Got my emissions done on my 96 today. Guy just plugged his computer into the OBDII port and passed me based on what the computer told him, without even running anything else.

Seems to me there would be a way to hack this and pass every time, even if you're belching out smog like an LA airport. Not that I would, or endorse this, but it makes an interesting hypothetical. Can you hack into your car's computer?

 

You obviously ain't getting tested in L.A.

 

Nope, Washington.

 

Im a state inspector and every day i see people try to pass by disconecting the battery cables and "reseting" the ecu. The state computer runs a series of tests on the vehicles sensors. If the system has been reset the sensors will read "not ready" and it will fail. Same thing happens to people who have just replaced a battery. Each manufacturer has a different drive cycle that must be driven before the sensors are ready again, which will lost likley cause your CEL to come on again. You cant just hop on the highway and drive 80 miles and your car be ready although it may work for a couple vehicles out there.

There are ways to get arount it. My 03 VW GTI has a 3in catless downpipe and 3 in piping to a magnaflow muffler at the rear. The CEL came on and codes pointed to 02 sensors above threshold. I did a couple other mods and got an APR stage 2 computer tune and raised the boost to 21 psi. Theres no way in hell the the would pass obd inspection in Texas with the tune. But with it, the CELs were turned off and the sensors still read "ready" and it passed with flying colors. So yea there are a few ways around it. All the inspector needs to look for is safety requirements and the computer does the obd part. Fool the computer and your set.

 

oooooooorrr if you know a guy, he can test your truck as a diesel and do safety test only.

You can also use washers as spacers between the exhaust and 02 sensors. It will still read that its ready but will give a lower reading.