back, I’ll follow those specific steps to cycle through. Don’t know where I’m going to do that.. but I’d find a stretch.

"my guy" told me the same thing about my car "not passing" with the tune and both monitors not ready but it "passed"...

 

[ChargedGoat]

"my guy" told me the same thing about my car "not passing" with the tune and both monitors not ready but it "passed"...

I'm back in town.

My guy needs to figure out what your guy did..

 

[ChargedGoat]

It would help to know what the exact code is. The code number will relate to a specific set of troubleshooting procedures. For example, if you have code P0135, that equates to "O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 1)"

Do you have cats installed on the car? If not, the rear O2 sensors can be replaced with "simulators" that fool the computer into thinking that there is actually an 02 sensor when there is none there. Alternatively, software can be used to turn off the code in the PCM.

Where are you in California? I'm in the Los Angeles area (San Fernando Valley). I have HP Tuners and the ability to get in and modify whatever needs it.

I'm in East LA County, and I would really appreciate the help!

 

[ChargedGoat]

P0103

That’s the code. Mass Air Flow Circuit High Frequency.

A mechanic with a scanner cleared everything, but this code pops up immediately. That’s why when after I drove it for hundreds of miles, nothing reset the first time everything was cleared(?)

So I’m at a loss. Isn’t the MAF deleted(?) with the SD tune..?

 

[llafro]

Wait, you have it tuned in speed-density? This is like getting a piece of the puzzle at a time. Can you give us everything you know about the car?

With a speed-density tune, it still has to fail the MAF and go into speed-density mode. I think that part is hard-wired into the computer. There is no way that you won't get a code. The setting of the code is what makes the computer change to SD.

In order to get a tune without the code, you need to enable the MAF and have it working.

 

[ChargedGoat]

Sorry bout that...there’s some info in my sig from the first post. I know what to list, but I don’t know what it all means haha.

Yes, SD tune. Whatever is happening this time around, didn’t happen two years ago..that’s for sure. And over the past 9 or so years since the SD tune, I’ve used a variety of smoggers to get the car passed.

So I found another willing smog shop guy to help me, but he too is at a loss because of the tune.

However, he says that if he can download a stock tune on a 2005 GTO (I believe it has to be an m6 as well) then he can complete the smog for my car. This sound about right??

He says he had an 06 GTO two weeks ago (gray...someone here..?) with headers and it wasn’t a problem for him at all.

So now I need a little help from someone who has an 05 GTO and can take their car to the shop. The smog guy is very local to me in Chino.

Any helpers out there?? We can talk about winning prizes for sure

 

[llafro]

I think you can find a stock 05 tune on the HP Tuners site. Anyone with HP Tuners software can load the tune for you. That requires credits to license the PCM.

 

[ChargedGoat]

That’s how it works, huh..? So for instance, if a smog guy who specializes in servicing car owners in situations similar to mine had an HP Tuners account, he could get any tune on that site? I’m guessing each time would cost $$. But that would just be passed along to his smog customer..

 

[llafro]

That’s how it works, huh..? So for instance, if a smog guy who specializes in servicing car owners in situations similar to mine had an HP Tuners account, he could get any tune on that site? I’m guessing each time would cost $$. But that would just be passed along to his smog customer..

HP Tuners is free to use the software. You can download tune files (directly from your car or the website) and modify them to your heart's content. It's only once you try to write the tune to a car that you have to pay. You can license an individual PCM, a specific year and model of car, or have unlimited usage as a tuner. You also need to have their OBD2 cable.

OBD2 cable (MPVI2): $299.00
License for single 05 GTO: 2 credits @ $49.99 each = $99.98

 

[MacNav08]

Sorry bout that...there’s some info in my sig from the first post. I know what to list, but I don’t know what it all means haha.

Yes, SD tune. Whatever is happening this time around, didn’t happen two years ago..that’s for sure. And over the past 9 or so years since the SD tune, I’ve used a variety of smoggers to get the car passed.

So I found another willing smog shop guy to help me, but he too is at a loss because of the tune.

However, he says that if he can download a stock tune on a 2005 GTO (I believe it has to be an m6 as well) then he can complete the smog for my car. This sound about right??

He says he had an 06 GTO two weeks ago (gray...someone here..?) with headers and it wasn’t a problem for him at all.

So now I need a little help from someone who has an 05 GTO and can take their car to the shop. The smog guy is very local to me in Chino.

Any helpers out there?? We can talk about winning prizes for sure

Hey ChargedGoat....any luck with the Tuners site? If not, I have an 05 M6 in Orange County. What would be involved in getting your guy what he needs? I had mine smogged back in January or February of this year and it passed with no issues. I'm hoping that's the last time I ever have to get that car smogged here in CA....hoping to have moved back to the East Coast before it needs it again!