CA Smog = Checking ECU for Tunes

I would imagine the smog check places will need special equipment to check the vehicle further than a Toyota dealership can (costing CA more $$). Anyways, this only really affects people who:
1) have an older vehicle that isnt exempt from smogging
2) don't have the tuner so can't just flash back to stock then back to aftermarket easily (in this case, theyre just at the mercy of the person who did it for them)

 

The CVN is interesting in the sense that it sounds like its computed in the vehicle and stored, then read off by the reader at the smog station. Doesn't she like the smog station calculates the CVN on the spot. If so, then it should be easy to spoof the number, pretty much all pirated software does something like this now.

The only sure way would be to do a true checksum hash on the spot then compare it to a lookup table published by the OEM. And unless its sufficiently good hash, I think its technically possible to have modified files have identical hashes but this was on the basic ones, no idea if CVN is using something more advanced.

Bottom line for CA peeps, just buy a new EV in 8 years.

 

hahaa I think a lot of ppl will be seeing him more often

 

wear / tear regular driving can change a smog reading on an UNmodded engine

lots o engines dont pass smog tests

ez move would be to go back to orig tune b4 CARB TEST

keep fingers crossed the engine will still pass

 

Do you?

 

Money is something but not everything.

 

The CVN is already available via Mode $09 of OBD2, most any cheap code reader supports that mode typically called "Vehicle Information". The CVN is a type of checksum calculated by the ECU with the methodology specific to the manufacture, every key on the CVN is recalculated for example. All they are going to do is pull your calibration identification and CVN and compare that to a database. If your vehicles CVN matches the manufactures specified CVN for that calibration it passes. If things have been changed, even a single bit flipped, the CVN will be different and it fails.

 

Yup. Did some research too. It’s check mate for us California taco owners. https://www.bar.ca.gov/ARSC/Newslet...l_ID_and_CVN_Detect_Programming_Modifications. Too bad I really love kdmax .

 

Mike Hunt already posted this link in post #10 and I literally copied the info from the link and posted it into this thread in post #28 to try to end some of the speculation and misinformation in this thread but happy that you "did some research too". Not sure how you concluded from that press release that it's checkmate for anybody with a tune though unless you have some inside knowledge of the database BAR/CARB are building and the criteria that will be used to trigger a fail on the smog test.

For those tracking this issue, we may have an answer sooner than I expected. In thread http://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ovtune-in-socal-w-trdquoc.707484/page-6#post-25981249 tuner @trdquoc states that he'll be going to the State Ref in 2-3 weeks. Not sure the purpose of his visit but considering he's a OVTune/KDMax tuner he'll be impacted from this more than the rest of us.

 

I wonder if you’ll see a push towards CARB certified tunes and how that plays into things. I know Hondata offers CARB certified tunes, and my understanding this at additional cost and reduced performance relative to their normal tunes, but they’re still an aftermarket tune.

I have to believe tuning houses that are worth their salt will look into doing CARB certified tunes which would keep their customer base and keep everything above board. That being said, I have no skin in the game right now, but I wouldn’t be shocked if MA follows CA’s lead. I’m presently with no aftermarket tuned vehicles, but my longer term plan was to get a 3rd vehicle and I anticipated flashing whatever I get.

 

Looks like magnuson and TRD factory supercharge tune are in my future…. and hopefully potential for winning the lottery, that would help.

 

The word California will derail any thread just as quickly as “the best oil” or “best tires” will. I know better than to get sucked into tire and oil posts.

 

You moderators have a thankless task and I don’t know how you stay sane. Thank you for all you do! We do appreciate it. Keep up the good work!

 

I wouldn't worry too much about this situation as CARB has bitten off more than they chew. Just think of how many thousands or tens of thousands of vehicles have an smog legal, carb approved tune installed on them before the vehicle was ever first sold. Can you say Saleen, Roush, Shelby, Hennesey, AMG are just a few that I can think of.

CALIF/CARB are in over their head and unless they plan on opening up dozens of additional referee stations they will soon be overwhelmed.

 

Let’s not forget about the smog centers that pencil whip a passing test for a nominal fee. It’s not honest but that happens. I bought an old truck in CA that didn’t pass smog but the guy handed me a passing sheet. When I went to sell the truck it didn’t pass smog by a long shot and I took a bath on the price of my sale because I had to sell it as “doesn’t pass smog”. They may not be honest but I am. Expensive lesson learned.

Point being, the more rules CA comes up with, the more limiting they will be for what vehicles are allowed on the road. There will likely be a rise in dishonest smog centers with the rise of vehicles that cannot pass the specifications. For those of us in CA, safest bet I’d say don’t tune your Tacoma or start making friends at the smog shop, that’s about the only options

 

When my friend lived in California, he registered his truck in Arizona. He said it was so easy to do and does have to renew his license for 5 years.

 

We won't know until we get info from VFT.

I would normally be cautiously worried as WA follows CA pretty closely, but WA recently wrapped up the emissions testing program as all targets were met early.

In the end, I don't think Tacos will have a problem from what I have seen, but boots on the ground or advice from the top is all that we can really go on.

 

You have to do a bit of advance planning as all of the Readiness codes will need to be set. So, either folks will need to check them, do the drive cycle to set them quickly, or do about 100mi of city and highway driving.

 

Have you seen this on your Taco?

I've only seen mileage and date from the last DTC reset.

If it is there, can you post a screenshot?