Took my 99 Cobra in for emission testing Saturday. This is the first year I've had to have it tested, as we have a 4 year exemption on new vehicles.
Currently in Illinois, on 1996 and newer vehicles, they are supposed to test only the On Board Diagnostics System (OBD II) for function and trouble codes.
Guess what, with a chip in the PCM, their machine is not able to run the vehicles self diagnostic test. The result is you fail the OBD II test. Note: I can still hook up a scanner to my OBD port, and can read codes, download info, etc. so it appears that the OBD II system is functioning just fine, but I still fail their test.
This year (2003) when you fail the OBD II test, you are allowed to take a dyno (sniffer) test. Luckily for me, my 99 just squeaked by on the sniffer test.
Starting January 1st, 2004 however, if you fail the OBD II test, you fail period. Then you MUST take the vehicle to a CERTIFIED repair facility to do like a 57 point inspection and then "repair" your OBD II system to make it function correctly with the EPA's equipment.
I talked with a tech support guy at my chip manufacturer this morning, and short of pulling the chip for the emission test, there may not be another work around available for this problem. Even the guys with a PCM reflash may encounter the same issue.

The chip removal option will probably not work for my 99 Cobra as the fuel system has been significantly upsized to accomodate a NOVI 1000 blower. Without a chip, it will probably throw codes just driving it into the building. (If you have ANY codes in your PCM, you also fail their test). Right now I'm good for several more years with both this car and my Lightning before I either have to sell them, or move out of the emission zone.
This may become a big problem for all chip manufacturers with their Illinois emission zone customers in 2004. I am expecting a call back from an engineer with my chip manufacturer later today to discuss the problem. I'll give you updates, if I get any.

In the mean time, if you are due to be tested in Illinois any time soon, either:

1) Remove your chip before testing. Remember that the vehicle must be driven some undetermined distance before the OBD II system becomes "ready" again (if it ain't "ready", you ain't gonna pass).

or, if your vehicle is extensively modded and can't be drive without a chip.

2) Test ASAP before the end of the year, while the "optional" sniffer test is still available.

Please let me know if anyone else has had to deal with this yet, if you had similar results, and what you did to get around the issue.

Lightning Bob

 

good info bob, thanks.

 

1st off, thanks for this kind of posting.

IMO a properly conducted sniffer test *should* be all that matters. If I can make a 1,000hp car run as clean as was speced when it was new? That's all that should matter. After all, what's the real reason for this type of inspection? Is it "control" or so called "clean air"?

Rich B

 

I know what you are saying and this has been a point of contention for many years since emmission control devices have been put on vehicles.

One argument I heard, and it did make some sense, was that with the emmission control devices in place and functioning properly on a vehicle (as per the test), they are confident the vehicle will be operating within the parameters established for emmisions. Their feeling is, without these devices working properly, a vehicle can be tuned to pass emmisions and then reset to run better, but not necessarily pass the emmisions test, thus allowing vehicles to be used that are putting out higher than acceptable limits to emmissions. I can see both sides of the story.

 

I hope they don't do that in Tennessee. My highly modified truck passed earlier this year with a chip in the pcm. I wonder what the difference is between the Tennessee OBDII test and the Illinois test?

 

Are you sure it didnt fail just because it wasnt ready ??

"the OBD II system becomes "ready" again (if it ain't "ready", you ain't gonna pass). "

If you unplug the battery to clear codes you have to drive about 500 miles before the 0dbII cycle will complete which will fail the test

The inpsection systems are likely diffeerent BUT my truck failed in Texas because I cleared the codes before I went in... I drove it for a week and took it back and it passed with a chip installed.

I think p1000 is the odbII not ready code...

Doug

 

Can you get the p1000 code shut off with a chip? The reason I ask is because I think I remember not seing that code with a certain chip I have after I disconnected the battery...

 

I doubt it - P1000 is odbII cycles not completed - I would be impressed if the chip could bypass all that-

Doug

 

Thanks for the info.
That is a possibility as I probably only had 100 miles on the car since the chip was last out. However, the tech I talked to at the chip manufacturer indicated that having the chip in place would also defeat the EPA's ability to run the vehicles self test diagnostic. At this point, I don't know what the actual problem is as my vehicle shows no codes when scanned, but can't communicate with their machine. The only info I got from the test was my vehicle wouldn't pass the OBD test. I was hoping others could elaborate on their experiences to help figure it out.

Lightning Bob

 

Mine passed with a jdm superchips chip, just so you know. I haven't tried to pass with other chips...

 

Thanks for that info. Was your chip in for 500 miles or so before it was tested? If it was, maybe I didn't drive mine far enough first.

Lightning Bob

 

my friend has a gti 1.8t thats customed tuned, she has a stock factory program she can revert to when she needs inspection or dealer work. i dont know if this applies but its food for thought

 

Thank goodness we have Collector Plates in Ohio. We get those for specialty, limited production run vehicles (only one of the vehicles titled in your name can get them) and do not need to pass any type of test! I have run without any emissions equipment on my Cobra since 1996.

 

I have a cousin that has a very modded SS that lives in Roselle. He was suppost to go get the emissions test done. He was first going to use my address, but than he found out that there is a insurance company that will exampt you from having your car tested. The only thing is you can only drive your car 5000 miles a year. You also can't drive it as a daily driver.

 

I am in Indiana and we still dont have any test in my area, Thank goodness