2006 stock truck won't pass Ca. SMOG

[mtnranch]

This is crazy. 2006 truck, passed smog 2 yrs ago, last battery disconnect was 1 year ago when I installed new batteries. Tech hooked up to the ODB port and said the DODGE truck computer was not "ready" after an 8 mile drive. He suggested I take it out for a 25 mile hilly loop, did so and it's still "not ready" and won't pass. I'm lucky he has not charged me $ yet. Hey guys, this truck is STOCK with low 22k miles, never had a chip. Does anyone know for sure if they have to hook up to the OBD port at all for a SMOG in California? This same shop and Tech passed the same rig 2 yrs ago.
I'm a little PO'ed at this point, any suggestions?

 

[cerberusiam]

"Not Ready" doesn't tell you very much, I would think they would have to provided a little bit better explnation about WHY they think is won't pass. They have to plug into the OBD port to make sure the emissions counters are activated. Yours should have them turned on by default so not sure again what their reasoning is. Maybe time to find a different station.

 

[Bob4x4]

"Not Ready" doesn't tell you very much, I would think they would have to provided a little bit better explnation about WHY they think is won't pass. They have to plug into the OBD port to make sure the emissions counters are activated. Yours should have them turned on by default so not sure again what their reasoning is. Maybe time to find a different station.

No the 06 is not compatible!!!! it is Can bus the smog machine is not

 

[cerberusiam]

That would be a good explanation for the "Not Ready" detrmination, the idiot running the machine. :-laf

 

[mtnranch]

OK, I got it passed! Everyone who replied got it right. "Take it somewhere else, that tech don't know spit"
Took it to the dealer 25 miles away in Auburn, their tech said 2 out of 3 monitors showing unreadable was normal, the BAR97 smog machine can't read the CAN bus correctly on a diesel. At that point the original smog tech should have indicated it was a diesel or N/A or something and moved on to the throttle blipping visual opacity test and we would have been done.
Because California loves to ratchet up standards every year, this OBD2 plug in check was not required on my last test 2 years ago. I suppose 2 yrs from now I'll be on a Dyno roller with 100 cords hooked to the rig just to pass smog.
So the dealer passed it no problem and even washed the rig for $48. Big THANKS to all TDR members who chimed in on this issue.

 

[ecar8]

Thanks for the outcome report Mtnranch. When I had my 09 smogged the first time, the tech looked under the hood and the truck and was done in less than a minute. $80 and I was on my way. I heard there was suppose to be a "snap-throttle" test in the works where the tech will determine if the truck is putting out too much soot. I haven't confirmed this, but am hopeful that a stock truck will have problem passing.

 

[GCuzzy]

I just had my 2003 "smogged" by a very good diesel mech. There was a throttle test and I had no problems. My best suggestion is to hunt around and find a knowledgeable diesel shop that does smog tests. Keep in mind the CARB has no clue on diesel standards and as you are well aware our diesel trucks can't be adjusted like a gasser. My belief the Communist Air Recourse Board is gathering statistical data so they can dictate changes in the years to come.

 

[Bob4x4]

The data was collected in Cali during road side checks before the program started.