How to pass OBD state inspection test with Cobb stage 3?

[pelotonracer2]

So, my FiST passed the inspection no problem but now I'm more confused than ever. Took my car to a dedicated inspection station (that's all they do) and they said the I/M test is not required on a car that is less than two model years old. There is no I/M test results for THIS inspection and the cost was only $7.00 total. They did the safety test only. Got my "cert" so now I can get registered. What the heck though? Was the first inspection station smoking crack or did the 2nd inspection station drop the ball?

 

[koozy]

what does a "safety" test entail? did they plug into the OBD2, run the car on a dyno or put a sniffer in the tail pipe?

 

[BryanD]

what does a "safety" test entail? did they plug into the OBD2, run the car on a dyno or put a sniffer in the tail pipe?

Safety is lights, horns, wipers, tightness of front end, all emissions components "there and appear to be in working condition" meaning they just have to be there and plugged in basically, etc. The OBD test is basically just to see that the vehicle is operating under legal conditions go as far as emissions is concerned.

Many states are moving to the first few years of a cars life to be considered a safety only inspection, because things such as check engine lights and emissions components are all covered under warranty still, making no excuse for them to be in non working condition.

Sorry for the half-asleep, very poorly laid out sentence structure and grammar.

 

[koozy]

Safety is lights, horns, wipers, tightness of front end, all emissions components "there and appear to be in working condition" meaning they just have to be there and plugged in basically, etc. The OBD test is basically just to see that the vehicle is operating under legal conditions go as far as emissions is concerned.

Many states are moving to the first few years of a cars life to be considered a safety only inspection, because things such as check engine lights and emissions components are all covered under warranty still, making no excuse for them to be in non working condition.

Sorry for the half-asleep, very poorly laid out sentence structure and grammar.

yeah, here in CA we don't any inspection for brand new vehicles until the 6th year, then every 2 years after that.

 

[pelotonracer2]

what does a "safety" test entail? did they plug into the OBD2, run the car on a dyno or put a sniffer in the tail pipe?

Safety inspection is lights, turn signals, brakes, wipers. I don't think they even plugged the OBD tester in because there were no I/M results in the paperwork, unlike the first test I did. No CEL = everything is in order.

 

[GateCityRadio]

How do I get the I/M status? We do OBD2 testing here too, womp womp...better check and get it right before I get my car inspected next month.

 

[Izzy]

S.O.S.

I'm going through the exact same issue. No matter what I do EVAP & O2's will not go into ready state. I put over 300mi. the 1st time around I reflashed the ECU and now have about 30mi and still nothing not even fuel sys. Most people say running E30 has nothing to do with it, but I'm tempted to go back to 93oct as it's easier to keep it filled between 3/4 & 1/4 for the testing. I've followed the Ford driving cycle, but those are nearly impossible in normal daily driving conditions. Perhaps doing so at 2am I could make them work... Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[koozy]

S.O.S.

I'm going through the exact same issue. No matter what I do EVAP & O2's will not go into ready state. I put over 300mi. the 1st time around I reflashed the ECU and now have about 30mi and still nothing not even fuel sys. Most people say running E30 has nothing to do with it, but I'm tempted to go back to 93oct as it's easier to keep it filled between 3/4 & 1/4 for the testing. I've followed the Ford driving cycle, but those are nearly impossible in normal daily driving conditions. Perhaps doing so at 2am I could make them work... Any input would be greatly appreciated.

you didn't mention your mods. I would avoid flashing the ECU, instead try resetting both KAM and ECU using the Accessport and see what happens. E30 shouldn't matter, I've achieve ready states on 91 and E30. EVAP is the hardest one, O2 just takes time. In a earlier post above I posted how I get EVAP to clear.

 

[Izzy]

Sorry...I'm Stg. 3 E30 with J-Line FMIC, 2J's catted DP & Cobb intake. By flashing I meant I uploaded a new map to reset everything as I thought that resets everything (KAM & ECU) at once, but from now on I'll refrain and just do the KAM & ECU via AP

you didn't mention your mods. I would avoid flashing the ECU, instead try resetting both KAM and ECU using the Accessport and see what happens. E30 shouldn't matter, I've achieve ready states on 91 and E30. EVAP is the hardest one, O2 just takes time. In a earlier post above I posted how I get EVAP to clear.

 

[Izzy]

Also...At what point (miles driven) should I just give up and reset Kam again? Really need to get this fixed in the next 14 days which is the grace period for delinquency.

 

[koozy]

Also...At what point (miles driven) should I just give up and reset Kam again? Really need to get this fixed in the next 14 days which is the grace period for delinquency.

yes try to avoid flashing even though it resets ECU. This is something new for FiST owners and I'm just going off of my experience, I never kept flashing different tunes to get the monitors to clear. pelotonracer2 also had issues trying to get his IM readiness monitors to clear, but after he reset the KAM and ECU through the AP he was able to get all IM ready states checked. If you can't get all IM checked off by 300 miles, I'd reset KAM and ECU through the AP and try again.

Are you using Cobb's OTS Stage 3?

