Rick Hesel

Took my car Saturday for the routine Maryland emissions inspection, which involves making a connection to the OBD and taking the reading from there. My OBD rejected the test, which I can only imagine has something to do with the VAFC. Am I going to have to disconnect the VAFC to do the inspection, or is there another solution?

Any advice would be much appreciated

ultimate lurker

Rick, how long has it been since you last reset the ECU? On many OBD tests now, if the ECU has been reset recently (I don't know the exact criteria), you will fail the test - ostensibly because you could have reset a problem code before coming in to fool the inspectors.

Otherwise, the VAFC could be a problem, but OBDII scanners shouldn't even know its there.

UL

Rick Hesel

I've never reset the ECU, but I had a check engine light on just before I went in for the inspection and reset it by pulling the fuse. Does that reset the ECU?

Rick Hesel

Whoops, I checked. Pulling the fuse does reset the ECU, right?

If so, how long should I wait before going back in?

03spa

Just wondering, I'm from NY, so in MD, when you get your car inspected, the obd2 is hooked up to the car's sensor along the radio on the drivers side?

If this is true, how would you run an a stand alone EMS?

Slows2k

Most emissions testing consider any check engine light/DTC an automatic fail until fixed. Knowing that a VAFC adjusts The fuel curves, It can most definitely cause a failure of an emissions test/exhaust gas emissions test. If an exhaust analyzer is used and the ppm(parts per million) counts for NOX, (unburned hydrocarbons- raw fuel) you will fail. It all depends on what each states emissions requirements are. For those running EMS your cars are no longer OBD2 compatible, so you would get an automatic fail as well. This of course is in emission testing states only. You need to know what your states test requirements are to figure out what you need to do to pass.

Here are some other things that can cause an automatic fail (all depending on state regulations of couse)
no communication with PCM = why AEM EMS fails
DTC stored
missing or obstructed DLC
No check engine light at all= bulb removed
Non C.A.R.B. approved parts installed
C.A.R.B. paperwork missing? Don't know for certain on that one

smyroad

Rick-

Did you just fail a reading or two, or did your car not communicate with the inspection computer?

I've got the OBDII SW and Cable if you'd like to do some experimenting.

s2000guy

Rick, when the OBDII connector is connected to your car, the smog machine checks to see if all(or most) of your monitors have run. If you reset the computer you also reset the readiness codes. See page #237(Malfuntion Indicator Lamp section) of your owners manual for a better explanation. It will also tell you how to check if your monitors(or readiness codes) have run. After they have run, then you may take your car in for a smog. I hope this helps.

s2000guy

Here is a scan of page 237:

Utah S2K

I hate to tell you this bro but you know my rep here:

You need to rack up 40 "cyles to temp" to erase the code and get through inspection
Ref: Getting To Know OBDII by Birnbaum
Page 27 "PCM control over the MIL and DTC's"

Warm and cool for an afternoon and a 12 pack......been there done that!!!!!!!! 40 cycles later you can get your needed paper

Utah