Cam swap, smog test fail
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
Cam swap, smog test fail
Here in California where we used to have smog alerts the California Air Resources Board/CARB laid down the law in 2021 as you probably know, they no longer rely on the tailpipe sniff test, now they plug into the ECU and if they find any software NOT matching the OEM software, unless the changes have a CARB EO number, the car will automatically fail.
I had a BTR stage II SC cam kit installed in my C7, with the DOD delete kit and the tune, my car got a thumbs down recently.
I came across a video of a guy using HP tuning software to re-flash the ECU to stock with a bigger cam, in this video you can see what happens, my question is, would having my car's ECU returned to stock just so I could get a smog retest cause any serious problems over a short distance ( less than 5 miles) if it's babied ?
I apologize in advance if this might seem like a silly question, it's desperation time for me.
Thanks !
I had a BTR stage II SC cam kit installed in my C7, with the DOD delete kit and the tune, my car got a thumbs down recently.
I came across a video of a guy using HP tuning software to re-flash the ECU to stock with a bigger cam, in this video you can see what happens, my question is, would having my car's ECU returned to stock just so I could get a smog retest cause any serious problems over a short distance ( less than 5 miles) if it's babied ?
I apologize in advance if this might seem like a silly question, it's desperation time for me.
Thanks !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 483
There is more to it. The fact that you have dod eliminated amongst other things if you put the tune to stock you will end up with a check engine light for 1 if not several reasons. If you are lucky enough to not get a light it is very unlikely that you will be able to drive the car long enough to get all of the monitors to set in order to pass. Long story short the bad news is there isn't a cheap or easy work around.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
I understand why you might feel that way, it's understandable if you lived here when we had a brown haze covering everything and schools had to cancel PE, and if we tried going outdoors to rip & run our eyes would burn and our lungs hurt because of the heavy smog, so I get what the state is trying to keep from happening again.
When they plug in to the ECU and they find any variations from stock parameters, they automatically assume the changes negatively impact emissions unless there a corresponding CARB EO number, it's THAT assumption I wish they'd find a remedy for.
Thanks for your reply
When they plug in to the ECU and they find any variations from stock parameters, they automatically assume the changes negatively impact emissions unless there a corresponding CARB EO number, it's THAT assumption I wish they'd find a remedy for.
Thanks for your reply
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
Thanks !
As you know cam swaps also include new springs, lifters, and plugs to cancel DOD, the tune is to make sure the car knows what's new and fix settings to accommodate those things. Right now as it stands, it would mean going back to stock except for the A&A blower which comes with a CARB # and sticker,, wasn't planning on using that much of my retirement nest egg.
As you know cam swaps also include new springs, lifters, and plugs to cancel DOD, the tune is to make sure the car knows what's new and fix settings to accommodate those things. Right now as it stands, it would mean going back to stock except for the A&A blower which comes with a CARB # and sticker,, wasn't planning on using that much of my retirement nest egg.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
I will CorvetteMike,
I will be at the tuner's shop Thursday afternoon, they're also builders and do serious customizations, I guess I'm kinda disappointed that the tuner never mentioned that my cam swap might lead to failing smog checks, but like the say goes, "ignorance of the law is no excuse" I bear full responsibility because I knew that changes were coming, I just didn't keep an eye on what those changes were until too late.
I will be at the tuner's shop Thursday afternoon, they're also builders and do serious customizations, I guess I'm kinda disappointed that the tuner never mentioned that my cam swap might lead to failing smog checks, but like the say goes, "ignorance of the law is no excuse" I bear full responsibility because I knew that changes were coming, I just didn't keep an eye on what those changes were until too late.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,282
Likes: 552
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
I understand why you might feel that way, it's understandable if you lived here when we had a brown haze covering everything and schools had to cancel PE, and if we tried going outdoors to rip & run our eyes would burn and our lungs hurt because of the heavy smog, so I get what the state is trying to keep from happening again.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
Right on !
I NEVER want to go back to smog alerts, when we couldn't see the surrounding San Gabriel mountains, we could literally smell the smog, consider that the 405-101 freeway interchange was considered the world's busiest thoroughfare and might still be, and being the car capital of the world, mostly one-driver per car, something had to give. I'm not so sure that DOD delete has a significant impact on pollution, gas mileage probably so.
