CAR FLAGGED FOR CA State REF "PLEASE HELP"
Sorry guys, I have been busy this weekend and wasn't able to respond in this thread. Thank you everyone for all the information and suggestions.
With the stock tune flashed on the ECU, would a tuner still be able to force pass certain monitors that would other wise fail? If so, would a REF know that this was tampered with? I can't imagine a REF physically checking if the EGR or PVC was working etc.
In Theory would I be able to slap on all the EGR, PVC, MAF etc and make it look like they are there and working but they aren't actually working? Have the tuner force all necessary monitor to pass. Would this fool the REF? Does force passing certain monitors cause the Cal ID / CVN to change?
After pass REF and putting all my aftermarket parts back on the car and in 2 years when I need to smog the car again. Do I simply just flash the tune back to stock and run the smog check? That way the Cal ID / CVN is matching stock and won't get flagged in the future.
With the stock tune flashed on the ECU, would a tuner still be able to force pass certain monitors that would other wise fail? If so, would a REF know that this was tampered with? I can't imagine a REF physically checking if the EGR or PVC was working etc.
In Theory would I be able to slap on all the EGR, PVC, MAF etc and make it look like they are there and working but they aren't actually working? Have the tuner force all necessary monitor to pass. Would this fool the REF? Does force passing certain monitors cause the Cal ID / CVN to change?
After pass REF and putting all my aftermarket parts back on the car and in 2 years when I need to smog the car again. Do I simply just flash the tune back to stock and run the smog check? That way the Cal ID / CVN is matching stock and won't get flagged in the future.
Last edited by 2006EvoIXer; Aug 24, 2020 at 12:47 AM.
To reiterate: all smog parts have to be on the car and functioning. The ECU can't have ANY tuning done to it. It has to be the 100% stock ROM. All as from factory. No changes or variances for anything related to smog unless it has a CARB number.
Exactly. Unless you are a smog referee in CA, then the world is your oyster.
Then we realized there is probably some type of "conflict of interest" clause. My car would blow crazy clean, but noooo. Not good enough. LOL
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
Sorry guys, I have been busy this weekend and wasn't able to respond in this thread. Thank you everyone for all the information and suggestions.
With the stock tune flashed on the ECU, would a tuner still be able to force pass certain monitors that would other wise fail? If so, would a REF know that this was tampered with? I can't imagine a REF physically checking if the EGR or PVC was working etc.
In Theory would I be able to slap on all the EGR, PVC, MAF etc and make it look like they are there and working but they aren't actually working? Have the tuner force all necessary monitor to pass. Would this fool the REF? Does force passing certain monitors cause the Cal ID / CVN to change?
After pass REF and putting all my aftermarket parts back on the car and in 2 years when I need to smog the car again. Do I simply just flash the tune back to stock and run the smog check? That way the Cal ID / CVN is matching stock and won't get flagged in the future.
With the stock tune flashed on the ECU, would a tuner still be able to force pass certain monitors that would other wise fail? If so, would a REF know that this was tampered with? I can't imagine a REF physically checking if the EGR or PVC was working etc.
In Theory would I be able to slap on all the EGR, PVC, MAF etc and make it look like they are there and working but they aren't actually working? Have the tuner force all necessary monitor to pass. Would this fool the REF? Does force passing certain monitors cause the Cal ID / CVN to change?
After pass REF and putting all my aftermarket parts back on the car and in 2 years when I need to smog the car again. Do I simply just flash the tune back to stock and run the smog check? That way the Cal ID / CVN is matching stock and won't get flagged in the future.
For ALL future smogs I would make sure your ECU has the correct values. This is what the state ref is using to flag vehicles.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: West Coast
The immobilizer code doesn't (afaik) because every one is different and you couldn't have a uniform checksum if it did (again AFAIK). The immobilizer function itself however does, so disabling it effects the checksum.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
Yep, the 4-digit hex code doesn't change the CVN, but disabling the function by changing the (FAA bit) DOES change the CVN.
oh wow, that screws everyone that doesn't have their immobilizer code then!
That's the problem with tuned ecus. Tuners don't usually carry over the immobilizer code and once tuned, the code will be overwritten and lost. I had to get mine back from dealer. Any other way to get it other than dealer?
agreed. It only takes 1 minute to copy and paste code over. Just sad how much of a disservice they did to not bring the code over.