Tonight I took my 2006 5.4L XLT 4X4 in for NYS inspection. I have a custom VMP tune but as recommended I reset the PCM to stock before taking it to the dealer. I only drove about 10 miles before taking it in though.

The dealer would not pass it because the OBD monitor readiness status said Catalyst and Evaporative Systems not ready. They asked me if I recently disconnected the battery and I said no. They did not ask if I had a programmer and I did not mention anything of it.

They said to drive it for a while and bring it back in and pay for a reinspection . It pisses me off that I have to pay for emissions inspection 2 times. I definitely don't want fail again and pay 3 times. To avoid failing again, how many miles do I need to drive to reset it? My inspection is up tomorrow so I need to do a lot of driving fast! I guess this will be a lesson learned to put on a lot of miles between PCM reprograms and dealer visits!

Thanks for any advice!

Pat

 

i would say and 100-150 miles or possibly just let the truck idle for a while. I wouldve told them that i changed the battery and maybe they wouldve passed it! Thank god my county in texas has no emmisions and its only 14.50 for inspection!

 

You can check to see if the truck has codes with your tuner Xc3 or whatever.
Letting it sit and idle will not help. You need to drive it and complete a couple of drive cycles to see monitor readiness.

 

Thanks for the info. I've heard the drive cycle comment I just was not sure how many miles it needed. I know my X3 can check for codes but there is no codes that I know of. I think the only reason it would not pass is because I put it back to the stock tune and the PCM did not have time to be reset before they did the emissions test.

 

Thanks for the comments. The only reason I didn't try to BS them with the battery is because I figured they might be able to tell if the connectors were recently cranked on. I also was not sure if they would be able to detect that I had a programmer on there but apparently they could not tell because they did not ask about it.

 

This might help.

http://www.obdii.com/drivecycleford.html

 

Bill Cohron, at PHP says that if you've driven the truck about 50 miles, it should clear the "drive cycle" code. Interestingly, he's also said that trying to clear codes can actually "set" the P1000 code, as does changing tunes.

I'm surprised that you were advised to reset your tune to stock before an emissions check. Most of the members on this forum have simply left there tune in place before an emissions check and have passed with flying colors.

It is appropriate though, to return the tune to stock if you take your truck to a dealer for service, in case he decides to reflash the PCM.

- Jack

 

I was not specifically advised to reset to stock the tune for an emissions check. I was just under the impression that I should reset to stock anytime it goes into the dealer so that I don't have problems if they mess with the PCM. Maybe I don't need to do that next time but I've heard bad stories about what happens if they reflash when you don't have the stock tune in there. I was just trying to be safe rather than sorry. Next time I will just reflash a couple days before I take it in to prevent this mess.

I also heard that clearing codes does the same thing as changing tunes...it throws the P1000 code. If I don't need to reflash for emissions testing, then what services should I reflash to stock for? It seems like there is always a chance of them reflashing with out necessarily telling you.

Thanks again for your comments. I will take it back in next week and have it reinspected.

 

There is always that chance when the truck is at a dealership. I'd think though, for a smog test, you'd be right there and could stop them.

I have to laugh though. Your emissions testing is done at a garage, just like the "mechanical inspections" were (and maybe still are) in Pennsylvania. How convenient! If there's any problem, they might be able to fix it for you right there on the spot! Each and EVERY time I had an inspection when I was stationed in Pennsylvania (twice a year), the headlights had to be re-aimed! Must be something in the roads up there, that cause the headlights to go out of alignment so quickly! (And it only cost about $15, as I remember, to get them "perfect" again).

I return my truck to stock when I take the truck to the dealer for service and, when I take the Gryphon out to update its firmware (which hasn't happened for a long time).

- Jack

 

I had the same problem last month. I flashed back to stock and drove about 400 miles before taking it in. It was still not reset. I ended up driving it almost 700 miles before it quit popping a code. Mine may have been an odd case, but it is worth it to read your codes before taking it back in.

BTW, that was on my 03 SCrew.