California Testing for ECU Tunes During Smog Check

I was going to say the same thing. They are 100% optional. They won't tell you that and will use words very carefully to make you think otherwise. But definitely optional

 

What a fucking waste of taxpayer money.

 

I forget if it was just CA or the country..in the 1990s I recall reading about something with engine swapping for vehicles, not sure if it took effect.

Best I recall, you couldn't swap in an engine any newer than the chassis. Which is especially dumb to consider modern stuff ran more efficiently in terms of smog, plus better MPG so less harm on that level as well to the environment.

 

If you can "Read" the stock Toyota tune but not OVTune or KDMax, wouldn't that be a clue?

 

Would it be just a “read” to determine ECU version? If that's the case, they would see the Calibration ID and not any modification. Likely got their snooper from the manufacturer.

 

Good to know! Thanks.

 

wow never seen that before.

 

They also have portable sniffers(on trailers) on on ramps that supposedly see how much you are polluting while accelerating, it also snaps a pic of your plate. I havent seen one in a while but these pop up checks I see once a year.

 

Just as i was thinking because some tuners from other car makes rewrites the og tune version to their own tune name

 

yes, my coworker said the same thing when I called him to warn him. He ended up not getting probed, but was directed to pull over anyways. He got a no mud flaps, altered exhaust(diesel thats been straight piped) and a tint ticket. Not saying he didnt deserve them, but be aware that if you try and refuse you will be scrutinized. He was probably a 1 in 1000 and if he had allowed them to inspect he may have got the same tickets anyways.

I suspect they didnt realize his truck was a diesel, as Ca doesnt probe diesels anyways. He should have just kept his mouth shut and let them figure it out.

 

I encountered one of these on Westminster Avenue going west before Studebaker in Seal Beach. They saw my truck was relatively new and wave me on. I think they're only after certain vehicles that give them a visual red flag. I don't think they get everybody and put them through the process. They even had a portable trailer Dyno so you to accelerate on with the probe in the exhaust.

 

Yep they will try and F with you and show their pee pees are big cause they hate when we exercise our rights and dont respect their authorityyye

 

All this talk of “probing” and being “probed” puts one in mind of space aliens checkin us out. It might as well be if the gov’t is running it.

 

Maybe more of us need to go and refuse and tie up their manpower? Got to make sure you and whatever you are driving is spotless though.

 

Can you Cali guys do anything fun

 

Complain about the government! Maybe it's me, but I've never had trouble having fun in California. I might be doing it wrong though.

 

if i lived in a state with these inspections.

i'd ride a bike to the nearest free state.

 

Gotta get a permit for fun..and theres also a fun tax.

 

There’s also organized fun.

 

I believe it's actually the other way around. You can only swap in a motor the same year or newer.