[Spdbump]

I was reading online yesterday and found out that in CA if you tune your car it will fail emissions. To pass it has to be returned back the factory tuning. You can re-flash after the test.
Here are some URLS about it.

ECU-tuned cars will now automatically flunk California smog testing

However, the state still says you're free to flash an ECU to stock and return the tune after the test.

www.cnet.com

New Emissions Law

Weistec Engineering is an industry leader in aftermarket performance parts for European vehicles. Weistec Engineering Launches Direct Current Engineering. is dedicated to enhancing the experience of electric vehicles without compromising reliability and drivability.

www.weistec.com

https://www.motortrend.com/news/california-illegal-ecm-tuning-smog-test/

California Starts Cracking Down on Non-Approved ECU Tunes Today. Here’s Why

What you need to know about California's biennial inspection.

www.thedrive.com

California's ECU Tuning Policy: Your Questions Answered

Well, all the answers we could pry from CARB and CBAR, that is...

www.thedrive.com

Your ECU tune may soon hold you up in California's smog test

California's biennial Smog Check will soon fail cars with non-compliant ECU tunes.

www.motorauthority.com

California Won't Let You Register Your Car if It's Tuned

California is famous among consumers and enthusiasts alike for its strict emissions laws. Now, the California Air Resources Board has introduced new regulations for modified cars.

www.motorbiscuit.com

California To Check For ECU Tunes (Here’s the Workaround)

California will be looking for custom tunes in the ECU during biannual smog checks. This will be problematic for many car enthusiasts. This is a workaround.

www.fordmuscle.com

Frequently Asked Questions: Smog Check Program

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Smog Check Program.

www.bar.ca.gov

I wonder what they would do with a K-swapped car or one that had been converted to full electric? Two things that have been discussed here. I also wonder how many other States will follow California in doing this?

 

[ryanthegreat1]

With the way the EPA is handing out fines left and right to resellers of flash tools I doubt many will even have the option to load a tune soon. EPA is now saying if it has a VIN it can not be used for off-road or competition use. It must remain 100% stock. Have a look at the RPM Act that is fighting this.

My K24 swap would be CARB legal, it is an equal or newer powertrain, from the same class of vehicle, emissions systems all fully intact, stock K24 PCM. It passes all emissions readiness tests. But I don't live in the peoples republic of California and I don't have emissions testing.

I did get out of paying for the hybrid vehicle registration tax recently added in my state with proof of hybrid system removal. Taxing hybrids to subsidize EV charging stations that the hybrid can never use really rubbed me the wrong way. Did gas stations get a subsidy?

EV conversions can just tell the EPA to pound sand. What emissions?

 

[Krishna]

Could you imagine bricking your car bc you wanted to tune for aftermarket parts.

 

[Spdbump]

No, I can't imagine it as it does not happen.

People have been doing it for years and it is easier now. Very few have had issues and most who have had tunes done have not had any issues. I have not heard of any total losses due to tuning. You can always go back to stock that is why all tuners allow you to save the settings before you tune. They have been tuned by all kinds of methods but I think it is is more prevalent in the truck world but I am probably wrong.

Could you imagine bricking your car bc you wanted to tune for aftermarket parts.

 

[ryanthegreat1]

To be clear I am totally looking forward to owning an EV. And all of my project cars have intact emissions systems. I don't like the smell that comes with no emissions and I guess you know saving the planet or whatever.

As for flashing a tune and back to stock, the problem with that is modern PCMs store information about when they were last flashed and what tool was plugged into the OBD port. Would take no effort at all to check the flash history and fail inspection because the PCM was flashed in the last 12 months.

 

[Spdbump]

To be clear I am totally looking forward to owning an EV. And all of my project cars have intact emissions systems. I don't like the smell that comes with no emissions and I guess you know saving the planet or whatever.

As for flashing a tune and back to stock, the problem with that is modern PCMs store information about when they were last flashed and what tool was plugged into the OBD port. Would take no effort at all to check the flash history and fail inspection because the PCM was flashed in the last 12 months.

