RE: FW: need to pass smog test

From: Holloway,Frank T (Frank.T.Holloway@KP.ORG)
Date: Fri Jul 24 1998 - 17:13:56 EDT


The purpose of this comment is just to inform..........
My advise to you would be to try and comply with the Calif. smog
inspection, below is an EPA document published in 1996 outlining
requirements for
all states in the U.S. It won't be long before it is implemented in all
states (most states are ahead of the requirements) Calif. and Colorado
are already
using the new test procedures.

 

                            EPA Establishes Requirements For OBD
Inspection In I/M Programs

                            Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 1996 -- The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final regulation
                            establishing the minimum requirements for
inspecting vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems as
                            part of the inspections required in basic
and enhanced Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs.

                            EPA's action establishes the test procedures
for the OBD computer test portion of the I/M test. OBD testing of all
                            1996 and newer model vehicles will be
required in all I/M programs beginning Jan. 1, 1998. Areas in the
Northeast
                            Ozone Transport Region eligible to implement
a low enhanced I/M program must begin OBD testing by Jan. 1, 1999.

                            Automotive Service Association (ASA)
Washington Representative Bob Redding said, "Failure of the OBD test
will
                            not result in mandatory repair until Jan. 1,
2000. During this two-year test-only period, EPA, in cooperation with
states
                            and motor vehicle manufacturers, hopes to
gather data on the effectiveness of OBD."

                            According to EPA, the I/M test will include
the following OBD test standards: Beginning Jan. 1, 2000, failure of the
                            OBD test shall be a basis for failure of the
I/M test; a vehicle shall fail the OBD test if it is a 1996 or newer
vehicle and
                            the vehicle connector is missing, has been
tampered with, or is otherwise inoperable; a vehicle shall fail the OBD
test if
                            the malfunction indicator light (MIL) is
commanded to be illuminated and is not visually illuminated according to
visual
                            inspection; a vehicle shall fail the OBD
diagnostic test if the MIL is commanded to be illuminated and specified
codes
                            are present.

                            EPA concluded that because OBD technology is
new, the two-year period of study was warranted. From Jan.1,
                            1998, to Dec. 31, 1999, vehicles that fail
the OBD test will not automatically fail the I/M test or be required to
obtain
                            repairs.

                            EPA believes that there will be no lost
emission reductions as a result of the study period because most
vehicles will
                            still have to undergo tailpipe emission and
evaporative tests. The agency reasons that since OBD testing is only
                            required on 1996 and newer vehicles, these
vehicles will still be new and clean in 1998 and 1999 and would likely
not
                            fail the I/M test.

                            The Automotive Service Association is the
largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind serving more than
12,000
                            businesses and approximately 55,000
professionals from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA
                            advances the professionalism and excellence
in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and
                            member services.

                            News Bulletin 96.52

Below is a list of additional requirements for state smog checks.

OBD-II Incorporation Into Smog Check

     Verify that MIL is not illuminated (light and computer indication)
     Verify that the I/M Readiness Code is fully set
     Verify that no fault codes are stored (even though the MIL in not
illuminated, codes are still stored)
     Verity that "proper" calibration is installed

On-Board Diagnostics II Key Monitoring Requirements

     Primary Emission Control Systems/Components
          Catalyst
          Misfire
          Evaporative System
          Fuel System
          Oxygen Sensor
          Exhaust Gas Recirculation System
          Secondary Air Injection System
          Heated Catalyst System
     Comprehensive Components

And at last the effects of engine modifications as it relates to OBDII:

                                            THE EFFECT OF MODIFICATIONS

Higher fuel pressure or larger injectors:
     A potential problem with a fuel trim diagnostic failure exists when
changes are make to the flow rate of the injectors or the fuel pressure.
The criteria that
     are needed or, in other words, the amount of correction that is
allowed, will determine the success of this modification. In all
fairness, on a totally stock
     vehicle there's no reason to change either one of the
above-mentioned areas. A highly modified engine would probably evoke
trouble codes in other
     areas first.
Cat-back Exhausts:
     There should be no problem with cat-back exhaust systems since
their improvement to airflow is not monitored. There may be a possible
problem area
     in EGR function if mufflers are not used.
Increased Rocker Arm Geometry:
     There is no interference with OBD-II functioning by increasing lift
with rocker arms of a different ratio. Even though increased lift
through rocker arm
     geometry has a slight effect on duration, its more dominant are is
in valve moment.
Camshafts:
     This is major area of concern with possible problems all over the
map. Valve event timing will have a drastic effect on hydrocarbon
generation, which
     will affect both HO2s time to activate and response time. It may
also have an effect on converter efficiency due to the increased
hydrocarbon load
     placed on the converter. Another area of concern is in idle
stability and misfire detection. The roughness that we all like in a
cammed engine most likely
     will be interpreted as a misfire, which will be confirmed by the
lack of converter conversion efficiency. Camshafts with slightly
increased durations and
     lobe separations angles of at least 112 degrees will most likely be
tolerated.
Cooler Thermostats:
     Without letting the engine reach normal operating coolant
temperatures, the drive cycle will not be completed.
Cylinder Heads:
     It appears that increased volumetric efficiency through
better-flowing heads and a slight raising of the fuel pressure to keep
the fuel trim in check should
     go totally undetected.
Headers:
     Emissions-legal headers will have no effect on OBD-II.
Superchargers:
     In theory, since WOT is not monitored, the only possible problem
arises with fuel trim under closed loop boost and idle stability with
the air being
     forced into the throttle body. Even though superchargers do not
affect idle quality, there will be fewer counts of the IAC to achieve
the same idle. This
     should not pose a problem. The increased volume of air passing
through the MAF will most likely be detected and recorded. Since it will
only be for a
     short period of time, the system should respond like Ford's EEC-IV
by seeing an uncalculated amount of air and illuminate an MIL.
Nitrous:
     It looks as if nitrous is the safest be for adding performance on
OBD-II vehicles. This is almost a contradiction in itself; since nitrous
is only operated at
     WOT, the ECU will not care (see Fig. 11).

Comming to a city or state near you.....

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boog318@aol.com [SMTP:Boog318@aol.com]
> Sent: Friday, July 24, 1998 6:12 AM
> To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> Subject: Re: DML: FW: need to pass smog test
>
> Other options? Get the hell out of CA. :o)



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