CA smog ?'s... BREAKIN' THE LAW!!!

[Time Monkey]

My truck (94 yoter pup 22re) has been throwing a code 71. EGR temp sensor. Dinky little thing is $125. Hell no, right?

I'm going to plug a 10 ohm resistor into the plug to shut it up.

BREAKIN THE LAW!!!


Now I also installed a CARB legal header on it a few weeks ago, and got smog coming up in a couple months.

Problem is, the company that made the header, Downey Offroad, went the way of the dinosaur and I ganked this header out of my buddies garage. So obviously, i don't have a CARB sticker for it.

Think I can call Doug Thorley or some other company who makes a 22RE header and sob story them into sending me a CARB sticker?

[()smoke()]

i doubt it, that's a huge risk for anyone involved, for zero reward

edit: are there any independent testing companies that do this sort of certification for the manufacturers? you're right about these things getting expensive in a hurry--I had both cats burned up on my jeep, which is a California model, and the cost to replace them was obscene! I try to forget about it, ha

[Lee H]

selling just the CARB sticker can cost a manufacturer their license. besides it will not work. The smog check facility is supposed to look up all CARB certified replacement parts, and verify through visual inspection that this part is the exact one CARB certified, and that it has not been tampered with, in any way. The manufacturer is required to submit pics, dimensions, and all pertinent information for verification, and that is made available to all smog shops, via computer

Your EGR temp reading may mean that you have a plugged catalytic converter... Before modifying anything, I would check all other options
I will not tell you how to cheat smog, because I would not want to endanger my own certifications....but I have heard of people removing the bulb for the check engine light. if the exhaust heat really is too high, it will help you when testing

[Time Monkey]

Its my EGR tube that is clogged. I drove on the freeway for about 25 miles, and when I got home I reached back there and touched the tube, and it was warm but only from ambient heat under the hood. I could grab it no problem.

[Time Monkey]

And even if they take out the check engine light bulb, the ECU is still gonna throw the code at the smog computer, so how does that help?

[Lee H]

a lot of the places with older equipment do not plug the ECU into a diagnostic computer. If they are not equipped with the newest machines, CA law allows them to do a visual test, and a tailpipe emissions test, and pass or fail on that..
I actually tried to make a mercedes fail, but removing the auxiliary air valve relay ( technically called an idle control relay on mercedes), adjusting the air bleed, and speeding up the idle so it would run... it passed anyway

edit...I missed part of your post about the tube... The EGR tube does not just plug up. Either the valve is bad, or the catalytic converter is not allowing flow (providing it was hooked up properly after header replacement). Try removing it, and blowing compressed air through it. You will find out quickly where the obstruction is


BTW...I now work on/build motorcycles, but I do maintain my ASE certification...that is why I can not tell you how to cheat the system

[Time Monkey]

Hope its not the cat. don't even talk that way.

I'm going to check the valve next weekend. I'm pretty sure the whole throttle body has to come off... and 4 bolts is too much on a sunday.

If the valve is stuck shut, i can assume its from carbon build up and hitting it with some carb cleaner and or seafoam should clear it, no?

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by Lee H

I will not tell you how to cheat smog, because I would not want to endanger my own certifications....but I have heard of people removing the bulb for the check engine light.

CA doesn't mandate that the check engine light works?

[L-A]

The time and research you seem ready to put into avoiding the legal way, are they really worth less than $125 ?

[XtreO]

Originally Posted by Mike N

CA doesn't mandate that the check engine light works?

I'd think the point of removing it would be to eliminate it lighting up, as one probably doesn't check if the actual bulb is there or something

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by XtreO

I'd think the point of removing it would be to eliminate it lighting up, as one probably doesn't check if the actual bulb is there or something

I get the point of bulb removal. In NY we have to make sure the bulb works, there are no stored trouble codes and that the readiness monitors (read: computer self checks) have run to a completed state. I'd know California is worse emission-wise than NY is, so removing the bulb is pointless, imo.