Fuel System "Not Ready" [failed NJ inspection for ONLY that]

[GilmourD]

So, it looks like I would have passed inspection here in Jersey if I didn't get a "Not Ready" status for the fuel system. Literally the only thing they dinged me for was the "Not Ready" status for the fuel system.

Now the full story, as short as I can make it without rambling, is that the previous owner of my car had the exhaust installed by the best meth-head tech at Stevie Wonder's welding shop. Every joint was rigidly welded from front to back causing stress cracks through the mid pipe and axleback, but also the car had bottomed out at one point (as evidenced by the dent and scratch on the driver's side cat casing) which shoved the headers up and basically destroyed the primaries where they go through the mounting flange. Oh, and the cats were gutted and the O2 sensors had little extender pipes on them (this may play into this, I think).

So, the car went from Roush by Kooks long-tubes, what I believe was a Corsa double-X pipe, to a Roush Ready-For-Active axleback to a FRPP/Borla Touring catback with Stainless Power catted long-tubes.

Now, I just picked up the car after having the headers installed just last Wednesday (the catback was installed months ago).

Have I not driven it enough with my 15-minute daily work commute (even if the trip back from the installation was 45 miles)? Could it be what I said above about the O2 sensor extender pipes? Could the O2 sensors just be shot?

I pulled this data from FORscan in case it helps narrow things down. I color-coded to make it a bit easier on the eyes.

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[GilmourD]

Nobody?

 

[drive_55_not]

Nobody?

That has nothing to do with your fuel system, Your O2 sensors are not going ready.

I personally have never seen anybody's vehicle O2's go ready with LT's and aftermarket cat's ...

I know people will post their car's pass using some sort of non fouler O2 extenders and sprinkling on some some kinda pixie dust but those are Unicorns IMVHO.

Here's the drive cycle test for setting the monitors.

The IAT has to be in range 1st before the cycle will even start.

Then it checks the HO2S, which stands for heated Oxygen Sensor, and since the cat's are further back they likely aren't getting hot enough and that translates into the O2's not getting hot fast enough ..

The EVAp is the last thing checked and until you get the O2's to go ready you are stuck.


.

 

[offroadkarter]

So does the car have functioning cats on it? My morning coffee hasn't kicked in yet but I'm seeing where the car had gutted cats, I'm not seeing where it currently has functioning cats.

45 miles may not be enough to set the monitors, as @drive_55_not said above a lot of parameters have to be met in order for certain tests to complete.

 

[Mach VII]

O2 sensors turned off in tune?

 

[Wolfys11]

For catless setups, use a catted o2 sensor extension. Bigdaddiesgarage works perfect for me on an ecoboost and gt mustang. Zero issues in over 5 years for ny inspections. Generally a fuel system not ready may need more miles/ a specific type of driving so long as everything works in the fuel system. O2 sensors check a few things so that can take a good 50 miles or more sometimes

also like previous guy, check if tuner disabled o2 sensor codes which cause a never ready state

 

[GilmourD]

So does the car have functioning cats on it? My morning coffee hasn't kicked in yet but I'm seeing where the car had gutted cats, I'm not seeing where it currently has functioning cats.

45 miles may not be enough to set the monitors, as @drive_55_not said above a lot of parameters have to be met in order for certain tests to complete.

Yes, brand new StainlessWorks/StainlessPower SM24HCAT headers with cats from @beefcake.

I've been driving it daily for the past couple weeks and even went on a drive for a couple hours this past Saturday but the fuel system is still coming up as not ready.

O2 sensors turned off in tune?

That's what my brother's wondering. The tune that's on there would be from one of the previous owners (which probably needs to be tweaked anyway due to changing out the entire exhaust) and with discovering that said previous owner welded clamp-on adapters BACKWARDS as well as completing gutting the cats, who knows what weird shiz there is with the tune. I have the SCT tuner from my previous car (yes, it's divorced from that car) so I'm going to see what I can figure out from that.

