California Will Start Testing for ECU Tunes

[Blkkbgt]

Anything that is NOT a stock tune must have a CARB EO stick affixed to the car indicating its CARB legal. This especially goes for any performance parts. If its a kit, it should have a number that when referenced lists all parts in the kit and tune number.

It should come as no surprise that a CARB certified ECU has the capacity for this. I called it a few years ago here and got shit load of flak for it.

"They cant tell if a cars been tuned by just plugging in to the OBD port!! Hurr DUrr"!!

Well, here you go. If you dont think CA mandated this capability for ANY car that a manufacturer wanted to sell new in CA, then youve been living under a rock. Considering how most cars sold new are 50 state compliant, that means that MOST cars are capable of having this detected.

This type of shittery is why I bought a classic muscle car to play with and go fast. **** em.

I too saw the writing on the wall some time ago. I payed particular attention when a few smog techs on other forums made claims the state was building a database of calibrations to check cars against AND were copying tunes they suspected of not being stock.

The first real tell tale sign was when new smog machines were being forced down the throats of shops. Soon after I found said claims of techs online.

Funny thing was when I talked to people on forums and 1 respected tuner on this forum I was told it was impossible for the state to know you had a tune.

Well years later here we are dealing with what was once thought impossible.

Now it's time to play the hand we've been dealt by these ****s in Sacramento. Game on ****ers, game on.

 

[Adower]

As if you needed another reason to never live here or visit. Further proof it was never about emissions and clean air.

California Will Start Testing for ECU Tunes During Smog Checks


**I apologize in advance if this isn't the right section.

Old news. They’ve been doing this for the past year.

 

[Adower]

I'm not sure about this either. My Whipple did/does have a CARB number but I have a custom SCT tune from AED. Does this make me out of compliance because it wasn't a California CARB approved tune?

Fun times. I smogged in October 2020 and passed with flying colors. I won't have to till October 2022. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.

Yes, do not go to smog with that sct tune. You’ll fail and get sent to the referee. I was told by a smog guy the sct tune does something to the File which allows them to detect that it has a non stock tune.

 

[Papaw]

California will not be falling into the Pacific any time soon. How do I know this?
The sheer combined weight of the people and all their possessions fleeing this state is having a massive reduction of pressure on the earthquake faults.

 

[LuuisHernandez]

That's my understanding too... wonder why my 2014 renewal didn't require smog this year???

It’ll be you next year. I have a 2013 and it’s the first year for me this year. Wish me luck.


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

 

[Stangra]

Yes, do not go to smog with that sct tune. You’ll fail and get sent to the referee. I was told by a smog guy the sct tune does something to the File which allows them to detect that it has a non stock tune.

Does this mean that a stock tune that was reflashed from an SCT will be flagged?

 

[Adower]

Does this mean that a stock tune that was reflashed from an SCT will be flagged?

You should still have a stock tune on your sct if the tuner saved one. Make sure to load that stock tune prior to going to smog and you’ll be ok on that front.

 

[wckdvnm]

You should still have a stock tune on your sct if the tuner saved one. Make sure to load that stock tune prior to going to smog and you’ll be ok on that front.

As far as I know that does not work; the SCT device permanently alters the code till it is reflashed by ford. That may be another contributing factor to my retroactive ref; I’m not dumb and would do this but it does not matter as the tuner modifies the programming. This may be a compounding factor as well as a previous owner illegally smogging the car.

 

[Stangra]

You should still have a stock tune on your sct if the tuner saved one. Make sure to load that stock tune prior to going to smog and you’ll be ok on that front.

As far as I know that does not work; the SCT device permanently alters the code till it is reflashed by ford. That may be another contributing factor to my retroactive ref; I’m not dumb and would do this but it does not matter as the tuner modifies the programming. This may be a compounding factor as well as a previous owner illegally smogging the car.

I've heard but can't confirm, that the SCT (or other tuning device) alters in some way a part of the file name. No changes to the cal files themselves but stands out as from a no-oem source. I'm not up to speed enough on these things to fully understand how this works, exactly, or what the best course of action is to avoid hassles. My "stock" tune is a Roush CARB EO tune, so if this is what's happening the only sure way I see would be to send my ECU to Roush, have it flashed with the same tune again?
I reached out to Roush recently and asked about this exact situation and they seem to think that my "stock" tune file should be OK, but I keep hearing things that leave doubts in my mind.

