failed emissions inspection

[RF Overlord]

Phoebe failed emissions inspection last month because the local station said they couldn't communicate with the car, or something like that (I wasn't there). Using my trusty Actron scanner, I connected to it, and everything looked OK, except that all the I/M readiness monitors come back as n/a.

I know the monitors were not shut off, as the car passed no problem last year at the same station, and I haven't changed the tune, nor was anything done at any time before the inspection that would have affected the OBD II system.

Any thought would be appreciated.

 

[justbob]

Did you remember to use your interface cable Bob?

 

[justbob]

Edit, I thought you took the other car. Still, is it a chipped car or a handheld?

 

[guspech750]

Mine did the same thing this year. They thought they might have been having trouble with their equipment. So they let me go thru again into another testing lane and same thing. They gave my car the old fashioned sniffer test and passed it though. I wish I could help but I ended up not needing to figure out that issue.

 

[RF Overlord]

The interface cable issue was with The Blackbird. This is for Phoebe and she has a Zack tune, no chip.

I don't think the problem is with the inspection station's equipment as my Actron scanner won't show any of the monitors ready, either.

 

[justbob]

Bob, try hooking up the interface cable and try it out on your actron for giggles. it's got to be something with pin 13 IIRC on the pcm, the pin used for communication.

 

[guspech750]

The interface cable issue was with The Blackbird. This is for Phoebe and she has a Zack tune, no chip.

I don't think the problem is with the inspection station's equipment as my Actron scanner won't show any of the monitors ready, either.

Maybe its the Zack tune? He did my car. and I had the testing issue. Maybe. Maybe not.

 

[MitchB]

Well, I could be wrong, but I think some of your OBDII tests have been shut off - meaning your PCM is not even trying to run them. OBDII checks have been getting more rigid and this now throws a flag, meaning you fail.

Mitch

 

[Mike]

Mine did the same thing this year. They thought they might have been having trouble with their equipment. So they let me go thru again into another testing lane and same thing. They gave my car the old fashioned sniffer test and passed it though. I wish I could help but I ended up not needing to figure out that issue.

I had the same problem with BLUE and as you said, once they did the sniffer test all was good.

 

[rayjay]

Same problem here with the Zack tune. I have to return the car to stock and drive it 150-175 miles before she will pass NYS emissions, OBDII (no sniffers here). Same issue, the state computer says nothing there with the tune in. Detuning resets everything to 0 and you have to drive the miles to get everything back on line. Even having done that this year only 4 of 5 systems tested reset, but that is passable here. FWIW, the tune also changed the VIN on my ECU. That caused me to recieve a visit from a DMV investigator...

 

[ctrlraven]

Never had any issues with Zack's tune on my car with emissions. Last time was May of 2009 I went through emissions. The tech just had me stand outside of my car since I was in and out under 1-2 mins.

 

[rayjay]

Never had any issues with Zack's tune on my car with emissions. Last time was May of 2009 I went through emissions. The tech just had me stand outside of my car since I was in and out under 1-2 mins.

It may not be Zack's tune that is doing it, but the type of tuner and a change in DMV software. I too never had an issue when I was using a chip.

 

[Marauderjack]

Speaking of Zack....where the heck is he these days??

Figured he'd chime in by now??

 

[musclemerc]

^^^He's still here... Just staying under the radar.