Smog Check

[BIGNASTY]

Thought I would pass this along for those that care!!

A friend of ours that lives in Calif. went to get his 04.5 truck smoged and it wouldn't pass something about some of the ODB monitors wouldn't set up. I contacted a couple of members in his behalf to find out WHAT GIVES ?

He sent me a copy of the service bulletin when he took it to a Dodge dealer to have the ECM flashed

Subject
Flash: Smog Check On Board Diagnostic OBD test OR inspection And Maintenance Check Will Not Pass

Overview

This bulletin involves selectively erasing and reprogramming the ECU with new software

Models

2004 DR Ram Truck (2500/3500 pick up with 5.9L

2005 DH Ram Truck (2500/3500 pick up with 5.9L

Note This bulletin applies to 2004 & 2005 vehicles equipped with a 5.9L Cummins diesel engine (sales code ETH) with Calif. emissions (sales code NAE) built after December 7, 2003

Symptom/Condition

The customer's vehicle many have difficulty passing a government mandated inspection/ maintenance program because of 2 or more of the OBD monitors may report as NOT READY. This issue now affects RAM diesel vehicles due to recently mandated changes to insp/maint program in some locations including Calif.


It gives a bunch of other info that I think is the actual procedure for the Wrench to follow in reflashing the ECM there are several pages

There is a number at the top of the page I believe that its the Service Bulletin 18-030-10

He had it flashed at a dealer he asked if it could have been taken care of in any other way? they said NO but in talking to a respected wrench here in TDR land said that it could be done with a Smarty ??? or a black box of some kind. He decided to take it to the dealer that charged him $129.00 to re flash the truck and drove it about 50 miles and it passed his smog test in Calif.

I cant say for sure because I didn't drive the truck before and after. But this guy was a driver where I use to work and I believe he was one that paid attention to the truck. He went on vacation and said that he believes that it ran smoother and got better performance and MPG. Did it? I cant say sometimes its a mind playing tricks on a person wanting to justify the fleecing of $129.00 dollars to think that it was money well spent.

BIG

 

[sag2]

Not sure why you think the dealer fleeced him? Eleven years ago when the truck was built it did not have to pass an emissions test. So the law changes and Ram has to update the software to meet the new law that was passed. That R$D costs money, and the manufacturer has no obligation to do it for free. Your other option is to buy the tool and software the dealer has to flash it, in 2004 a new DRBIII was about $6k. The dealer had to buy it to work on cars and he should be abler to recover his costs.
The Smarty option is not free either, so why not rag on Smarty for charging hundreds of dollars for a device that only costs a few dollars to manufacturer. The costs are in the software, either the OEM or aftermarket.
Without spending the $129 the truck is a nice paper weight, so in that sense it is a great deal.

 

[Tuesdak]

If that's all emission repairs cost than that's a good deal. Passing emissions selectively and the patchwork of standards (for testing) we have in The USA... he is lucky to have passed CA's visual opinion snap smoke test.

Living in CA is different than reading about the misery CARB puts on people in CA. This be one example where CA rules change after the fact.

 

[BIGNASTY]

The fleecing took place in my opinion when the truck was built, why was it NOT equipped to have all of the monitors ready from the get go? maybe and I do believe that the major car companies think this way, is that down the road this sort of thing will have to take place. THATS FLEECING IN MY OPINION

Im just glad that I don't have to deal with this kind of FLEECING any longer

 

[Tractorat]

Just my opinion. But if the truck was built to legal standards of its time, then it is up to the state to come up with and pay for the testing solution. If they cant, then they should just discontinue that particular test for that year/model truck. How many times have you gotten a ticket for not having seat belts in your 1957 chev ? Or not having turn signals on your 1919 model T ?

 

[p-Bar]

Hey all I have a letter in my hands from Chrysler stating this repair would be done for free. Big pm me I'll email the letter he should be able to get his money back.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Since my '05 is due this year for the fraudulent smog check, how about putting the letter on this site? Or you can pm me a copy.
Thanks

 

[p-Bar]

PM me your email

 

[SDputter]

My truck has passed smog twice now (in the last 3 years). Would it be correct to assume that I should not need the ECM reflash?

 

[Bob4x4]

My truck has passed smog twice now (in the last 3 years). Would it be correct to assume that I should not need the ECM reflash?

Assume nothing.....Cali just tighten the rules on how many monitors have to ready,irrc on the 05 it is all.Many scanners will be able to show the monitor ready status

 

[TJJEEPER]

My truck has passed smog twice now (in the last 3 years). Would it be correct to assume that I should not need the ECM reflash?

If the truck has less than 100,000 miles the emission system is under warrantee. They would have to flash it for free and most likely you wouldn't know about it.
Same goes for Big's buddy. If it had under 100,000 miles and he was charged I think he got fleeced. Especially since it was a known problem.

 

[SDputter]

From the EPA "OBD Testability Readiness Issues" publication dated 5/2011;

It states in part for MY 04-05 5.9 diesels the problem is, "Comprehensive component monitor status may not set to ready". Then it states for action, "TSB#18-030-10 with lifetime warranty".

What does "TSB#18-030-10 with lifetime warranty" mean exactly? Is TSB performed free with lifetime warranty? Have to have lifetime warranty to perform TSB????

 

[sag2]

First off when I looked at 2004 MY it didn't show the TSB. Then I tried 2005 and it has the TSB listed. Reading the text of it also shows it applies to 2004, 2005 CA trucks. However under the policy it has the following.

POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.

That means the technician is only going to flash it for free if it has some remaining warranty. I don't have access to Warranty Bulletins any longer or I would check for a warranty extension.

 

[Regcabguy]

Coincidentally,an article in the paper concludes that vast improvements in air quality have been the result of technological improvements in the engine management,not smog checks. Smog checks are not cost effective as the vast majority of vehicle owners leave the cars alone.
Unfortunately,they also concluded that California will always have a need for the tests.

 

[TJJEEPER]

Coincidentally,an article in the paper concludes that vast improvements in air quality have been the result of technological improvements in the engine management,not smog checks. Smog checks are not cost effective as the vast majority of vehicle owners leave the cars alone.
Unfortunately,they also concluded that California will always have a need for the tests.

I see way too many late model trucks puffing smoke here in the valley. Obviously chipped. The Prius foggers seem to be fewer and fewer, thank goodness!