CA Smog = Checking ECU for Tunes

For some reason, my original post was deleted from TW on this... but anyways, I read an article on Road and Tracks's website saying that going forward, all CA Smog tests will check for ECU tunes. I currently have my 3rd tune (OV tune) and understand that due to the fact that OV tunes do not have a "watermark", Toyota can not detect them without doing a lot of homework. I was hoping that one of the many experts on the OV tunes could chime in and at least give their prediction on whether these tunes will fail our trucks or not.

 

I can confirm this. My friend runs a smog shop and he got the notice yesterday. I asked him how he would find out and he doesn’t have an idea how he would check if the vehicle was tuned.

 

Subbed

 

either way... i bought the tuning pack... everything is on my laptop to do anything i want... basically California is gonna charge a fee for this scan so smog stations gonna charge us... cali will always find ways to tax people...

 

From what I’ve read they will check the CVN which is basically a checksum. If the calibration is different then the CVN is different which indicates that the ECU is tuned. But I wonder if the OVTune software can fake the CVN?

Glad I don’t have to deal with this crap around here.

 

Can you provide your source that states they’re looking at CVN’s?

 

Reddit was saying some of these ECUs have a rewrite counter that you cannot spoof. So if a car comes in and it says it’s be rewritten more than once the dealer will void warranty. Unless of course they have a record of the dealer reflashing for some reason.

 

https://www.bar.ca.gov/ARSC/Newslet...l_ID_and_CVN_Detect_Programming_Modifications

you can googled it. Lots of discussion on other car forums about it too.

 

That’s what is making this cash grab so ludicrous. One of the KDmax tuners says he is going to test out this latest gov’t debacle using a rental vehicle. If it does get flagged because of a tune the easy work around would be to detune prior to.

 

I guess I'll be seeing my tuner twice a year! @chanvchau

 

@trdquoc

 

not a chance you can overcome a checksum, it’s the most basic and effective way to tell if a file has been changed. It’s absolutely the way Toyota would do their first first check (as that’s how other manufacturers do their initial check). But at present techstream can’t do it, which is why dealers can’t tell. But I doubt CA is doing a true checksum, to perform that on any/ all manufacturers ECUs I simply can’t see being cost effective.

 

Well it was all in reference to the topic at hand. If the dealer can check this I’d assume the CARB people can as well.

These are all just conversations I was reading but people were also saying that

1. Some makes record the mileage on the ECU and the cluster. That would make difficult to just swap ECUs around.

2. California has been somehow creating profiles for all cars since 2000. So if it’s out on a dyno and it’s not meeting baseline it’s flagged. This is in reference to changes in internals such as cams.

I can’t validate any other this. It’s just what people were talking about.

also, I would assume that a fair amount of guys have had their ECUs flashed more than once. So if you have 6 rewrites are you just going to tell them the dealer had to repair 6 times? If CA can make you pay even more to check the tune I don’t think they’d have a hard time arguing over rewrites on the ECU.

 

I look forward to more speculation and heresay, "I heard from my buddy who owns a smog shop", "my mom banged this sheep that knew a guy who works for CARB", etc.

Let the stupid begin, it's the 3G way!

 

Great, so enlighten us. Do they calculate the checksum and compare against what it should be? Then you’re right. Or is the CVN stored in a memory register and just read? If so then it can probably be spoofed.

Read up on CVN correction. Some companies are supposedly doing it.

 

I was talking checksum. I have no idea what CVN actually is, which is why I never used / mention CVN in my post.

 

They could pay me a lot of money to live in California.

Your first smog check isn't due until 8 years after initial registration date if you're the original owner

Your first smog check isn't due until 8 years after initial registration date if you're the original owner

Checksum is essentially what CVN is... aka Calibration Verification Number.

 

@GoldenTaco27 Other thread was locked because any thread regarding California regulation/bureaucracy in the general forum will ultimately end in politics with CA haters coming out and native Californians responding in defense. @Mike Hunt posted a link to a press release from CA BAR regarding the change in smog procedure. Did you read the press release prior to making two threads on the topic? For the lazy:

Cal ID and CVN Detect Programming Modifications

Illegal modifications to a vehicle’s emission controls can dramatically impact the amount of pollution the vehicle generates. This is true not only for modifications to physical components (e.g., air intake, catalytic convertor) but also for modifications to the software controlling the vehicle’s engine controller (e.g., computer). Programming modifications can be detected using the vehicle’s calibration identification (Cal ID) and calibration verification number (CVN), which together uniquely identify the software program installed on the computer. The Cal ID is the name of the program assigned by the vehicle manufacturer. The CVN is a unique numeric code calculated based upon the computer program. Whenever a computer’s program is modified, a new CVN will automatically be generated that will differ from the one originally associated with the Cal ID.


Over the past year, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) has been extensively studying Cal ID and CVN and working with the California Air Resources Board (ARB), vehicle manufacturers, Smog Check industry representatives, and BAR Advisory Group members to gather input and develop an implementation plan. In accordance with California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 3340.42.2(c)(8), beginning July 2020, BAR will implement Cal ID and CVN checks for most model-year 2000 and newer vehicles as part of the On-Board Diagnostic Smog Check inspection failure criteria. Owners of vehicles identified with unapproved programming modifications will need to restore the computer to either stock or ARB-approved software in order to pass a Smog Check inspection.


Bottom line:
1) New cars in CA are smog exempt for 8 years which was effective 1/1/19. Vehicles <4 years old as of 1/1/19 were able to get the same exemption by paying a nominal fee. Vehicles more than 4 years old will need a smog check if there's a change in ownership. http://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Smog_Check_Program/FAQ From BAR: To determine the first year a vehicle requires a biennial or change-of-ownership Smog Check, add eight or four, respectively, to the model year of a vehicle. For example, a 2020 model-year vehicle will first be subject to a biennial Smog Check in 2028 (2020 + 8 = 2028). That same vehicle will require a change-of-ownership Smog Check if sold in or after 2024 (2020 + 4 = 2024).

2) The guys that are calling this a cash grab are misinformed. CA is stupid expensive which we all know but this just changes the way the smog test is conducted; there are no extra tests or fees. Even in you fail a smog test due to an aftermarket tune there is no fine. You just fail the smog test and will have to retest if you want to keep your vehicle street legal i.e. be able to renew your registration.

3) There was no change in smog regulation, just a change in the testing procedure. CA always prohibited any changes to a vehicle that would effect its emissions but it never implemented a way to check for software changes. This change in procedure is an attempt to address that deficiency.

4) No one knows exactly what CA smog software is looking for and can tell you with any certainty if you will pass or fail at this time. Hopefully you either have VF tuner and can reflash your ecu as needed or whoever you got the tune from offers free reflashes so you're covered in the future.

 

Thank you.