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| Digital EGR in California (Page 4/5) |
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Dennis LaGrua
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JAN 12, 06:59 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by thesameguy:
No, I totally get that... but Dennis's comment wasn't about ghost mods, it was repeating the same old ridiculous mantra that everything is impossible in California. If you wanna say "that digital EGR is a problem" then say that. Don't make provably false blanket statements about "smog police."
As for the topic at hand, the way the smog check works is a computer tells a technician the things they need to check, whether evap or EGR or whatever is present. It does not provide information on what that equipment looks like, or how it works. Further, for *most* of California where the BAR-97 ("dyno") is employed there is no functional test so there is no reason to look deeper than "present" or "not present." If you have a knowledgeable tech who knows what EGR on a Fiero looks like, he'll fail you for the wrong system. If you have a tech who doesn't know anything and has to go consult Alldata or Mitchell, he'll probably also fail you. What you need is the guy who knows what EGR generally looks like and has no reason to consider whether it should be vacuum or electrically operated. 
Be aware that not all areas of California use BAR-97. Some areas still use the old two-speed idle test is used and in those places there can be functional tests, especially for EGR. In this situation, the tech would perform a specific test according to manufacturer guidelines to verify functionality. An improper EGR would obviously instantly fail.
Smog tests are no different from safety inspections in other states, where some techs are just a bit more lax than others. Everybody in New Jersey has a story about failing inspection because their tech decided a rust spot was in the wrong place or a brake pad was a tiny bit too worn. I have been failed for things that should have passed, and passed for things that should have failed. It truly is pretty luck of the draw... which is why if you find a reliable smog shop you're a customer for life. 
The caution I would issue is this: If you sell a product into California with the express purpose of evading smog laws and you get caught, the fines are substantial. Recently a tuner in Indiana (IIRC) got fined $140,000 for selling illegal equipment into California. It's not a risk I would run. Publish the info on the internet, but if you sell a product you're at risk IMO.
I think the proper way to handle this is just flip a ref $8.25 and do a real engine change using a 1994 Camaro as a donor. It should be fine, assuming they give you a pass on the Fiero exhaust manifolds and slightly tighter catalytic converter placement. I'm confident they won't hassle you on the manifolds, but *might* on the cat. You'd have to measure the linear distance between the Camaro's collector and cat and compare. If it's within six or twelve inches, you're probably fine. Then, problem solved forever. Well, until Camaro coil packs and EGR valves go NLA.  |
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I'm happy to hear that you enjoy putting up with all that big brother bureaucratic nonsense. Again read my lips, there is NO inspection requirement for cars 1996 and older in New Jersey and they don't have to have historic plates. You can do anything that you wish to your Fiero here. ------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
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skywurz
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JAN 12, 09:11 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
I'm happy to hear that you enjoy putting up with all that big brother bureaucratic nonsense. Again read my lips, there is NO inspection requirement for cars 1996 and older in New Jersey and they don't have to have historic plates. You can do anything that you wish to your Fiero here.
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"It's a Jersey thing"
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cvxjet
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JAN 12, 09:28 PM
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Quota from Dennis; "I'm happy to hear that you enjoy putting up with all that big brother bureaucratic nonsense. Again read my lips, there is NO inspection requirement for cars 1996 and older in New Jersey and they don't have to have historic plates. You can do anything that you wish to your Fiero here."
Dennis- ALL states have some ridiculous laws;
New Jersey laws;
1) In Manville it's illegal to offer alcohol or tobacco to zoo animals
2) In New Jersey it's illegal to commit murder while wearing a bullet proof vest.
3) In Newark it's illegal to purchase ice cream after 6 pm without a doctors note.
4)In New Jersey it's illegal to frown at a cop.
5) If convicted of DUI, you're no longer allowed to have custom license plates.
6) In Haddon Twp. it's illegal to annoy someone of the opposite sex.
7) In New Jersey it's illegal to slurp your soup in public.
8) In Trenton it's illegal to eat pickles on Sunday.
9) In New Jersey it's illegal for birds to poop on statues.
10) In New Jersey it's illegal for a man to knit during fishing season.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Holy moly....Indiana almost passed an unbelievably dumb law!
Pi is a long, irrational number, and it's tough to remember. Maybe that's why the Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill in 1897 redefining the value of Pi at 3.2. Thankfully for math students across the state, a mathematician intervened and the bill stalled in the Senate and never passed.[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 01-12-2021).]
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thesameguy
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JAN 12, 10:37 PM
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Nevermind. [This message has been edited by thesameguy (edited 01-12-2021).]
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Notorio
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JAN 12, 11:52 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by thesameguy:
Since nothing gets plugged into the OBD port, you could make this happen. Use a SPDT relay, connect the EST wire across terminals 30 and 87. Connect 86 to battery power. Wire B on the OBD port to terminal 85, wire A on the OBD port to ground. Now, when A is shorted to B, the relay switches and the EST wire is electrically disconnected ...
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Thank you for bringing up the timing issue when the tech shorts A-B!! Last night I was staring at the ceiling for a long time trying to remember that issue with the 7730 that I had stumbled across in another post (perhaps yours??) that highlighted this problem, but I was not able to find it again by searching. So that solves all 3 issues with the ECM swap:
1) The 7730 might alert the tech when the OBD1 gets plugged in. Solution: not an issue, it doesn't get plugged in.
2) The visual inspection of the digital EGR might be noticed as different. Solution: make the install look old and like it belongs there.
3) The 7730 doesn't baseline the timing when the A-B connector is shorted. Solution: rig up the switch you proposed.
Hmmmn, we are still faced with the missing Solenoid, however, if the tech is going by the sticker. 
Gee, I wish someone who has done the mod in CA would chime in with some real smog test experience.
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Notorio
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JAN 13, 12:06 AM
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I thought I'd grab a photo of the sticker so everyone could see what information it had on it. Two things became clear:
1) The car had an aftermarket coil that I never noticed before. Doh! 
2) The diagram on the sticker really makes the solenoid quite obvious. How could a tech fail to flag a missing solenoid?
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fierofool
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JAN 13, 09:05 AM
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How about if the emissions sticker was replaced with one from a Duke? Explain that the old deck lid had a spoiler or luggage rack that you didn't like and you swapped decklids or that you had to punch out the lock and damaged the old decklid. That could easily work on a notchie, but the tech would have to be familiar enough with the Fiero to know that a Duke was never covered by a long fastback decklid.
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MulletproofMonk
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JAN 13, 09:32 AM
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fierofool
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JAN 13, 09:47 AM
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So you had piggyback ECM's?
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fierofool
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JAN 13, 10:16 AM
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If, for example one is using a 7730 ECM from a 93 Beretta, you would still use an OBD1 ALDL. How are trouble codes read?
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