The articles I linked explain it is legal to flash it back to oem and reflash it back to modified and stay legal . Just needs to be oem when being tested.

 

[ryanthegreat1]

For now.... The evidence is there if they wanted to look.

 

[Spdbump]

Of course it is recorded but specifically it is for now still legal to flash it back to modified only has to be OEM when tested. They could have written it to make any modification illegal they did not. For now

For now.... The evidence is there if they wanted to look.

 

[MrFastFox666]

These laws are well intentioned, but so backwards and sometimes useless. The amount of people flashing their ECUs is miniscule compared to average drivers with stock cars.

I wonder if tuners will find a workaround for this limitation.

 

[ryanthegreat1]

These laws are well intentioned, but so backwards and sometimes useless. The amount of people flashing their ECUs is miniscule compared to average drivers with stock cars.

I wonder if tuners will find a workaround for this limitation.

Bit stuffing to make the checksums match. Not impossible but will take a bit of work. They already figured out Apple's on device image scanning and can produce two images that result in the same hash. Go ahead and text a clean image with a hash that matches CP to your Apple friends. It will be fun.

 

[Koala Yummies]

EPA is now saying if it has a VIN it can not be used for off-road or competition use.

Wow that's overreaching. Most competition/club racing, like Honda Challenge for example, is entirely VIN'd and formerly street-driven cars. Only the biggest motorsport teams/aftermarket tuners get body in white chassis.

For now.... The evidence is there if they wanted to look.

Extra ECM. As soon as it arrives program the VIN, drive around the block, remove and throw in closet. Smog is every 2 years and you just don't drive that much cause you care about the environment. 😀

 

[ryanthegreat1]

PCMs store odometer data independent of the gauge cluster. A mismatch would raise a flag.

Reprogramming the eeprom in the cluster is also pretty easy if one wanted to go that route.

 

[Koala Yummies]

PCMs store odometer data independent of the gauge cluster. A mismatch would raise a flag.

Reprogramming the eeprom in the cluster is also pretty easy if one wanted to go that route.

I've replaced ECMs on the CR-Z and smogged in CA. No mismatch.

 

[ryanthegreat1]

Only because they are not currently looking.

 

[Koala Yummies]

Only because they are not currently looking.

Are you talking about newer vehicles or non-Hondas?

The CR-Z specifically stores odometer in the cluster and ECM reads it off that. Honda has done so for isolation. ECMs can develop faults that require replacing the entire computer.

 

[ryanthegreat1]

Incorrect, PCM has it's own Odometer. The 2012 Civic PCM in my 2011 CR-Z shows the Civic's odometer value.

The cluster and PCM do not show the same value. Civic was roughly 20k miles more at the time of swap and maintains that 20k mile gap.

 

[Koala Yummies]

I don't know what to tell you guy. Not seeing it, it's stored and read from the cluster (and haven't ever heard of this alleged mismatch problem). We're talking about this in the context of California emissions. We're also talking about CR-Zs and anyone with the ability to swap out the ECM themselves (and thus do the requisite programming of the key transponders and write the correct VIN; much more important) has the ability to correct whatever it is that you're talking about anyway.

 

[SkittyDoogle]

One simple work-around: register the car in Montana
You pay a flat fee regardless of vehicle value and the car doesn’t have to reside in Montana. That way all of your mods remain completely legal and you aren’t emissions tested. I have a good friend who does emissions testing in southern California and he confirmed all of this. He says their computers were updated on the 21st of July.

 

[ryanthegreat1]

One simple work-around: register the car in Montana

Other stares already started cracking down on this specifically for exotic cars. Guys were evading taxes by registering in MT. The states want them tax dollars!

 

[SkittyDoogle]

Other stares already started cracking down on this specifically for exotic cars. Guys were evading taxes by registering in MT. The states want them tax dollars!

Wow this is recent. I guess they could commit fraud by registering it under a family member or friend’s name in another state. Then they could honestly say they’re borrowing the car! LOL
Or the best choice is to move out of California altogether. In my state they don’t test emissions. Glad I don’t have to comply with that BS!