Starting today, the California Smog Check Program will begin testing vehicles to ensure their vehicle is running either an OEM or California Air Resources Board-approved engine software tune.
The ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of the California Smog Check website was updated last week to include a new amendment indicating the test will now include an ECU software test to ensure the vehicle owner has not installed an illegal engine tune.
“Beginning July 19, 2021, vehicles with software not provided by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or approved through a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) will fail Smog Check,” the FAQ section now says. “Before your vehicle will pass a Smog Check, you must have the vehicle’s software restored to the OEM or EO approved software version. Once the software is restored, have your vehicle reinspected by a licensed Smog Check station. Note that vehicles initially directed to a STAR or Referee station must return to the same station type to complete the inspection process.”
With this change, Smog Check and CARB hope to reduce vehicle emissions in the state of California by doing away with vehicle engine tunes. Engine tunes are often applied to modern-day turbocharged vehicles to help increase horsepower and torque output without having to make any parts changes or physical modifications to the engine components themselves. These engine tunes typically increase boost pressure and changing the air/fuel mixture.
Some manufacturers have begun to take action against aftermarket engine tunes as well. General Motors, for example, has begun using encrypted engine control units for cybersecurity reasons – locking tuners out of its engines in the process. The new C8 Corvette Stingray has one of these encrypted ECUs and, as a result, can only be tuned in very limited ways.
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Comments
They’ve literally given instruction on how to defeat the test
1. re-flash stock tune
2. get emission testing done
3. flash ECU with tune again
I wonder how they will handle people who have modified or built a car, such as installing a turbo, which requires tuning.
“I wonder how they will handle people who have modified or built a car, such as installing a turbo, which requires tuning.” Will result in a failed inspection before the vehicle is even hooked up to the machine.
The advent of the “cat back” exhaust system is due to California rules against the modification to any part of a vehicles emission control system.
The remote mounted turbo charger system is a “cat back” systems and is the only type of non-OEM system legal in CA.
In the latter case, the entire mod package has to be EO-approved. Those exist, particularly name and OEM braded kits (e.g. Ford Performance Mustang superchargers).
All emissions-related hardware has to be CA approved, regardless of flashes. People became aware of this a few years back when they started cracking down on intakes/air boxes (since they’re so visible), and so a number of aftermarket brands went through the certification process.
In CA, everything has to be “EO-approved”.
Until recently if you had to replace a catalytic converter you had replace it with the exact factory replacement part. There have been more advanced, smaller, lighter, better performing units available for along time. Finally, some how CARB woke up!
Well this is not as easy as it once was. Many computers can be checked to see if they have been tampered with. The swap will not always work anymore.
Some can used pass through module but they are limited to all they can do.
The way to stop this is fight back now as it will only get worse.
Google the RPM act and read what our EPA is trying to do to performance.cars and race cars.
I work in the industry and the government is not coming for your cars but they are cutting off modifications and I expect more ethanol added to the fuel that will eat carbs,tanks and lines.
Racing and modified cars account for so little of the emissions it is crazy. Most politicians emit more emissions when they speak.
Go electric or go home
Go home in an electric car if you can
Just went thru state inspection last week. Seems they plug into OBDII port and check gas cap and that’s it? No brake, suspension or even horn wipers and hi-beams anymore. Length of inspection area is less than half of what it used to be.
Yeah, smog check/emissions tests are even more of a welfare scheme for mechanics now. California OBD regulations made it to the point that if the car detects anything that would cause elevated emissions, you get a check engine light.
Beyond seeing if the CEL is on and all the diagnostics have run (I/M readiness), it’s a check for tampering. Of course the price hasn’t come down. California charges easily $50, where other states with similar laws can be around $15.
California doesn’t set smog check price’s, each location sets it’s own price for the inspection and includes the CA, DMV fee.
In PA we have similar laws, and the annual emissions inspections are $50-$80 depending on where you have it done. The garage sets it’s own price. PA used to use tailpipe ” sniffers” but switched to OBD based inspections years ago.
I be lived in Illinois, NY and the last thirty years in Florida. Illinois and Florida does not have mandatory car inspections. NY does but any state to me it’s a political stance to keep inspection station in business. Vehicles built in the last 20-30 years are extremely durable in the safety area. Other than brakes and tires, the rest rarely wears out. When was the last time windshield wipers stop working on your vehicle? Having a burned out headlight, is it a safety hazard? What is the data on car crashes where typical safety checks during an inspection caused an accident. Road side quick checks for tires or taillights, etc would accomplish the same results. I’m ok with emissions test but does it need to be every year? The other problem is each state has a different set of rules. This needs to be a national agenda since thousands move to a different state every year then its trying the your vehicle up to snuff for that state.
CA would much rather see homeless defecating on the streets than see a tuned vehicle.
Soon the only mod allowed here will be a Biden / Harris bumper sticker.
I feel sorry for the taxpayers of the state of California that had to fund this. Myself included.
You can add this to the many, many reasons Governor Newsom is facing a recall. Yet another waste of time and money that could have been spent far better.
Remember the performance ads in Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, Truckin, and other custom/performance vehicle magazines? “Not legal to use or for sale on pollution controlled vehicles in the state of California”
Oh, well. We got away with it for a very long time. Always wondered when enforcement would catch up with us.
But it’s ok with California if millions of polluting illegals cross the border. Two headed snake.
So glad I don’t live there
Just brought an 09 GMC Sierra.. everything is perfect except I get the code p1174… Fuel trim. No mechanic /or GM tech wants to touch the vehicle in this state because it is a emissions repair. I’ve tried to repair it myself but the 2-month grace period California gives me to register this vehicle (aka pass SMOG) has expired. I’ll have a 15k yard decoration unless I can get this registered in Nevada. Please stop voting for Democrats. At these Smog shops I’m seeing nothing but hard working people in their landscaping trucks or commuters just failing time after time. The working man is a sucker in California.
Something doesn’t add up there, as GM techs are perfectly capable of doing emissions repairs – and in fact it’s their mandate to not refuse to do so.
Try another dealership. If that fails as to speak to the regional GM dealer representative and file a service request with GM customer service. They will find you a dealer.
Yeah California science does not add up. Notice how these .9999% issues are preventing us from participating in society? Just like COVID-19. California does not yet understand the science of neither fuel emissions nor disease transmissions. So to be safe they just keep you from participating in society. Sounds fair right?
The biggest offender are diesel truck owners. Particularly the young kids trying to get all the HP out of the engine while leaving stinky and a black soot exhaust.