 

[Izzy]

yes try to avoid flashing even though it resets ECU. This is something new for FiST owners and I'm just going off of my experience, I never kept flashing different tunes to get the monitors to clear. pelotonracer2 also had issues trying to get his IM readiness monitors to clear, but after he reset the KAM and ECU through the AP he was able to get all IM ready states checked. If you can't get all IM checked off by 300 miles, I'd reset KAM and ECU through the AP and try again.

Are you using Cobb's OTS Stage 3?

Nope...DHM E30

 

[koozy]

Nope...DHM E30

well... if you can't get the monitors to clear with that tune try Cobb's OTS Stage 3, which at least two members have been able to get IM monitors cleared with. You'll have to go back to 93 octane though. Just trying to keep variables between those that have been able to get IM cleared to a minimum.

 

[Izzy]

Lol...I'm a lil' over 3/4 full now. If by the time I'm due for refill it's still at "not ready" I'll reflash to Cobb OTS and refill with 93oct.

 

[Izzy]

Thanks to all who replied especially Koozy here & Pelotonracer2 via IM...I'm finally legit!

 

[koozy]

Thanks to all who replied especially Koozy here & Pelotonracer2 via IM...I'm finally legit!

so for future reference what tune and fuel did you pass with?

 

[Izzy]

Stage 3 Cobb OTS

 

[Khill007]

Safety inspection is lights, turn signals, brakes, wipers. I don't think they even plugged the OBD tester in because there were no I/M results in the paperwork, unlike the first test I did. No CEL = everything is in order.

Hello my DFW metroplex friend! I'm thinking of doing the full Cobb exhaust system on my car alone with a Stage 1 to start things off. I am in Dallas proper and don't want any headaches. Should I just do cat back or go ahead and get carted down pipe as well?

 

[koozy]

I recently visited the California (BAR) Bureau Of Automotive Repair State Ref to have the car tested to clear a citation for "modified emissions" that was marked as "correctable". The test is way more thorough than the usual CA smog check. To recap... I got cited for modified emissions, so the DHM turbo kit came off and OE intake, turbo, exhaust went back on, basically back to stock.... well almost.

So here are some random thoughts of the event that stand out in my mind.

The test was a bit nerve wracking mainly because everything on the car was scrutinized by 3 techs, I mean everything. Nothing was left unturned, they were as thorough as they could be with the skills and tools available to them. I was there observing the whole time mainly playing 'dumb', but was happy to answer any questions they had. They paid a lot of attention looking over the turbo and plumbing. I mean looking at it over and over and over. I was surprised that they took off the plastic engine cover, I thought they weren't supposed to remove anything from the car, but whatever I didn't have anything to hide under the cover. I was glad everything on the car was stock for the most part, including the sound symposer plumbing.

They noticed and asked me about the oil cooler, even though I knew it was legal and nothing to do with the emissions violation.

They made sure the OE catalytic converter was on the car, they asked if the intercooler was stock, I replied 'yes'. It wasn't until I left that I remembered I left the Airtec intercooler on. Fortunately any aftermarket factory fit front mount intercooler is hard to see.

They scrutinized the exhaust even though it was stock and I wasn't cited for a loud exhaust. I was glad I had the stock exhaust on the car for this test, because I almost left the Cobb cat back on there. They revved it while another tech was listening and if needed would have brought out the decibel meter for a reading. The Cobb cat back probably would have passed, but I didn't want to take a chance at least not for exhaust noise and have it fail for that. I was already taking a chance with something else, the tune on the ECU.

They made sure the check engine light was not on and working right, then they plugged into the OBDII port and looked to see if there were any alarms and to see if the I/M were in a state of 'readiness'. I was anticipating this so I completely removed the Accessport/Cables from the car and left them at home.

Once the car passed the visual and OBDII inspection they proceeded to put the car on the dyno to simulate on the road emissions and inserted an emissions probe into the tail pipe, which I wasn't really expecting since it was an OBDII car. The car was cited for emissions violation so they were going to put it through the gauntlet. During the test I could see the numbers and the car was emitting clean, very very clean.

Besides the car being overly scrutinized another nerve wracking part for me was I took a chance and took the car in with an Accessport tune loaded in the ECU, mainly out of my own curiosity and knowing that if it failed I'd have to correct the issue and return for another test all over again. I felt if I could get the car to pass for a State Ref test that I could also get it to pass for the regular CA Smog test when it was time and I really wanted to find out. Well... the car passed a CA State Ref Smog test with flying colors on a tune, lol !!!

The whole test took about an hour, easily 35 mins for the visual part alone. I'm free and clear from this citation now and don't have to appear before the judge, until the next time, hopefully never again...

I snuck a shot while the car was heading to the dyno for the tail pipe sniffer test.

Whooo hoooo... emissions are clean, clean, clean.... with an Accessport tune loaded . Just the standard 91 octane out of the Shell station pump with 10% Etoh, Pennzoil Ultra 5w20, one step colder Denso plugs. I was too lazy to put the stock plugs back in, LOL.

 

[ModBargains]

Thanks to all who replied especially Koozy here & Pelotonracer2 via IM...I'm finally legit!

Congrats! Nice work