CMNTMXR57
12-18-2008, 09:57 AM
Yes, I know it’s at least another 3 – 3.5 years out in most states for most G8 owners here, BUT this is a hot topic and/or concern when it comes to modifying your car and what will keep the CEL/SES/MIL from triggering. As such, I will take something I posted on LS1GTO for testing here in Illinois (one of the more stringent testing states). Later, when I can, I will post links for other states testing procedures and what they’re looking for. Hopefully this will help you when modding your G8’s.
Due to the commonality (and fear) of this topic, I have decided to do a writeup for the Illinois folks relating to the Illinois EPA’s emissions testing process. Hopefully this helps! As an upfront point, this test is run by the ILLINOIS EPA! Therefore all testing standards and practices apply to those in Chicago as well as St. Louis metro areas or any other area in Illinois requiring testing. This means, for you you guys/girls in East St. Louis, your test is the same as mine is here in the Chicago suburban area.
So what is this emissions testing thing that we’re supposed to do? Since our GTO’s (and G8’s) are 2004 and up model year cars, we are subject to an OBDII Scan test. All passenger vehicles/light duty trucks & SUV’s, 1996+ are subject to this test. 1995 in California.
Your first test will be 4 years from the official “in-service” date of the vehicle when it was first registered new. This is why you’ve seen us 2004 guys have to go through this in recent months. You’re going to start seeing the ’05 guys going in for their tests soon. 2006 owners, you’ve got another year (roughly, depending on when the car was registered new initially). After that, you’re tested every two years. Rumor has it, when I talked to the lady at the Elgin facility a couple of weeks ago, this two years has been extended to 4 as OBDII systems are becoming more common, stringent, and on top of things. But until I see it in writing, stick with the 2 years
This test is extremely painless and quick. Essentially, the test facility plugs a cord into your DLC (Diagnostic Link Controller) port under your dash. It scans your PCM. It is looking for;
- DTC’s (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) that command the CEL (Check Engine Light) or SES (Service Engine Soon) light to be “on”, on your dash.
- Pending DTC’s. Similar to DTC’s above, a potential future fault is flagged when your vehicles PCM runs it’s own internal on-board tests and flags a potential problem if something doesn’t run the way it’s programmed to. A Pending DTC will not necessarily command your CEL or SES light to be on though.
- Mileage since last code cleared. So you got a code last week. You cleared it via a Tech2, performance shop cleared it, dealership cleared it, You cleared it via an idle re-learn OR via your own tuning/diagnostic software. You can’t just go take the test immediately. The test wants a certain amount of mileage to be put on the vehicle in order to verify that it isn’t truly a fault in the system and is just a one time anomaly. Such as filling with gas, then driving off and getting a random EVAP system code due to the change in weather affecting pressure in the system.
- It will also test readiness monitors! Readiness Monitors in the PCM monitor systems in your car such as O2 function, Secondary A.I.R. systems (our GTO’s do not have this), EGR functions, etc. If you remove the catalytic converters and don’t properly tune the post-cat (downstream) O2 sensors out by changing the type of DTC class they trigger, a readiness monitor, along with the abnormal “switching” rate the PCM is expecting, will trigger a DTC and also flag on this test. If you remove any EGR/Secondary A.I.R. system, same thing. The PCM will command it to run, and if it doesn’t get the proper sensor feedback, it flags. That is what this test is looking for. Once again, proper tuning after your modifications will eliminate this problem.
The scan test in total should take less than a minute. On our cars, they haven’t done a gas cap pressure test, testing the EVAP system as our PCM’s do that internally. Earlier OBDII cars, they still do. It all depends on how complex the PCM/programming is in the car it’s in. Few facilities (if any) will do a visual underneath your car. Mirrors on sticks don’t pick up everything and they don’t want a slew of workmens comp claims from workers getting down on their knees to look under and screwing up their knee’s and backs (that’s just my editorial).
