ECU Tune and Failed Emissions Testing Experience

I get it, it’s probably time consuming. I just don’t like how the whole tuning market leans on “well you can always just go back to stock if needed!” When you can’t really. That’s the only reason I care.

 

That's it exactly... They all state some version of this claim - but if you have a recent model, it is just not true at the moment.

 

Mmmm hmmmm...that definitely didn't escape me...

 

It's not just 6 years that triggers a check. At least here in CA I thought we have to test to sell.

 

I forgot about this - when I lived there, I punted a brand new car after ~10 months and still had to get it tested to sell. What I don’t know off hand is if they treat new/newer cars differently than older. When I was up in WA for a spell, I seem to recall anything 3-4 years old (rolling) or newer either didn’t need testing, or just needed to not have any active codes; older cars had to pass the sniffer as well.

 

They dropped the smog testing here in Ontario Canada a few years ago. The new provincial goverment at the time decided that most people daily driving their car has a new enough car so that it has all the emissions stuff controlled by the ecu and if there were a problem (mil) they would get it fixed. The testing was mostly a money grab as most all cars pass and the cars that couldn't pass were owned by people who couldn't afford to fix them. Which represented a very small number of cars on the road. The CVN thing is really only about having warranty refused.

 

Yes you have to smog test to sell to a private party in CA even if th vehicle is under six years old. Not an issue though if you sell to a dealer

 

So any tuned 2016's out there recently passed smog this year in California? Mines due next year but want to be prepared. If yes where . Tnx

 

I've sold a vehicle in CA "as is" without having it smogged. Its on the buyer to figure it out. The CA DMV strongly urges it to be smogged prior to sale (makes it easier for them), but its not required.

 

Smog is required in CA to register the vehicle in the buyers name.

According the CA vehicle code it’s the sellers responsibility to provide a smog certificate with the vehicle. In fact the seller can be fiscally responsible for any repairs require to get the car to pass smog. Although typically it’s not worth the effort to try and collect.

 

Exactly, it's not worth the effort and not enforced. However qualifying your buyer and finding the right one makes all the difference, I've done this and know plenty of other people who had and it's never been a problem.

Here's an article on another way to sell a car in CA with out getting it smogged:

https://www.dirtlegal.com/blog/sell-car-failing-emissions-smog-california#

Many workarounds out there, just cover your butt

 

I have a 2016 that will have to be smogged by Sept. kinda not looking forward to that and hope there is some sort of resolution soon. Otherwise I’ll probably just use a friends address who is located in an area smog isn’t required. But what a pain. I have no plans on selling my truck so I’m not worried about that aspect of it.

 

I believe stock files are available to flash back to for 2016s. I’d do that vs registering elsewhere or other methods of circumventing.

 

Good to know!!

 

Would one have to visit one's specific tuner, or anyone in the OTT network? I got my tune in New England, and will likely be moving to CA before you get the CARB approval - so getting my tuner to flash post-CARB to get into the database would be pretty impossible.

 

You can visit anyone in our network, or we can send you the files directly if you have a means to flash them

 

C

Check your PM.

 

If going the DIY route can you dump your current stock tune using vftuner?

 

I’ve had other brands of vehicles that I could upload a custom tune using a handheld tuner like the diablosport. Why is it with the Tacoma you need someone else to install or remove the tune for you? Seems pretty inconvenient and a bit of a hassle. It also seems like it adds a bit of cost to the price having extra people in the process.

 

You can buy the kit from us to do it all yourself. Most prefer the lower cost and convenience of having someone else do the work. If you're a DIY'er shoot us an email and we can get you setup with everything you need to do it yourself.

info@overlandtailor.com