Smog Help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Smog Help
I went to get my car smogged, and the tech asked me if I had disconnected the battery or reset anything. He said he did not want to smog it because he believed it would fail and didn't want me to waste my time... He asked me to drive it for two days, and then come back so the computer could "cycle."
I recently reset a code, possibly yesterday or the day before. How long will I need to wait for the computer to "cycle?"
I did remove the stock seats and radio. It now displays NO COMM for both in the DIC, would this show up to the smog tech?
I recently reset a code, possibly yesterday or the day before. How long will I need to wait for the computer to "cycle?"
I did remove the stock seats and radio. It now displays NO COMM for both in the DIC, would this show up to the smog tech?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
The reason why they won't smog test your car immediately after you reset the code is because you could be doing that to hide a smog-related problem, like a failed smog pump check valve. Did you fix the problem that was causing the check engine light to appear? If not, get that done, first, then drive your car for a few days or more before having it smog-checked.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 27
From: Torrance Calif
The reason why they won't smog test your car immediately after you reset the code is because you could be doing that to hide a smog-related problem, like a failed smog pump check valve. Did you fix the problem that was causing the check engine light to appear? If not, get that done, first, then drive your car for a few days or more before having it smog-checked.
Ca smog testing only allows one of those tests to be "not ready' and if both are not ready, you won't pass.
Look up "drive cycle".
http://www.obdii.com/drivecycle.html
I burned through about $300 of gas running up drive cycles until I realized I was never gonna get those tests to run (modified exhaust).
Last edited by heavymetals; Aug 5, 2012 at 02:37 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Another issue that can cause repeated emissions ready failures is a weak or bad battery.
When you crank the engine with a marginal battery, the B+ voltage for all the modules goes lower than the module cut off voltage for a milli second or two and that causes the modules to reset. When that happens, its just like clearing the DTCs or disconnecting the battery.
When you crank the engine with a marginal battery, the B+ voltage for all the modules goes lower than the module cut off voltage for a milli second or two and that causes the modules to reset. When that happens, its just like clearing the DTCs or disconnecting the battery.