Here is a link to the Illinois EPA’s website for Vehicle testing. A lot of what I posted above can be found here, as well as many other things, FAQ’s, Etc. They even have a link to other states OBDII emission testing websites, so if you’re re-locating from Illinois to another state, there you go…
http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/
Enjoy.
Due to the commonality (and fear) of this topic, I have decided to do a writeup for the Illinois folks relating to the Illinois EPA’s emissions testing process. Hopefully this helps! As an upfront point, this test is run by the ILLINOIS EPA! Therefore all testing standards and practices apply to those in Chicago as well as St. Louis metro areas or any other area in Illinois requiring testing. This means, for you you guys/girls in East St. Louis, your test is the same as mine is here in the Chicago suburban area.
So what is this emissions testing thing that we’re supposed to do? Since our GTO’s (and G8’s) are 2004 and up model year cars, we are subject to an OBDII Scan test. All passenger vehicles/light duty trucks & SUV’s, 1996+ are subject to this test. 1995 in California.
Your first test will be 4 years from the official “in-service” date of the vehicle when it was first registered new. This is why you’ve seen us 2004 guys have to go through this in recent months. You’re going to start seeing the ’05 guys going in for their tests soon. 2006 owners, you’ve got another year (roughly, depending on when the car was registered new initially). After that, you’re tested every two years. Rumor has it, when I talked to the lady at the Elgin facility a couple of weeks ago, this two years has been extended to 4 as OBDII systems are becoming more common, stringent, and on top of things. But until I see it in writing, stick with the 2 years
This test is extremely painless and quick. Essentially, the test facility plugs a cord into your DLC (Diagnostic Link Controller) port under your dash. It scans your PCM. It is looking for;
- DTC’s (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) that command the CEL (Check Engine Light) or SES (Service Engine Soon) light to be “on”, on your dash.
- Pending DTC’s. Similar to DTC’s above, a potential future fault is flagged when your vehicles PCM runs it’s own internal on-board tests and flags a potential problem if something doesn’t run the way it’s programmed to. A Pending DTC will not necessarily command your CEL or SES light to be on though.
- Mileage since last code cleared. So you got a code last week. You cleared it via a Tech2, performance shop cleared it, dealership cleared it, You cleared it via an idle re-learn OR via your own tuning/diagnostic software. You can’t just go take the test immediately. The test wants a certain amount of mileage to be put on the vehicle in order to verify that it isn’t truly a fault in the system and is just a one time anomaly. Such as filling with gas, then driving off and getting a random EVAP system code due to the change in weather affecting pressure in the system.
- It will also test readiness monitors! Readiness Monitors in the PCM monitor systems in your car such as O2 function, Secondary A.I.R. systems (our GTO’s do not have this), EGR functions, etc. If you remove the catalytic converters and don’t properly tune the post-cat (downstream) O2 sensors out by changing the type of DTC class they trigger, a readiness monitor, along with the abnormal “switching” rate the PCM is expecting, will trigger a DTC and also flag on this test. If you remove any EGR/Secondary A.I.R. system, same thing. The PCM will command it to run, and if it doesn’t get the proper sensor feedback, it flags. That is what this test is looking for. Once again, proper tuning after your modifications will eliminate this problem.
The scan test in total should take less than a minute. On our cars, they haven’t done a gas cap pressure test, testing the EVAP system as our PCM’s do that internally. Earlier OBDII cars, they still do. It all depends on how complex the PCM/programming is in the car it’s in. Few facilities (if any) will do a visual underneath your car. Mirrors on sticks don’t pick up everything and they don’t want a slew of workmens comp claims from workers getting down on their knees to look under and screwing up their knee’s and backs (that’s just my editorial).
Here is a link to the Illinois EPA’s website for Vehicle testing. A lot of what I posted above can be found here, as well as many other things, FAQ’s, Etc. They even have a link to other states OBDII emission testing websites, so if you’re re-locating from Illinois to another state, there you go…
http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/
Enjoy.