Car bought in SoCal, Smog check woes in Idaho
07-16-2018, 04:24 PM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Car bought in SoCal, Smog check woes in Idaho
I bought a 2000 Trans Am in 2002 in southern California. My wife and I moved from SoCal to Idaho in 2008, towed the car with us. Every year when it warms up and I take the car out for the summer, I have to charge the battery and the PCM has to re-learn everything. This is a pain in the *** when I'm trying to pass smog check (every 2 years) because I never know if it has finished the driving cycle or not. There is no light or indicator to tell me whether it has or not. I take it to the smog tester, they charge me $12 or whatever it is, then tell me I failed because it hadn't passed the cycle. To make matters worse, I often get an SES light for something that has gone awry. Usually it's just an O2 sensor that can't get hot enough because it's coated in residue from burning oil. When it gets really hot out, the light pops off for just long enough for me to get it smogged, and I go on my merry way for the next couple years. This year, not so much.
The SES light popped on before I was able to finish the driving cycle. First thing I replaced was a pre-cat O2 sensor on the passenger side. Drove it around, for a couple weeks, SES pops back on. Scan it again, this time it's AIR injection crap. Replaced the gaskets and check valves on both sides, drove it around for another couple weeks, SES light is still on. Scan it again, still AIR injection (P0410). Took it to a repair shop, they suggest replacing the AIR pump and another valve, to the tune of like $850. To add insult to injury, this freaking AIR system isn't even equipped on non-California models.
Since I'm not in California and won't ever be driving the car there again, can I just delete that system/module from my PCM completely? I imagine it's technically possible (and should rid me of this particular SES code), but is it legal? Will I be able to pass smog with that removed from the computer?
;tldr AIR is Cali only, not in Cali anymore, can I remove?
The SES light popped on before I was able to finish the driving cycle. First thing I replaced was a pre-cat O2 sensor on the passenger side. Drove it around, for a couple weeks, SES pops back on. Scan it again, this time it's AIR injection crap. Replaced the gaskets and check valves on both sides, drove it around for another couple weeks, SES light is still on. Scan it again, still AIR injection (P0410). Took it to a repair shop, they suggest replacing the AIR pump and another valve, to the tune of like $850. To add insult to injury, this freaking AIR system isn't even equipped on non-California models.
Since I'm not in California and won't ever be driving the car there again, can I just delete that system/module from my PCM completely? I imagine it's technically possible (and should rid me of this particular SES code), but is it legal? Will I be able to pass smog with that removed from the computer?
;tldr AIR is Cali only, not in Cali anymore, can I remove?
07-16-2018, 04:26 PM
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
I've considered it. Is it legal to sell it with an SES light on? I think in Cali that was illegal, not sure if that's a state-specific thing? 
Also, registration has been revoked (due to not passing smog). I have a temporary registration. Not sure if that complicates things.
Also, registration has been revoked (due to not passing smog). I have a temporary registration. Not sure if that complicates things.
Last edited by Vitoc; 07-16-2018 at 04:29 PM.
07-16-2018, 04:29 PM
#4
Team Owner
I doubt they do a visually inspect for the pump. Maybe you can get an ECU from an non CA car.
07-16-2018, 04:31 PM
#6
I've considered it. Is it legal to sell it with an SES light on? I think in Cali that was illegal, not sure if that's a state-specific thing?
Also, registration has been revoked (due to not passing smog). I have a temporary registration. Not sure if that complicates things.
Also, registration has been revoked (due to not passing smog). I have a temporary registration. Not sure if that complicates things.
Last edited by Swany00; 07-16-2018 at 04:36 PM. Reason: koko'd my response
07-16-2018, 04:34 PM
#7
Team Owner
Get a dyno tune. Have the tuner turn off that BS and even turn off the rear cat SES and skip shift while he's in there. Problem solved. Plus you get a more powerful, better running car at the same time. Leave the battery on a tender in the winter. And I think its only California where its illegal to sell a car with an SES light on. What a retarded law.
Last edited by ptindall; 07-16-2018 at 04:48 PM.
07-16-2018, 04:46 PM
#8
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You pay $12 to check codes and cycles? Buy a OBD-2 reader. That's 9 times in the last 18 years
You can buy a basic one for $15
Who would by a car with the Check Engine Light on?
Get the code, go to TA forum and ask the mullet crowd how to fix that. Sometimes a damn quart of lacquer thinner fixes those emission problems.
If I was gone from CA I'd be asking where to buy long tube headers, where to buy metal substrate catalytic converts, and how to remove the air injector pump. Install a bigger cam, buy a set of AFR heads, get it tuned and tell "Chad" to ensure those codes never pop again.
You can buy a basic one for $15
Who would by a car with the Check Engine Light on?
Get the code, go to TA forum and ask the mullet crowd how to fix that. Sometimes a damn quart of lacquer thinner fixes those emission problems.
