CA Smog Comrades ODB2 Question
 

Da,

According to the CA Bar pdf, I am allowed 1 "incomplete" or "not ready" OBD2 monitor, that being the evap system. However, I didn't find any explicit language on whether star smog and regular smog stations have a different passing criteria, and if having evap "not ready" will fail me at a star.

Any comrades with experience in the matter?

спасибо

I have never heard this. What car is this for? If I had to bet, you may get away with that at a referee station, but not your average smog guy.

I am not an expert, but I have never passed smog with incomplete monitors ...

G

You're good as long as it's only the EVAP monitor,no matter Star or regular smog requirement.

I take both our cars to a shop and pay about $50 to have the mechanic put his smog tester on the car and run the same tests that the certified station runs. He used to be a CA smog center but was in the hospital for several months and missed renewing his license so they unhooked him from the state's system. I would suggest trying to find a shop to do a "pre test" to see if everything passes or not.

This is a 2006 Cayman S. I have (hopefully had) a frequent harmless CEL (P0421). Cleared the code without thinking and just went to my smog station. They failed me because clearing codes will reset a lot of monitors. I tried to run the completion cycle last night, but the rain was relentless. So I opted for sanity and went and picked up korean fried chicken and beer.

BTW, that procedure or sequence is freaking hard! I must have gone over to 3200 rpm once and I couldn't get evap to switch to complete.

The sequence, as described on a thread in the 993 rennlist forum:

Cold start idle for 2min15sec
Accel to 20-30 and maintain speed 3min15sec
Accel to 40-60 and maintain speed 15min
Smooth Decel
Idle 5min (neutral for manual cars, P for tipronic)

monitors, plural? which ones? I'm just asking about the evap in particular.

I was leaning that way too since it explicitly says 2000+ models are allowed evap incomplete and no CELs.

Never heard of passing any smog test...with monitors not all ok

I went during lunch to get it done. I talked to the tech and he confirmed, evap not ready is OK. As he rolled my car into the station....Check Engine Light. FML.

Damn mondays.

How does anyone live under such oppressive rules?

Having gone through this 2 days ago, I can confirm that evap monitor incomplete is fine. I was driving my Chevy PU all over tarnation trying to get it to turn off, (including to Ojai and back), all for nothing.

Damn monitor wouldn't reset, I finally asked someone and they called a smog place and confirmed that one readiness monitor incomplete is OK. Not sure if it can be any of them but evap is definitely OK, I have the smog certificate to prove it. :)

Probably better than you're living. Just sayin'. :cool:

What are these Rules you speak of...

No state emissions testing will pass a vehicle with a CEL on. That's an immediate visual fail. But they still have to run the test. Generally speaking most manufacturers program the firmware to verify at least 3 key cycles, accelerating from zero to 55 sustained for approx 1 mile, 3 'cold' starts to set monitors. If your CEL is lit again - obviously that system failed to verify OK after 3 cycle / checks.

All states will allow for at least 1 monitor to be ' incomplete' but the hook is that 'pass' depends on which system hasn't 'set' or passed. The evap system is usually at least the '1' as people seem to have trouble installing their gas cap correctly.

There are a few companies that sell ( available to public) OBD II basic code traders that also show monitor status. Most of these are @$50. or under. Handy to have in areas where testing is mandatory.

Yes, I know about the CELs. 2006 Caymans are notorious for this code(P0421). I just installed one of those O2 bung extenders, hoping it would keep the code off permanently, but no dice.