Smogging Texas truck in California

[tigerdrvr]

I'm new to this board, but not to the search function...so, I've tried to do my homework before asking questions!

Here's the deal: Recently bought '05 5.9, 100% bone stock, from a friend in Texas, brought home to California, and am not able to smog. Two of the OBDII monitors are read as "Not Ready" by the plug in testing equipment. The truck does not have a CEL lit, has not had codes deleted, no new battery and has been driven by me over 2500 miles in mixed use.

I understand that all '05s were 50 state EPA, but that the CA trucks had a line item on the Monroney for "CA Emissions" evidently. I'm not sure if there was a different ECM flash or anything, but I am aware that there have been at least two TSB's issued for the OBDII monitor readiness/re-set problem (18-030-10 and 18-003-11, both firmware updates for the ECM?). I don't know if the TSB's were for CA sold trucks only or if they also applied to non-CA vehicles and I don't know if the extension of warranty on this TSB was CA specific as well.

Anyhow, I need to get the truck smogged to complete registration. Has anyone gone through this exercise? (hopefully with a truck brought into state from elsewhere). Any ideas on how to solve? I'm thinking the updated ECM flash should be the answer, but I'd prefer not to pay my local dealer for something that Dodge acknowledged as their bad in 2011...after all, the trucks covered by the TSB were technically out of warranty, so it seems like there shouldn't be any "statute of limitations".

TIA. We are absolutely loving the truck and getting 21mpg pulling the race car on an open trailer/26mpg at freeway cruising speeds w/o trailer. Awesome vehicle

 

[Bob4x4]

there is a flash you need to have done so the monitors will run correctly.An up to date Smarty will do it also

 

[Regcabguy]

21mpg towing/26 mpg open road?
By all means keep it.

 

[tigerdrvr]

Thanks for the tip on the Smarty tuner. I think my buddy's shop has one, so that might be the easy solution.

On mpg, we have this silly 55mph towing limit in CA, so my 21.1mpg was at 63-64mph...and, yeah, we plan on keeping it!

 

[Simplysmn]

And to Measure MPG it's Full to Empty 3 tank's then Average of that not just 1 tank .:-laf

 

[dcs1968]

I wonder why they are plugging into OBD2 port. When I had my 2010 CTD smogged it was a visual for equipment and a visual for smoke. They didn't even put on the dyno as they do my gas powered vehicles. I live in SoCal.

 

[BIGNASTY]

And to Measure MPG it's Full to Empty 3 tank's then Average of that not just 1 tank .:-laf

I got close to that MPG when we lived in Calif, we went to Rocky Mountain National Park. We were pulling our TT close to 9K with the way the wife packs things!!! when I got to the Eisenhower Tunnel its AMAZING what the down hill MPG and speed I got in Neutral Both coming and going, South bound was a BIT higher. :-laf

NO IT NOT MY PIC, When it comes to those " Death Defying Down Hills " I had to put one hand on the steering wheel and had to drink my Starbucks with the other, after all there are priorities in life.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I wonder why they are plugging into OBD2 port. When I had my 2010 CTD smogged it was a visual for equipment and a visual for smoke. They didn't even put on the dyno as they do my gas powered vehicles. I live in SoCal.

Last year we lived in Calif, I had to smog. They lifted the hood took a look around and filled out the paperwork and Robbed me of $60 ( I think that's what it was) closed the hood and pulled it out from in front of the service bay. For that cost they at least could have performed the snap test and pulled it in out of the sun to lift the hood.

Calif is a Land of Crooks starting with Jerry B.

 

[tigerdrvr]

I wonder why they are plugging into OBD2 port. When I had my 2010 CTD smogged it was a visual for equipment and a visual for smoke. They didn't even put on the dyno as they do my gas powered vehicles. I live in SoCal.

I'm not sure when they started plugging in, but I think it was 2010, as Dodge issued the TSB with the re-flash to allow the OBDII monitors to be "seen" by testing equipment soon after.

On, mpg, are you guys saying the computer isn't 100% accurate?

Whatever...21mpg or 20mpg or 22mpg...I'm impressed with how efficient this 3 ton sucker is...

 

[Boaring1961]

Been driving my '05 CTD in CA since then and all they do is a visual inspection. Try a different place for your smog.

 

[tigerdrvr]

Been driving my '05 CTD in CA since then and all they do is a visual inspection. Try a different place for your smog.

Maybe SLO is in a no-smog county? I don't know, but I tried two places...first thing the tech did was grab the OBDII plug in cable.

I'm taking it to a local dealer next Wednesday for the ECM updates and hope that gets it. $155 for the "service".

 

[Regcabguy]

Been driving my '05 CTD in CA since then and all they do is a visual inspection. Try a different place for your smog.

They plug into the 6.7's now. A friend just failed with his '09. I don't know if they plug into our 5.9's. I'd assume so.
The smog technician is very experienced.

 

[Dick Langendorff]

Yes, that all it is a visual inspection. They just look to see if the OEM equipment is still on the truck. My son works for the city that has many vehicles and I go to the SMOG station they use. This guy knows the CA rules. Simple process. Do Not Stress.

 

[tigerdrvr]

Yes, that all it is a visual inspection. They just look to see if the OEM equipment is still on the truck. My son works for the city that has many vehicles and I go to the SMOG station they use. This guy knows the CA rules. Simple process. Do Not Stress.

Now I'm confused...Brentwood is also in Contra Costa, same as me, but the two places I went (San Ramon and Walnut Creek) both plugged into the OBD port under the dash. And it was the "Not Ready" status of the monitors that caused me to fail smog. How can some shops do it one way and others do it another way? Makes no sense. When did you last get your CTD smogged?

 

[Bob4x4]

Yes, that all it is a visual inspection. They just look to see if the OEM equipment is still on the truck. My son works for the city that has many vehicles and I go to the SMOG station they use. This guy knows the CA rules. Simple process. Do Not Stress.

You are incorrect. Perhaps your smog station is short cutting and not doing there job correctly

 

[Bob4x4]

The monitors on the ctds run very quickly on the later trucks with after treatment it is mind boggling the conditions that must be met to run the different monitors

 

[dcs1968]

They didn't plug into my 6.7 when I had it smogged in Riverside county. It is supposed to be a visual check for all the smog equipment that is supposed to be there for your year vehicle and the jab the throttle a few times to make sure there is not excessive smoke. Not even an opacity just their judgement! I felt ripped off after being charged $70 after I saw what the diesel smog consisted of.

 

[dcs1968]

http://www.smogtips.com/need_inspection.cfm

Diesel Smog Check - All 1998 & newer diesel powered vehicles weighing under 14,500 GVW will need a diesel smog check. The diesel smog test will not include the emissions test portion of the regular inspection. There will be no tailpipe emissions test. Dynamometer testing will not be part of the diesel smog check inspection. Your vehicle will not be driven on the dynamometer during the diesel smog check. Instead the Diesel smog check will focus on a visual inspection of your vehicle's emissions/smog components, a system check of the On Board Diagnostics (OBD II) system, a visual smoke check for excessive black smoke, and an EVAP functional test. Diesel cars and trucks which fail the diesel smog test will have their vehicles repaired at a diesel repair shop.

 

[dcs1968]

I was wrong about the OBD2 check. I guess I didn't see him plug in.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I was wrong about the OBD2 check. I guess I didn't see him plug in.

Don't feel bad ive never seen one of these trucks get 26 MPG either!!!

PS: Besides Mine :-laf