 

[me32]

That's my understanding too... wonder why my 2014 renewal didn't require smog this year???

When did you buy it? I believe on the 8th yr is when you will need to smog it.

 

[99MustangGTman]

Yikes, and i'm too lazy to switch my tags from Historic to Street Rod since the MVA messed up and I don't feel like paying $50 for the tag switch. Sounds like i'm lucky to only have to pay $50 for a different set of tags, even though no cops around here actually cares if your car is modded since Historic tagged cars don't go through emissions anyways. I need to appreciate those slightly poisoning fumes being emitted from my tailpipes that smell kinda good and kinda make me light-headed since people in CA don't get to appreciate that no CAT no SMOG pump, no emissions related anything smell plus good ol' 93.

 

[Blkkbgt]

Does this mean that a stock tune that was reflashed from an SCT will be flagged?

As far as I know that does not work; the SCT device permanently alters the code till it is reflashed by ford.

I've heard but can't confirm, that the SCT (or other tuning device) alters in some way a part of the file name. No changes to the cal files themselves but stands out as from a no-oem source.

It's called the check sum. Each time the ecu is flashed it changes. That's one thing they are picking up. But beyond that as I understand it they are now able to compare your tune to a database of stock and CARB tunes and flag you that way as well.

 

[Blkkbgt]

Old news. They’ve been doing this for the past year.

Not entirely. The change is that they can now compare your file to a database of stock and CARB approved tunes.

 

[Riddick]

Everyone in California better get in good with their local testing centers. Its not what you know but WHO you know.

Unfortunately, the government will continue to force us into electric vehicles. In the next few years expect gas prices to sky rocket and dont be surprised if E-85 goes away. There are no incentives for automakers to make flex fuel vehicles. Once the current flex fuel vehicles are off the road there will be no need for pump E-85.

 

[gimmie11s]

Its not what you know but WHO you know.

Bingo, 100%.

There is always a way, boys.

 

[mlackke]

It's called the check sum. Each time the ecu is flashed it changes. That's one thing they are picking up. But beyond that as I understand it they are now able to compare your tune to a database of stock and CARB tunes and flag you that way as well.

Get external chip and have u tune there. Then some Y cable with switch which allows u to decide which switch chip car uses. During smog test use original chip else external

 

[Rb0891]

Everyone in California better get in good with their local testing centers. Its not what you know but WHO you know.

Unfortunately, the government will continue to force us into electric vehicles. In the next few years expect gas prices to sky rocket and dont be surprised if E-85 goes away. There are no incentives for automakers to make flex fuel vehicles. Once the current flex fuel vehicles are off the road there will be no need for pump E-85.

Yeah. Or the remaining sane people can just move out of that ****hole. Not sure there are many left though.

 

[helloWorld]

Moving out will not really fix this problem because if California is doing it, I can only assume that some more states will eventually start doing it.

 

[Rb0891]

Moving out will not really fix this problem because if California is doing it, I can only assume that some more states will eventually start doing it.

Yeah - the communist ones...

 

[Zinc03Cobra]

Anything that is NOT a stock tune must have a CARB EO stick affixed to the car indicating its CARB legal. This especially goes for any performance parts. If its a kit, it should have a number that when referenced lists all parts in the kit and tune number.

So my CARB sticker EO# D-598-7 says...

"The Mustang GT Supercharger Kit, consists of the following main components: 2.3L Twin Screw Whipple supercharger using a 3.375 inch diameter pulley, intercooler, intake manifold, bypass valve, reflashed ECM, dual port throttle body, new fuel injectors, modified air cleaner lid with stock hydrocarbon absorber, and a new air intake tube from air cleaner to the throttle body. The breather hose may be replaced with an SAE30R9 rated hose. Boost is limited to a maximum of 10 psi. The stock crankshaft pulley, mass air flow sensor element, fuel pump, and radiator thermostat are retained during installation. The mass air flow sensor element is reinstalled in the air cleaner lid which is the same location as stock"

I meet all these requirements, and it looks as though the verbiage would suggest the the ECM reflash is necessary to make everything play nice. I *think* I'll be okay... but I can be certain the stock tune from Ford isn't going to make my car run very well.