Passing Indiana emissions tests

[Zpak]

Does anyone know what exactly the test sites are looking for once plugged into your OBD. Are they just scanning for codes or are they actually pulling data?

I unfortunately live in one of the two counties in the entire state of Indiana where emissions tests are required. I’d love to go with catless down pipes but i just don’t think I’d be able to get away with it. I’m not even 100% sure a tune will pass. However, since all they do is plug into your OBD as far as I know they are just checking for engine codes. ...as far as I know. Because if that was the case the tune accounting for the pipes wouldn’t throw a code.
Anyone with any insight into this or stories to share would be appreciated.

 

[SM105K]

Have you considered just purchasing a pair of PPE catted DP's? Would give you the performance you seek and relieve a headache.

 

[Zpak]

I have, but somehow it just doesn’t seem as cool. Haha No but really just the $400 extra dollars. I mean, that’s like halfway to the GH intercooler. I’m sure catted is what I’ll end up with but it would be interesting to know if I’d be able to get away with it.

 

[krewat]

I can't answer on the non-catted emissions inspection. I will say though, that I suspect the "monitor" for catalyst efficiency never completes on these tunes that "tune out" the second O2 sensors, so that would fail you. I was looking around in the HP tuner software one day, using a tune file that someone posted on the HP forums, and I'm pretty sure there was a checkbox for "catalyst efficiency", or the entire after-cat O2 sensors.

Simple click in the tuner software turns it off. BUT - again, I suspect the monitor never completes. So the check engine light is not on, but when the inspection station checks that all monitors are "complete", it'll see that one being incomplete.

Reason I know something about this, My 2001 F250 V10 was OBD-I (not -II). It had no O2 sensor after the cat. The catalyst efficiency monitor was there and readable, but would never go to complete, nor would the O2 heater monitor for the after-cat O2 sensor. So I got failed a few times for it, while fighting it. I had to call MYSELF to the NYS DMV inspection people, explain the situation, and they told me it's "safety inspection only, no emissions". And then the guy on the phone got ****** because he was like "Who told you to call US? The inspector should call us directly". Not wanting to get the guy in trouble, I just said "Thank you, have a nice day"

 

[krewat]

So for example, in the HP tuner software, you could turn off all the errors that would be reported if the rear o2 sensors are gone...

I think. I'm not a tuner. Although after recent events of trying to get a tune from a company who I thought I could trust after having done a lot of business with over the years, they don't seem to have their shit together...

 

[Zpak]

Ahhh. That makes sense. Yeah there is no getting around it then. I’d never pass. You’d have to do some masterfully devious VW style tuning. Hahaha.

all hypothetical of course and for off road use only.

 

[krewat]

I'm just trying to give you an answer fast. Maybe I'm wrong. Just don't want you shooting yourself in the foot before you know for sure

 

[rubydist]

The emissions tests are different in different states. Here in CO, for years 7-12 old, they just plug into the port and check for codes - no codes = pass. After year 12, they make you run it on the roll dyno through a simulated drive, during which time they monitor the actual emissions. The test is all modest throttle, so always closed loop. So, any decent tune will still pass here, but catless pipes will not. In your state, it may be significantly different.

 

[SaveMelMac]

As long as there are no check engine lights on and all the emission monitors have ran and passed you should be good. This is coming from me dealing with California smog nazis my whole life. Also helps when you go in, pretend you know nothing about cars and play dumb what mods you have. If they also do a visual inspection I would stay away from catless DP’s

 

[Zpak]

I do remember, lots of years ago now, when I had a ‘89 they would check the underside with a mirror on a stick but I haven’t seen them do that since. After that car I had a ‘97 and it’s been plug in, start, turn off, and done ever since. I actually just cleared my code in that thing before I went both times I had to take it and passed.

 

[Lostneye]

I can't answer on the non-catted emissions inspection. I will say though, that I suspect the "monitor" for catalyst efficiency never completes on these tunes that "tune out" the second O2 sensors, so that would fail you.

Most states that do emissions testing are doing just this for OBDII cars. No check engine light and monitors set is needed to pass.

 

[b4black]

In neighboring Illinois, the test is OBD2 only and looks for MIL codes and monitor readiness.

With a GM, you could disable to the rear O2 codes and pass, but the Mustang guys fail because of a monitor not being ready. I'd guess all Ford are the same.

You could go and try to pass. You get time to fix the problem if it fails.

 

[krewat]

Here in Metro NY, they did away with all the emissions sniffers, dynos, whatever. Independent shops do the inspections, and it became a burden for them to maintain the dyno for a measly $37 per inspection. Not to mention, it drove the ABS system nuts on some vehicles, and the PCM wouldn't know what to do with itself when it didn't get the correct speed from the ABS unit.

I think the Mechanics Association (or whatever they call themselves) really lobbied to get this fixed. The result was all OBD-II vehicles need monitors set to "Complete", and everything else is just a safety inspection.

I've had compliant vehicles for the past 20 years, I never removed the cats or anything else. But I do remember one guy I used to go to, someone showed up one morning, left the car for an inspection, and when the mechanic checked it out, a bunch of stuff was disconnected under the hood. So he left it, and when the "customer" came back, he told him to bring it somewhere else and get all that fixed and then he can do the inspection. He was told it was a sting operation, and that he should have run it through and failed it. He was on the short-list to lose his certification for a while after that.

Anyway, keep your nose clean

 

[Zpak]

Anyway, keep your nose clean

always

 

[DouglasB_SHO]

We have emissions testing in the metro DC area. In Virginia they're done at dealerships and service stations. My 2011 (stock exhaust) with SCT tune won't pass unless I restore the tune to factory. Took me several trips to the testing station before I realized the tune was likely to be at fault -- because (as mentioned above) it disables the input from the rear O2 sensors.

 

[Lostneye]

We have emissions testing in the metro DC area. In Virginia they're done at dealerships and service stations. My 2011 (stock exhaust) with SCT tune won't pass unless I restore the tune to factory. Took me several trips to the testing station before I realized the tune was likely to be at fault -- because (as mentioned above) it disables the input from the rear O2 sensors.

SCT and their parent company settled a suit with the EPA over this so newer tunes would not have the rear O2s turned off. If you still have factory cats there is no reason why they should be turned off in the tune anyway. I have passed emissions testing several times with a tune.

 

[krewat]

SCT and their parent company settled a suit with the EPA over this so newer tunes would not have the rear O2s turned off.

Yeah, that struck me as odd to begin with

 

[DouglasB_SHO]

SCT and their parent company settled a suit with the EPA over this so newer tunes would not have the rear O2s turned off. If you still have factory cats there is no reason why they should be turned off in the tune anyway. I have passed emissions testing several times with a tune.

Thanks for the info. I'll check for an updated tune from SCT.