I NEVER want to go back to smog alerts, when we couldn't see the surrounding San Gabriel mountains, we could literally smell the smog, consider that the 405-101 freeway interchange was considered the world's busiest thoroughfare and might still be, and being the car capital of the world, mostly one-driver per car, something had to give. I'm not so sure that DOD delete has a significant impact on pollution, gas mileage probably so.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 569
From: MSP
you never want to go back to smog alerts, but you're looking for a way to circumvent the laws intended to prevent said alerts? I'm getting mixed messages here.
the simple solutions are:
1) return to stock
2) do CARB-certified modifications
3) move somewhere else
the simple solutions are:
1) return to stock
2) do CARB-certified modifications
3) move somewhere else
Pro
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 576
Likes: 173
From: In transit
If this is a manual, you should be fine with the DOD delete as long as you avoid putting the car in eco mode. Only then the DOD is activated.
I have heard of friend that ran their camed C6s on the stock tune for emission testing. The hardest part is getting the pollution monitors ready. It requires to drive the car for a certain amount of time/distance without check engine lights. Cold start & idling typically is the trickiest part as misfires are very likely.
I have heard of friend that ran their camed C6s on the stock tune for emission testing. The hardest part is getting the pollution monitors ready. It requires to drive the car for a certain amount of time/distance without check engine lights. Cold start & idling typically is the trickiest part as misfires are very likely.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
After you reflash the tune, you'll also need to drive the car long/far enough to get the emissions monitors to set as "Ready". The GM drive cycle can take 30-40 miles to do so...at times a little less....at times a little more. It has specific requirements regarding throttle usage, speed, steady state, coolant temp, etc.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
Thanks for your feedback !
I am not looking for ways to circumvent the law, what I'm doing is searching to find information I might not be aware of.
I have already prepared for the possibility-probability of reverting my car back to the stock cam and the other components at a cost for which I had not planned on, anyone faced with this would probably reach out for information wherever it might be, just in case.
I am not looking for ways to circumvent the law, what I'm doing is searching to find information I might not be aware of.
I have already prepared for the possibility-probability of reverting my car back to the stock cam and the other components at a cost for which I had not planned on, anyone faced with this would probably reach out for information wherever it might be, just in case.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,822
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I remember how bad it was. I grew up in Western PA and didn't understand what smog was until I made several business trips to the LA area in the late 60s. For somebody that wasn't used to it talk about burning throat, nostrils, eyes, and smog so thick you could see it in the long hallways in large aerospace manufacturing buildings. In 1969 I was offered a great job at great pay in the LA area but I turned it down because I didn't want to expose my family to that pollution. My daughter lives in the LA area now and when we visit it is amazing to see the sun, sky, mountains and ocean compared to the late 60s the environment is thousands of times better I haven't experienced any burning of my eyes, throat or nostrils when visiting her for the last 20 years. She has no idea what I saved her from by not taking that job when it was offered. Instead, we lived in a semi-rural area of upstate NY where the air was relatively clean.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
Thanks Bill Dearborn,
Now that I'm a grandpa it's even more important to me passing on to the younger generations something a lot better than what I experienced with smog.
I'm in a tough situation, my tuner said he wouldn't suggest trying a stock tune with a stage 2 cam, the risks are too high of having catastrophic engine failure.
I'm completely responsible to the choices I made modifying my car's engine, the thought of going back to stock except for the A&A blower my car has which is CARB EO approved, is something I wish that I didn't need to even consider.
Thanks again!
Now that I'm a grandpa it's even more important to me passing on to the younger generations something a lot better than what I experienced with smog.
I'm in a tough situation, my tuner said he wouldn't suggest trying a stock tune with a stage 2 cam, the risks are too high of having catastrophic engine failure.
I'm completely responsible to the choices I made modifying my car's engine, the thought of going back to stock except for the A&A blower my car has which is CARB EO approved, is something I wish that I didn't need to even consider.
Thanks again!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
Thanks 96GS#007!
It doesn't seem feasible to try re-flashing the ECU, not with the more aggressive cam it has now, the guy in that YouTube video demonstrating what happened when he tried it only drove a very short distance and with issues at that, my tuner said it's just too big a risk to drive it that way.
Thanks!
It doesn't seem feasible to try re-flashing the ECU, not with the more aggressive cam it has now, the guy in that YouTube video demonstrating what happened when he tried it only drove a very short distance and with issues at that, my tuner said it's just too big a risk to drive it that way.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 21
From: Valencia, CA.
I was hoping to not have any of these types of responses, what someone thinks or feels about one of the United States is not the question here, too bad that you would use a Corvette forum this way when there's no shortage of other platforms available to express political points of view.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 139
From: Las Vegas NV
I was hoping to not have any of these types of responses, what someone thinks or feels about one of the United States is not the question here, too bad that you would use a Corvette forum this way when there's no shortage of other platforms available to express political points of view.
My apologies it was uncalled for I used to live there for a very long time and it just really bothers me on how the state has declined and made things for its residents painful. Good luck and hope you can work though the smog issue but its getting harder and harder to enjoy motorsports in CA