For catless setups, use a catted o2 sensor extension. Bigdaddiesgarage works perfect for me on an ecoboost and gt mustang. Zero issues in over 5 years for ny inspections. Generally a fuel system not ready may need more miles/ a specific type of driving so long as everything works in the fuel system. O2 sensors check a few things so that can take a good 50 miles or more sometimes

also like previous guy, check if tuner disabled o2 sensor codes which cause a never ready state

Yes, but like I said in the OP I replaced the headers with a StainlessPower set with cats. And I've put at least 200 miles on it since picking the car up. Everything else is fine, even the emissions. It's just the fuel system showing not ready.

 

[beefcake]

I’m assuming you have a check engine light typically you have a check engine light if they’re not going ready

With catalytic converters, you’re normally going to need an O2 defouler

After 3 Heated Dr. cycles, it should take away the pending code or the code if you have one

 

[offroadkarter]

Yes, brand new StainlessWorks/StainlessPower SM24HCAT headers with cats from @beefcake.

I've been driving it daily for the past couple weeks and even went on a drive for a couple hours this past Saturday but the fuel system is still coming up as not ready.

That's what my brother's wondering. The tune that's on there would be from one of the previous owners (which probably needs to be tweaked anyway due to changing out the entire exhaust) and with discovering that said previous owner welded clamp-on adapters BACKWARDS as well as completing gutting the cats, who knows what weird shiz there is with the tune. I have the SCT tuner from my previous car (yes, it's divorced from that car) so I'm going to see what I can figure out from that.

Yes, but like I said in the OP I replaced the headers with a StainlessPower set with cats. And I've put at least 200 miles on it since picking the car up. Everything else is fine, even the emissions. It's just the fuel system showing not ready.

Well, as suggested, disabled O2's may be a problem. I've also seen cases where, with aftermarket cats, a tune requires an adjustment on what the O2's expect to see, and aftermarket cats may not trigger the "catalyst function" portion of the monitors without adjustment.

 

[bankyf]

I’m assuming you have a check engine light typically you have a check engine light if they’re not going ready

With catalytic converters, you’re normally going to need an O2 defouler

After 3 Heated Dr. cycles, it should take away the pending code or the code if you have one

Not ready typically will not have a DTC, which makes them much harder to diagnose. Readiness does not indicate that the particular test has passed or failed, it just indicates of it has or has not completed it's test.

 

[GilmourD]

I’m assuming you have a check engine light typically you have a check engine light if they’re not going ready

With catalytic converters, you’re normally going to need an O2 defouler

After 3 Heated Dr. cycles, it should take away the pending code or the code if you have one

Actually, no CEL before or since. That's probably pushing more towards it being something in the tune, huh?

Not ready typically will not have a DTC, which makes them much harder to diagnose. Readiness does not indicate that the particular test has passed or failed, it just indicates of it has or has not completed it's test.

The fact that I've been driving it daily and it still hasn't cleared... First check the tune then replace the O2 sensors?

 

[Wolfys11]

Its entirely possible previous tuner tuned out a code for evap or fuel which causes the fuel readyness to not set, definitly start with a tune and make sure to ask the tuner of choice to not turn off any codes

 

[GilmourD]

Its entirely possible previous tuner tuned out a code for evap or fuel which causes the fuel readyness to not set, definitly start with a tune and make sure to ask the tuner of choice to not turn off any codes

I've been poking around to figure out if my SCT Rev-X/BDX is able to make changes to O2 sensors and it seems that it can. The options just seem to be buried in menus. WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGES I'm going to plug it in and see what things look like, maybe after work today, if work doesn't destroy me.

 

[Wolfys11]

I've been poking around to figure out if my SCT Rev-X/BDX is able to make changes to O2 sensors and it seems that it can. The options just seem to be buried in menus. WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGES I'm going to plug it in and see what things look like, maybe after work today, if work doesn't destroy me.

Just know if the sct can change it, the tuners tune still prevails and if he tuned out codes, itl still have them off

 

[GilmourD]

Just know if the sct can change it, the tuners tune still prevails and if he tuned out codes, itl still have them off

Didn't get to look today. Left work 6 hours ago and haven't had a second to even think about it until now. Maybe tomorrow.

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