SMOG CHECK - Coming to California January 1, 2010; Coming to Your State Soon?

[JohnRobinson]

MrFIXIT-

Thats what i was hoping for too,Jan 1st 1998 was the emission complance change hence the 24v. Looks like carb & bar dont see it that way.

 

[fmj]

Interesting to note that in Jacobson's case they plugged into the OBD. In my case and some others they did not. Visual and snap only. Still looks like a crap shoot. Early on folks are the test cases.

 

[JacobsonD]

JohnRobinson: Nope, the EGR was removed by the previous owner. I might have to find those parts unless I can find a way to clear the code and get the Check Engine Light to function correctly.

fmj: Where'd you go for your smog check? I wish I'd found a shop that didn't plug in.

 

[MrFixit]

JacobsonD, If the vehicle is supposed to have an EGR, a smog tech will fail you on the visual so it will have to be put back on. It is already failing on the smog machine for this. My guess is the previous owner removed the lamp since it was probably always on since the EGR was removed?

Fixit

 

[fmj]

JohnRobinson: Nope, the EGR was removed by the previous owner. I might have to find those parts unless I can find a way to clear the code and get the Check Engine Light to function correctly.



fmj: Where'd you go for your smog check? I wish I'd found a shop that didn't plug in.

clearing the codes is one thing, my obd2 tool clears dtc's and you can get one at autoparts store. but if the codes were kicked because of missing parts, it will kick them again after clearing if condition still exists. i believe after three starts where condition continues to exist, someone more knowledgeable can chime in on that. i'd fix the issues before i went back. as for where i went, i'm 50 miles north of you. there has to be a place near you that doesn't plug in. i'd think going to a smog station where thats all they do, will plug in as thats what they do on gassers. also notice that p-bar didn't get plugged in as they looked up an '04 instead of and '04. 5, which showed no cat. since neither his "04" or my '01 don't have anything on them, maybe thats why we didn't get plugged in???

 

[JacobsonD]

I'll get an ODB2 tool to clear the codes. I'm also looking for the EGR valve, EGR tube, and the one-way check valve that goes between the EGR valve and the EGR valve vacuum regulator solenoid. I may have to order them from Cummins through my local Cummins service department. At the least the previous owner left the EGR valve regulator solenoid on the motor, so hopefully it's still functional.

Once I get the EGR equipment installed and clear the codes, I'll have to check the MIL. I'm hoping that the previous owner just removed the bulb and didn't screw with other electronics. How do I go about getting to that check engine light bulb?

David

 

[Regcabguy]

Hopefully,somebody reading this from out of state who originally bought a Ca vehicle has retained their smog stuff and can help you.

 

[Cliffman]

Okay, don't want to read through pages and pages to get my answer so I'll just post it here.



1) Are diesels exempt to being hooked up to the smog computer? All Visual?

2) Is it a good idea to hook up my scanner and clear codes before going?

 

[fmj]

Okay, don't want to read through pages and pages to get my answer so I'll just post it here.



1) Are diesels exempt to being hooked up to the smog computer? All Visual?

2) Is it a good idea to hook up my scanner and clear codes before going?

1) who knows. there is a real mixed bag on this one so far. in thread so far p-man (has an '04. 5, which they used '04 specs), eddmandson ('04) and myself ('01) weren't hooked up?? i know in my case i had no smog stuff to check. i believe its the same for '04s. is that why we weren't hooked up and the '98 of jacobsond was hooked up (egr on that year)???? only guarantee is the visual.

2) i did just that and thats what i'd do. my opinion only.

