Any California folks having problems passing smog with a tune?

[Dave2013M3]

New? You haven't been allowed to have a "tuned" vehicle in CA since, forever.

You can as long as you have CARB approval like the Ford Performance Power kits.

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[furdfan2018]

That's not correct. This new law was adopted in July 2021, and smog stations now check the ECU for any non OEM tune with exception to any that carry a CARB approval.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/modified-software

Resetting the discussion to the original question asked to see if members in Ca. with aftermarket tunes have smogged since this was adopted. Did you pass, if so how?

No, YOU are not correct -- the mere fact that you posted this thread indicates your complete lack of understanding the CA Smog program.

If your car is 2000 or newer, they only test for monitor readiness. Any "tune" worth a shit will have your After cat o2 sensors turned off, amongst other "monitors" that will immediately fail ANY CA smog test -- Yes, this was true even prior to 2021.

To make things even better -- if your car is older than 2000, all the same above applies but you ALSO must pass the sniffer test, under load on a dyno.

The only vehicles exempt from this in CA are pre 1976 gas models, pre 1997 diesel models, and ALL vehicles in certain sparsely populated cities in a few counties -- Needles, CA is an example. No smog required if you are registered there.

Sorry it's been that way forever, anything without a carb eo # was a no go in cali.

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[illadvised]

If your car is 2000 or newer, they only test for monitor readiness. Any "tune" worth a shit will have your After cat o2 sensors turned off, amongst other "monitors" that will immediately fail ANY CA smog test -- Yes, this was true even prior to 2021.

I am not sure which part you were arguing, however nowadays even if an aftermarket 'tune' leaves all of those on, it will fail a smog unless the tune is carb exempt. I had a tune that used to pass smog fine and was told it failed, I had to revert to the Paxton supplied tune.

 

[lieu910]

No, YOU are not correct -- the mere fact that you posted this thread indicates your complete lack of understanding the CA Smog program.

If your car is 2000 or newer, they only test for monitor readiness. Any "tune" worth a shit will have your After cat o2 sensors turned off, amongst other "monitors" that will immediately fail ANY CA smog test -- Yes, this was true even prior to 2021.

To make things even better -- if your car is older than 2000, all the same above applies but you ALSO must pass the sniffer test, under load on a dyno.

The only vehicles exempt from this in CA are pre 1976 gas models, pre 1997 diesel models, and ALL vehicles in certain sparsely populated cities in a few counties -- Needles, CA is an example. No smog required if you are registered there.




100%

Before your systolic goes crazy, read the article in the link. There is a distinction between what you are saying and the new ECU law passed in July 2021. The tune in your ECU will need to match the California CVN database as of the passage of the NEW LAW passed July 2021. If it does not match, it will not pass.

They were not checking the tune in your ECU against a CVN database prior to July 2021. Since posting this, I have validated it with two smog shops.

Furthermore, one shop indicated a customer failed to meet this criteria, and the car was not tuned, but the Ca. database evidently has some gaps. The car had to be reffed, but passed.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cu...californias-new-ecu-law-means-for-tuned-cars/

 

[lieu910]

I am not sure which part you were arguing, however nowadays even if an aftermarket 'tune' leaves all of those on, it will fail a smog unless the tune is carb exempt. I had a tune that used to pass smog fine and was told it failed, I had to revert to the Paxton supplied tune.

I could be wrong, but it seems like the outcomes vary for reasons I wouldn't try to assume. I say that because after spending an hour or so on Google searches, there is a disparity in outcomes, pass or fail. Some in very recent years passed with non CARB certified tunes, some did not. It's confounding really.

Looks like the new law adds another layer of standards with respect to validating an OEM tune by virtue of having it match with the CVN in the database.

 

[furdfan2018]

Before your systolic goes crazy, read the article in the link. There is a distinction between what you are saying and the new ECU law passed in July 2021. The tune in your ECU will need to match the California CVN database as of the passage of the NEW LAW passed July 2021. If it does not match, it will not pass.

They were not checking the tune in your ECU against a CVN database prior to July 2021. Since posting this, I have validated it with two smog shops.

Furthermore, one shop indicated a customer failed to meet this criteria, and the car was not tuned, but the Ca. database evidently has some gaps. The car had to be reffed, but passed.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cu...californias-new-ecu-law-means-for-tuned-cars/

Im familiar with what you are talking about.

I guess the larger point is CA has, for decades, been an absolute enemy of car culture and anything directly or indirectly related to it.

Keep your car stock or tag it out of state where your business exists are about the only options these days.

 

[luc]

Im familiar with what you are talking about.

I guess the larger point is CA has, for decades, been an absolute enemy of car culture and anything directly or indirectly related to it.

Keep your car stock or tag it out of state where your business exists are about the only options these days.

