I've searched this forum and can't find an answer. My apologies if it is some where in here, and Please point me to it.
I'm in Vancouver BC Canada and we have OBD Emissions testing on all Passenger vehicles.
My car below won't be due 'til 2010 (7 years) after Mfg. date.
My 2003 Convertible has Long Tube Headers, High Flow Cats and I'm running all 4 O2 Sensors. I had the passenger side rear O2 sensor replaced a year ago after throwing the same P1153C H code a dozen times. It never came back for over a year then last week, I had a check engine light come up and throw P1153C H Code which is a rear O2 sensor passenger side. (Insufficient switching). It was both a Current and History Code.
I cleared the code about a week ago and it has not returned yet.
My question is this.
Will the ODB at the Emissions testing Station show the Code,even though I cleared it through the DIC ?
Do I need to have it cleared using the Tech ll from the dealer?
mrgil?

 

That all depends. If the car is running properly the code will dissapear after a certain number of drive cycles. You should get plenty of drive cycles before 2010 so as long as it doesn't appear shortly before your inspection you should be OK.

Bill

 

Clearing the code using the DIC procedure and clearing it using a Tech2 are the same thing ... the code itself is gone.

However, what could be an issue is if the test required checks the "status" of the I/M "flags". Basically these flags represent a number of different "checks" or "tests" that the car is internally checking at various times as you drive. When a test completes successfully the flag for that test is set to "ready" or "complete". If a test fails the flag is set to "not ready" or "failed".

When you clear a DTC that is a smog related DTC (such as a P1153) it will take some drive time (sometimes as much as 200 miles) for the flag for that error to reset to "ready". Depending on your national/provincial/local laws there is usually some "leeway" allowed (3 of 5 flags must be ready, for example, or in a "tougher" law it may require 4 out of 5 flags to be ready), so it may be possible to clear the DTC and still "pass".

The idea behind this system is so you can't pull into a smog test having just cleared a bunch of smog related DTC half a block from the test station and "get away" with it. You're "forced" to drive the car for some period of time before doing a smog test to get enough flags set to "pass" the test.

 

From what I have been hearing the way to get rid of this pesky code is to have it turned off or tuned out. Most call it: "not report" to the PCM.

How will this affect emissions testing? My car has been throwing this code since I put my LG's on back in March. Its been to the tuner and he don't know why it is throwing this code either. Says he turned off the rears completely. After reaching the matter, I know why and whats going on, but what I want to know is by having these codes not report, will that affect my emissions testing?

 

Depends on the type of emissions test that is performed in your area.

There are "basically" two types of tests ..... the "sniffer" test .... and the OBD2 test.

In areas of the US and Canada where pollution control is a "serious" issue, such as metropolitan areas of California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.) the more "strict" test is performed, which is the OBD2 test.

Here in my area this means that the computer that belongs to the smog station is connected to the car's network using the Data Link Connector located under the Instrument panel. That computer then reads the VIN from the vehicle, and reads the PCM for DTC data and I/M flag status. Also the car is on a dynamometer and the technician follows a set of commands to accelerate the car and run it at a steady speed for a set period of time. During this time the smog computer is getting data about smog from the PCM and the O2 sensors in the car. When the test is complete, the smog station computer prints out a report, and also connects to the DMV and reports that your vehicle (it uses your VIN) passed the smog check. That releases the smog "hold" on your registration.

Basically, if you've done stuff like removing the rear O2 sensors, it's pretty unlikely you will "pass" this kind of test.

If in your area the older "sniffer" test is used, then you may/may not pass depending on what limits are set for emmission gasses such as NOx, CO2, CO, etc., and what amounts of those gases your car produces.

May pay you to go find out what kind of testing is done in your area. Theoretically your "tuner" should know and be tuning to keep you legal. Under the Federal Clean Air Act it is illegal to modify or remove pollution control devices from your car, and your rear O2 sensors are part of that system as they are there to ensure the cats are working correctly.

Some states (California is one) are trying to figure out a way to ensure that your PCM has not been "tuned" .... that the software in the PCM is as it left the factory. This will be an added "step" in the smog test if the state can figure out a way to do it.

Smog laws vary from state to state, and here in California can even vary in different parts of the state ... so you'll have to do some "local" research to get difinitive answers to what is required and how strict the testing is.

Good luck,

 

I can so far add that here in Tennessee, I wouldn't say its actually stricter in the sense your putting it. Actually when I was in Massachusetts it was stricter but in a different sense. Let me explain:

Massachusetts: they inspect safety items every year. This includes your brakes, tires, ball joints, etc etc. If anything fails, you don't pass.
They also do emission testing every other year. Their test is a 2 stage test going by your year. If you have any OBD1 or older car, you get a dyno test with equipment hooked up to your car measuring for levels. They don't hook into your computer at all.
If you have OBD2 or newer system, you get plugged into but don't get any dyno test at all. Its a simple pass/fail in 5 minutes test.

Tennessee: no safety inspection at all.
Emission test only every year. For OBD1 you get the dyno. For OBD2, the hook up. If I remember correct, no dyno.

 

Just to clear things up a bit, They also do a sniff test, and they also run it on their Dyno.
mrgil

 

My experience with this P1153 Code was really frustrating as it kept coming back. Finally I took it to my Freindly Service manager and they diagnosed it and replace the rear O2 Sensor and Voila code gone for over a year. Maybe you need to have your mechanic test the function of the O2 sensor that's throwing the code, and replace it if necessary.
mrgil