 

[Cliffman]

So here's what happened when I went to get smogged. 20 minutes prior to going I hooked up my scanner and cleared 2 codes. They were PO253 Pump code and the other was a PO237 boost sensor. The 253 code was due to my comp box going berserk (this is another problem all together) and the 237 was due to my comp box not being hooked up. I cleared both codes and went to the smog station. My concern was failing and being flagged in the system. So I asked the smog tech to check without entering my info. He agreed. According the smog tech I was the 2nd diesel he would be smogging. IMO this guy had no idea what he was doing when it came to diesels. I popped the hood and he took a look at the twins and W/M injection and didn't say anything. I hid the comp box (tuned off) and the W/M injection controller under the knee cover under the steering wheel. He was looking for some sort of "information plate" on the underside of the hood or on the frame going across the top of the radiator. This guy barely spoke English so it was difficult to understand him. I assumed he needed to see the engine info plate mounted on the side of the timing cover. I pointed that out and he still seemed confused. He then proceeded to hood up the smog computer to OBDII port on my truck. After a few key strokes he pointed to the screen where it said



Not Ready

Not Ready

Not Ready.



He then asked me if I cleared any codes or unplugged the battery. I told him no to both questions. He then instructed me to drive the truck around for 30 minutes and bring it back. I did as he asked but that didn't fix the "Not Ready" problem. So does this guy know what he’s doing? Should I drive my truck for a couple of days and bring it back. I know when it throws a soft code it takes a while to clear. Could that be it?

 

[p-Bar]

I don't see how on the newer vehicles they were not being plugged in the computer instructs the operator to do this once the data of the vehicle is inputted. Oh well. I passed with the smarty on it was only looking for codes thrown

 

[MrFixit]

Cliffman,
You better find a place that you can at least communicate with. It is hard enought that the techs don't know what to do let alone not speaking English very well.

Do you have an engine light on all the time with these codes?

 

[Ram4Sam]

Kind of a tough call here. This guy doesn't appear to be too knowledgeable but didn't fail you because of the aftermarket twin turbos. If your truck had co-operated, you be done. If you take it to a different, more knowledgeable tech, he might not look past the twins. You are in a tough spot. Good luck!



Sam

 

[Cliffman]

Cliffman,

You better find a place that you can at least communicate with. It is hard enought that the techs don't know what to do let alone not speaking English very well.



Do you have an engine light on all the time with these codes?

No engine light til I unplugged the comp and stared the truck. Once I realize that I couldn't just "unplug" the comp and drive it without getting a engine light, I plugged it back in, hid it under the knee plate, cleared the codes and called it good. When I brough it back, intead of hooking it up to the smog computer he used a hand held scanner that showed something simular to the "not ready" that the smog computer showed.

 

[MrFixit]

Forgive my ignorance, you get a code when you unplug because you have tapped a pump wire or something else?

 

[Ram4Sam]

No engine light til I unplugged the comp and stared the truck. Once I realize that I couldn't just "unplug" the comp and drive it without getting a engine light, I plugged it back in, hid it under the knee plate, cleared the codes and called it good. When I brough it back, intead of hooking it up to the smog computer he used a hand held scanner that showed something simular to the "not ready" that the smog computer showed.

Maybe a problem with your data connection plug. Ask him if he will look for any codes by cycling the key-three-times method and get any codes off the odometer.



Sam

 

[Cliffman]

Forgive my ignorance, you get a code when you unplug because you have tapped a pump wire or something else?

Yep... I think it's the map sensor but you got the right idea.

 

[GW208]

Cliff, I think that this has something to do with "good" drive cycles. After you cleared the codes, the computer needs to monitor the sensors a couple of times going from a cold to normal motor temperature without any codes being set before it will be ready for a smog test.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Maybe a problem with your data connection plug. Ask him if he will look for any codes by cycling the key-three-times method and get any codes off the odometer.



Sam

Not all codes erased by conventional tools are fully erased - some stay resident, and still register on more sophisticated code reading equipment...

 

[Cliffman]

Cliff, I think that this has something to do with "good" drive cycles. After you cleared the codes, the computer needs to monitor the sensors a couple of times going from a cold to normal motor temperature without any codes being set before it will be ready for a smog test.

I think you hit the nail on the head there RYoung! What I'd like to know is how long/miles/key cycles will it take to right it self.