If I was gone from CA I'd be asking where to buy long tube headers, where to buy metal substrate catalytic converts, and how to remove the air injector pump. Install a bigger cam, buy a set of AFR heads, get it tuned and tell "Chad" to ensure those codes never pop again.
07-16-2018, 04:48 PM
#9
Team Owner
Get a dyno tune. Have the tuner turn off that BS and even turn off the rear cat SES and skip shift while he's in there. Problem solved. Plus you get a more powerful, better running car at the same time. Leave the battery on a tender in the winder. And I think its only California where its illegal to sell a car with an SES light on. What a retarded law.
07-16-2018, 04:54 PM
#10
Team Owner
Thread Starter
You pay $12 to check codes and cycles? Buy a OBD-2 reader. That's 9 times in the last 18 years
You can buy a basic one for $15
Who would by a car with the Check Engine Light on?
Get the code, go to TA forum and ask the mullet crowd how to fix that. Sometimes a damn quart of lacquer thinner fixes those emission problems.
If I was gone from CA I'd be asking where to buy long tube headers, where to buy metal substrate catalytic converts, and how to remove the air injector pump. Install a bigger cam, buy a set of AFR heads, get it tuned and tell "Chad" to ensure those codes never pop again.
You can buy a basic one for $15
Who would by a car with the Check Engine Light on?
Get the code, go to TA forum and ask the mullet crowd how to fix that. Sometimes a damn quart of lacquer thinner fixes those emission problems.
If I was gone from CA I'd be asking where to buy long tube headers, where to buy metal substrate catalytic converts, and how to remove the air injector pump. Install a bigger cam, buy a set of AFR heads, get it tuned and tell "Chad" to ensure those codes never pop again.
07-16-2018, 05:22 PM
#11
Team Owner
Thread Starter
07-16-2018, 06:29 PM
#12
Team Owner
I bought a 2000 Trans Am in 2002 in southern California. My wife and I moved from SoCal to Idaho in 2008, towed the car with us. Every year when it warms up and I take the car out for the summer, I have to charge the battery and the PCM has to re-learn everything. This is a pain in the *** when I'm trying to pass smog check (every 2 years) because I never know if it has finished the driving cycle or not. There is no light or indicator to tell me whether it has or not. I take it to the smog tester, they charge me $12 or whatever it is, then tell me I failed because it hadn't passed the cycle. To make matters worse, I often get an SES light for something that has gone awry. Usually it's just an O2 sensor that can't get hot enough because it's coated in residue from burning oil. When it gets really hot out, the light pops off for just long enough for me to get it smogged, and I go on my merry way for the next couple years. This year, not so much.
The SES light popped on before I was able to finish the driving cycle. First thing I replaced was a pre-cat O2 sensor on the passenger side. Drove it around, for a couple weeks, SES pops back on. Scan it again, this time it's AIR injection crap. Replaced the gaskets and check valves on both sides, drove it around for another couple weeks, SES light is still on. Scan it again, still AIR injection (P0410). Took it to a repair shop, they suggest replacing the AIR pump and another valve, to the tune of like $850. To add insult to injury, this freaking AIR system isn't even equipped on non-California models.
Since I'm not in California and won't ever be driving the car there again, can I just delete that system/module from my PCM completely? I imagine it's technically possible (and should rid me of this particular SES code), but is it legal? Will I be able to pass smog with that removed from the computer?
;tldr AIR is Cali only, not in Cali anymore, can I remove?
The SES light popped on before I was able to finish the driving cycle. First thing I replaced was a pre-cat O2 sensor on the passenger side. Drove it around, for a couple weeks, SES pops back on. Scan it again, this time it's AIR injection crap. Replaced the gaskets and check valves on both sides, drove it around for another couple weeks, SES light is still on. Scan it again, still AIR injection (P0410). Took it to a repair shop, they suggest replacing the AIR pump and another valve, to the tune of like $850. To add insult to injury, this freaking AIR system isn't even equipped on non-California models.
Since I'm not in California and won't ever be driving the car there again, can I just delete that system/module from my PCM completely? I imagine it's technically possible (and should rid me of this particular SES code), but is it legal? Will I be able to pass smog with that removed from the computer?
;tldr AIR is Cali only, not in Cali anymore, can I remove?
You're welcome.
07-16-2018, 09:00 PM
#17
Making CFOT Great Again
TWELVE DOLLARS? Smog checks here cost $75 (and probably more now). You need to STFU about your $12. 
And why not drive the car every day for a week before your smog check, just to make sure the learning is complete? Do you hate driving it that much?
And why not drive the car every day for a week before your smog check, just to make sure the learning is complete? Do you hate driving it that much?
07-17-2018, 01:06 AM
#20
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Pics of your mullet and/or your sister-wife?