OBD II onboard emissions tests can be tricky but they will eventually run (barring any tune modifications which would prevent them from completing). There is GM drive cycle with will expedite the tests (I've copied the info below). It's not black magic or anything- I have personally done this and, as long as everything is operative, a couple of cycles will complete all the readiness tests. I don't think anything has changed for the C7 series.

To perform an OBDII Driving cycle do the following (not everything is applicable to all cars):

1. Cold Start. In order to be classified as a cold start the engine coolant temperature must be below 50°C (122°F) and within 6°C (11°F) of the ambient air temperature at startup. Do not leave the key on prior to the cold start or the heated oxygen sensor diagnostic may not run.

2. Idle. The engine must be run for two and a half minutes with the air conditioner on and rear defroster on. The more electrical load you can apply the better. This will test the O2 heater, Passive Air, Purge "No Flow", Misfire and if closed loop is achieved, Fuel Trim.

3. Accelerate. Turn off the air conditioner and all the other loads and apply half throttle until 88km/hr (55mph) is reached. During this time the Misfire, Fuel Trim, and Purge Flow diagnostics will be performed.

4. Hold Steady Speed. Hold a steady speed of 88km/hr (55mph) for 3 minutes. During this time the O2 response, air Intrusive, EGR, Purge, Misfire, and Fuel Trim diagnostics will be performed.

5. Decelerate. Let off the accelerator pedal. Do not shift, touch the brake or clutch. It is important to let the vehicle coast along gradually slowing down to 32km/hr (20 mph). During this time the EGR, Purge and Fuel Trim diagnostics will be performed.

6. Accelerate. Accelerate at 3/4 throttle until 88-96 km/hr (55-60mph). This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 3.

7. Hold Steady Speed. Hold a steady speed of 88km/hr (55mph) for five minutes. During this time, in addition to the diagnostics performed in step 4, the catalyst monitor diagnostics will be performed. If the catalyst is marginal or the battery has been disconnected, it may take 5 complete driving cycles to determine the state of the catalyst.

8. Decelerate. This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 5. Again, don't press the clutch or brakes or shift gears.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but on a related question I purchased my Z in NJ, but it's being registered (for the time being....but that's a different story) in CA. I just called the DMV and they told me that the full registration can't be completed until I get the car SMOG'd. I won't be back in CA for nearly another two months and was wondering if I can get the SMOG done at a place somewhere in the DE, MD, VA, PA area?

 

Bought from Les Stanford (Michigan) picked up in Bowling Green, KY. driven home to San Jose, CA.

No smog check, received plates 3 weeks later with registration sticker. Received personal plates just yesterday and visited the DMV to pick them up, no mention of a smog check.

Not sure how else I can convince you that your statement is incorrect.

 

In California, autos 2001 or newer are allowed to have one incomplete readiness monitor and pass smog emissions. You have the following choices:

1. There is a "drive cycle" that you can do that will allow the readiness motors to complete. Sometimes it will take several "drive cycles" to complete the readiness monitors. Do a search "drive cycle to pass emissions".

2. Buy an inexpensive code reader that will tell you which readiness monitors are complete or incomplete. Bring the car in for a smog test when you have completed all but 1 readiness monitor. Remember, in CA you are allow to have 1 incomplete readiness monitor.

3. Drive the car around for a 100 - 200 miles and hope it will pass.

 

Did Les Stanford take care of the registration?

I bought mine from a Oregon dealer with CA emissions and had it delivered to my house. DMV in Roseville still made me get it smogged. I put 500mi on it, then took it back to the smog check for a 3rd time before the monitor was activated.

The manual does make reference to issue. Recommends several days of everyday driving to activate the monitor.

 

I bought my new 2015 from a dealer on the East Coast and had it shipped to a courtesy delivery in Oregon. I then drove it back to Ca. and it did not require a smog when I took it to DMV.

 

Yes, after I drove the car home the CA plates and registration arrived about 3 weeks later. Easy peasy... They took care of everything. I didn't have to have it smogged or anything, they did order it with the CA Emissions option code.

 

In 2002, I bought a new BMW out of state and had it courtesy delivered to CA. I had to get a smog certificate and have a DMV visual inspection. DMV wanted to see the 50 state emissions sticker.

 

no, my statement is any car purchased out of state. Your scenario is a CA dealer car. Its California's way of punishing people for doing business outside of the state, i.e. purchasing a car somewhere else and bringing it here.

 

to respectfully disagree, you are wrong. I should have added this point of misinformation to my original post. A car that is bought in another state that is 49 state smog legal, not 50 smog legal, is subject to the 7500 mile restriction. Please see post #1. There have been numerous examples of people buying cars from dealers who have inadvertently forgot to put the YF5 package on, and all it requires is a smog check.

Once again I can provide positive proof, as my first C6 was a 2005 I bought in early 2006 with 4500 miles on it from a guy in Michigan. Less then 1 year, less then 7500 miles, and his car was not a CA emissions car as it was sold in Michigan, but was a 50 state car. Smogged it, took it to DMV for inspection, they noted the 50 state and current smog, and sent me on my way.

 

That's great! I imagine it could be tied into the courtesy delivery and how everything was titled/transferred. I have not done a courtesy delivery, as my experiences have either been with cars shipped to me directly, or driving them home myself.

 

that's a great question, but I don't have the answer to that one. My gut tells me it has to be smogged in CA, because once again referring to point #2, they will claim their emissions are on a stricter scale and they want their cut. A call to the DMV may be in your future, good luck with that.

 

There is another section on the website regarding new vehicles purchased out of state. So above statement is NOT true on new vehicles purchased out of state. New cars purchased out of state MUST be 50 state approved, and in the case of the Corvette there is actually a label on the side of the hood that says Calif Approved.

He WILL need a smog cert and if is not a 50 state/Calif approved vehicle, actually cannot be registered here.

I just picked up a 2015 Suburban in Oklahoma and it is 50 state approved and DMV DID require a smog and vehicle inspection at the DMV when I registered it.

There are several posts on here with CA registration discussions and one has a well put together list of what is needed to accomplish the task.