I would disagree with that. California has been at the forefront of the car culture for decades. It’s simply not a free for all and rules need to be followed
Do you know of any other states that have so many road racing tracks ?
California Speedway
Willows Springs raceway
Buttonwillow Raceway
Laguna Seca
Sears Point
Thunderhill raceway
And countless small oval racetracks
You will see more neat cars in 1 hour in La that you would see in years in any other states
As always California bashing is done by out-of-state folks
Some of my cars that I enjoy in ca :

 

[furdfan2018]

I would disagree with that. California has been at the forefront of the car culture for decades. It’s simply not a free for all and rules need to be followed
Do you know of any other states that have so many road racing tracks ?
California Speedway
Willows Springs raceway
Buttonwillow Raceway
Laguna Seca
Sears Point
Thunderhill raceway
And countless small oval racetracks
You will see more neat cars in 1 hour in La that you would see in years in any other states
As always California bashing is done by out-of-state folks
Some of my cars that I enjoy in ca :

Hilarious


I'd agree -- in 1965. Today, hell no. Not even close.

CA2K? Yeah right. Florida and Texas only.

The only reason you have the road courses you have in CA is due to the geography and also because they are soooooo far outside of civilization (Buttonwillow) that the crooked politicians and big business have no interest in eradicating them -- yet.

Oh yeah -- California Speedway has been bought up by Private Equity and will be warehouses VERY soon-- you can erase them from your list.


I spent 40 years in CA -- Best decision for a CAR GUY is to leave that place immediately and NEVER come back.


Only in CA can you get "state reffed" on the side of the road where they force you -- Gestapo style -- to open your hood so they can look for modifications.


Wake up from you dream sir, it is actually a nightmare and you are the only one who is still oblivious.

 

[luc]

Hilarious


I'd agree -- in 1965. Today, hell no. Not even close.

CA2K? Yeah right. Florida and Texas only.

The only reason you have the road courses you have in CA is due to the geography and also because they are soooooo far outside of civilization (Buttonwillow) that the crooked politicians and big business have no interest in eradicating them -- yet.

Oh yeah -- California Speedway has been bought up by Private Equity and will be warehouses VERY soon-- you can erase them from your list.


I spent 40 years in CA -- Best decision for a CAR GUY is to leave that place immediately and NEVER come back.


Only in CA can you get "state reffed" on the side of the road where they force you -- Gestapo style -- to open your hood so they can look for modifications.


Wake up from you dream sir, it is actually a nightmare and you are the only one who is still oblivious.

Lol… “ Gestapo style “ slightly over the top maybe?
Laguna Seca far from civilization?
Sears point far from civilization?
You seems to have a tendency to very slight exaggeration to say the least….

 

[Dave2013M3]

Hilarious


I'd agree -- in 1965. Today, hell no. Not even close.

CA2K? Yeah right. Florida and Texas only.

The only reason you have the road courses you have in CA is due to the geography and also because they are soooooo far outside of civilization (Buttonwillow) that the crooked politicians and big business have no interest in eradicating them -- yet.

Oh yeah -- California Speedway has been bought up by Private Equity and will be warehouses VERY soon-- you can erase them from your list.


I spent 40 years in CA -- Best decision for a CAR GUY is to leave that place immediately and NEVER come back.


Only in CA can you get "state reffed" on the side of the road where they force you -- Gestapo style -- to open your hood so they can look for modifications.


Wake up from you dream sir, it is actually a nightmare and you are the only one who is still oblivious.

It's not just California that's doing this. Unfortunately a lot of Californias emission laws are spreading to other States.

 

[Thomas]

My suggestion is to payoff the guy doing the testing.

 

[shogun32]

My suggestion is to payoff the guy doing the testing.

I doubt he'll be tempted short of 10 million and freedom from criminal prosecution.

 

[RagmopInKona]

Smog stations were not checking ECU's for CVN until July 2021.

Checking ecu's since obII

 

[RagmopInKona]

No, YOU are not correct -- the mere fact that you posted this thread indicates your complete lack of understanding the CA Smog program.

If your car is 2000 or newer, they only test for monitor readiness. Any "tune" worth a shit will have your After cat o2 sensors turned off, amongst other "monitors" that will immediately fail ANY CA smog test -- Yes, this was true even prior to 2021.

To make things even better -- if your car is older than 2000, all the same above applies but you ALSO must pass the sniffer test, under load on a dyno.

The only vehicles exempt from this in CA are pre 1976 gas models, pre 1997 diesel models, and ALL vehicles in certain sparsely populated cities in a few counties -- Needles, CA is an example. No smog required if you are registered there.




100%

Some of us have been jumping these hoops for decades, the o/p does not know what he is talking about.

 

[Joe Mac]

You will fail the test.

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