Return to stock

[Dave2013M3]

And just a nickels worth of free advice. The SMOG Referees in California are generally very well trained. Sure like any job you’ll run into the occasional moron, but for the most part, these guys know what they’re doing.

They see dozens of cars every week. They have reference material from the manufacturer and they’re generally familiar with common models. (Mustang falls in this category.)

So don’t try and sneak anything by them. Like @Dave2013M3 said, the CARB legal set up is the way to go. Make sure you keep the stickers with the EO numbers, and any documents that come with it.

If you show up with a legal car, they may ask a few questions about why it failed previously, but they’ll sign you off and you’ll be on your way ready to reg, easy peasy.

Pull some crap or show up with an illegal car and they’ll flag the VIN and every Registration/Smog cycle after that will require a trip to the referee. (Makes the car harder to flip down the road, and if you keep it, becomes A pain in your butt.)

Pearls here^^^^^

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[Aldo0280]

Ya thanks for the advice. I have been to the smog referee before when i put a newer motor into a ford ranger pickup & he actually was pretty cool. I basically planned on getting it as close as possible to what i think will pass & then tell the guy the truth. Which is i purchased the car knowing it wasnt smog legal & i am just trying to make it legal. Beside that i may just bring it in & see what happens & let him tell me what i need to make it legal. Before i spend more money just guessing. But it will have the power pack 3 setup basically which thankfully is smog legal or id be totally screwed!

 

[Dave2013M3]

Ya thanks for the advice. I have been to the smog referee before when i put a newer motor into a ford ranger pickup & he actually was pretty cool. I basically planned on getting it as close as possible to what i think will pass & then tell the guy the truth. Which is i purchased the car knowing it wasnt smog legal & i am just trying to make it legal. Beside that i may just bring it in & see what happens & let him tell me what i need to make it legal. Before i spend more money just guessing. But it will have the power pack 3 setup basically which thankfully is smog legal or id be totally screwed!

You're not guessing anymore. You are trying to get out of buying the PP3 kit which I understand. Here is an idea...here is the ProCal tool sold seperately,

Give Ford Performance a call, talk to Tom. I found him very helpful. Explain the position you are in and that you bought the car with the PP3 kit installed but the old owner didn't provide the ProCal unit with the car and installed a non CARB legal tune on the car. Buy the ProCal tool and maybe Tom can get you a voucher to download the tune for the PP3 kit onto the ProCal tool, he can also provide the CARB EO sticker.

To be frank I already know what the referee is going to say, and that is you fail because the mods done on the car are not CARB legal. He/she is going to tell you to put it back to complete stock configuration or get a kit that is CARB legal.

Just an FYI, I believe the car is still registered under the old owners name. Until your car can be registered it probably can't transfer title properly, I could be wrong on this.

 

[Vtown702]

Can lead a horse to water but ya can’t make em take a drink… why ask for advice when ya won’t listen or take the people’s advice that have the experience . Dave you are a very informative help on this forum. Thank you for ur honest advice. It has helped me in the past

 

[Dave2013M3]

Can lead a horse to water but ya can’t make em take a drink… why ask for advice when ya won’t listen or take the people’s advice that have the experience . Dave you are a very informative help on this forum. Thank you for ur honest advice. It has helped me in the past

All I can say is I try...thanks so much for the kind words...Made my day!!

 

[Ford 5 Liter]

WH, in Cali as long as there is a tune on it that doesn't have a CARB # it won't pass even with the readiness codes all green, they have software that can tell if its the original or OEM software. Thats why the CARB EO# is so important. Thats why I went with the Ford Performance Power kit for my 2020 Mustang.

To the OP, if the original owner doesn't have the tuning device with the stored OEM tune you will have to take it to a dealer and have the original tune installed. You will have to put on the OEM headers and cats. I would then consider the Ford Performance STG 3 Powerkit I showed, as it will tie in the GT350IM, the TB and the CAI to run with a CARB legal tune from Ford. I know you already have this installed, but you could probably sell the new GT350IM and TB separately and recoup some of your cost. The car won't run right with the OEM software and that TB and will kick off codes. Any codes you can't get a pass other than for EVAP canister to get a go on smog. After that is all done you have to start the drive cycle to get all the readiness codes to go green, this can take a few days. I knocked it out in 2-3 days of driving within the cycle.

A good read...BTW Livernois may have a smog legal tune for this setup. I would call and ask. They offer CARB EO# tunes.

Cali checks for tunes

If you use return to stock on an sct x4 will that work for smog? This is for a 2014 mustang with a phase 1 SC, the Roush tune was saved on the sct as ”stock.” assuming this is an exact copy and would look like the roush tune When connected via obd?

 

[Dave2013M3]

If you use return to stock on an sct x4 will that work for smog? This is for a 2014 mustang with a phase 1 SC, the Roush tune was saved on the sct as ”stock.” assuming this is an exact copy and would look like the roush tune When connected via obd?

That should work as long as you don't have any other changes deviating from the Roush Stg 1 setup. I am assuming the Roush setup has a CARB EO#.

 

[Ford 5 Liter]

That should work as long as you don't have any other changes deviating from the Roush Stg 1 setup. I am assuming the Roush setup has a CARB EO#.

Yes, the kit came with a CARB EO# and it’s installed on the hood. I should pass visual and readiness monitors are set. just hoping some flag wasn’t tripped by flashing a tune.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Yes, the kit came with a CARB EO# and it’s installed on the hood. I should pass visual and readiness monitors are set. just hoping some flag wasn’t tripped by flashing a tune.

When you reflash the car the readiness codes won't be green. Make sure you go through the drive cycle

 

[Ford 5 Liter]

When you reflash the car the readiness codes won't be green. Make sure you go through the drive cycle

Yes sir, by the way, it worked. Thanks!

 

[GJarrett]

... I know the previous owner was responsible for the smog but i got a pretty good deal on the car because it wasnt able to pass smog...

Well I hope you didn't just get a "pretty good" deal - you needed to get a VERY GOOD deal.....

... and I agree with the advice on this thread, you are gonna have to spend the $$$$ to fix it right to pass the ref. Or, move to another state if you want to ignore the advice.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Yes sir, by the way, it worked. Thanks!

I moved back to the BMW M world, but I am glad I can help.

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