Smog Test cheats, How do they do it?

[Stu_Rock]

Loobed is either incorrect or a patron of a shop that does "clean piping."

Your ZIP code (not county) tells whether you get a "basic" test or an "enhanced" test. The basic test is the two-speed idle test, with an exhaust gas sniffer. The enhanced test is a dyno test, also with the sniffer.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Loobed is either incorrect or a patron of a shop that does "clean piping."

Your ZIP code (not county) tells whether you get a "basic" test or an "enhanced" test. The basic test is the two-speed idle test, with an exhaust gas sniffer. The enhanced test is a dyno test, also with the sniffer.


NO I don't work at a smog shop. The last time I got my car smogged, the guy put it on a wheel dyno, but didn't put in the sniffer. I asked him why not, and he said the cars computer gave all the information that was needed.

 

[Vikas]

Anybody knows how that is achieved? Without sniffer, how do they get the emission numbers? The OBD only tells if the I/M tests have been completed successfully or not. It makes no sense to have the vehicle on dyno or even running if you are not measuring tailpipe.

There seems to be a big misunderstanding.

When the car was on dyno, was the dyno or even the car actually running?

 

[Stu_Rock]

Originally Posted By: Loobed
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Loobed is either incorrect or a patron of a shop that does "clean piping."

Your ZIP code (not county) tells whether you get a "basic" test or an "enhanced" test. The basic test is the two-speed idle test, with an exhaust gas sniffer. The enhanced test is a dyno test, also with the sniffer.
NO I don't work at a smog shop. The last time I got my car smogged, the guy put it on a wheel dyno, but didn't put in the sniffer. I asked him why not, and he said the cars computer gave all the information that was needed.
Patron means customer. Your technician was definitely doing it wrong. Absolutely no question about it. OBD-only testing will happen in California, but not until 2013, and then only for vehicles of MY2000 and newer. Here's the law that makes it happen:
http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2251-2300/ab_2289_bill_20100924_chaptered.html

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: Vikas

When the car was on dyno, was the dyno or even the car actually running?



Yes my truck was running. I saw the wheels rotate on the dyno drums. My truck passed, I paid.

 

[Vikas]

Can you post the screenshot of your results?

 

[exranger06]

In CT, 1996+ vehicles get just the OBD2 test. The tech plugs his machine into the OBD port and if the vehicle has all of its monitors ready, it passes. In and out in under 5 minutes. Only 1995 and older vehicles get put on a dyno with an exhaust probe. I have OBD1 and OBD2 vehicles (see my sig), and I've watched the tech perform the tests on all of them and have confirmed this to be true.

 

[zmelli]

I did some checking, this is how they do it. The probe is placed in a cup full of a green solution that is warmed up while sitting on the valve cover. Then the smog tech unplugs two of the spark pulg cables?

The green soluion can be some sort of PH solution? I used to calibrate PH Meters? any thoughts?

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: zmelli
I did some checking, this is how they do it. The probe is placed in a cup full of a green solution that is warmed up while sitting on the valve cover. Then the smog tech unplugs two of the spark pulg cables?

The green soluion can be some sort of PH solution? I used to calibrate PH Meters? any thoughts?


Alright, I give up! Has anybody else seen this voodoo being done to their vehicle in name of emission testing?

Just to be clear, you saw a tech disconnecting spark plug cables on a running engine as a part of smog check???????

 

[PZR2874]

This is friggin crazy.... Just move away from California.

Or how about this....

Plug your OBD2 with something locking.... Tell then you can't take it off. Is there anything within the law stating they MUST have access to the port?

 

[morris]

i have read, i have NOT done, put 50% methanol in the fuel. they say it runs bad but will pass.

 

[PZR2874]

Couldn't that be said about e85 as well?

Burns clean

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: morris
i have read, i have NOT done, put 50% methanol in the fuel. they say it runs bad but will pass.


DOesn't even need to be that high. A gallon jug of methanol put in with your gas will make you pass. Did it on our Focus.

 

[zmelli]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Originally Posted By: zmelli
I did some checking, this is how they do it. The probe is placed in a cup full of a green solution that is warmed up while sitting on the valve cover. Then the smog tech unplugs two of the spark pulg cables?

The green soluion can be some sort of PH solution? I used to calibrate PH Meters? any thoughts?


Alright, I give up! Has anybody else seen this voodoo being done to their vehicle in name of emission testing?

Just to be clear, you saw a tech disconnecting spark plug cables on a running engine as a part of smog check???????

This is what I was told, I did not witness this. The person that told me was also puzzled about the running on two cylinders

 

[Vikas]

From what I know about OBD ( and I know a lot there is no way for it to report the emission results when hooked up to the car. That just is not possible.

 

[OilNerd]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
From what I know about OBD ( and I know a lot there is no way for it to report the emission results when hooked up to the car. That just is not possible.


Then I guess my annual OBD-II emissions inspections are impossible.

The testing computer, with the OBD-II interface, runs software that reports the OBD-II test results to NYSDMV.

 

[Vikas]

I think you are misunderstanding what I am saying. I was talking about measuring the actual tailpipe emissions via OBD-II as that was the context from the previous poster.

Every state uses OBD-II test to check the emission monitor status. The car computer conducts I/M tests. When all I/M monitors are completed (well, technically you get one waiver (or two) but it is complicated) your car can get the sticker.

Notice how there was nothing connected to the tailpipe. Notice how there were NO numbers on your emission inspection printout.

Anyway, I am not sure if your intentions are for serious discussion or not. If yes, we will continue.

- Vikas

 

[OilNerd]

Vikas, my intentions were not frivolous.

Your follow-up post clears things up.

 

[morris]

TO: PZR2874 yes i forgot about that, even though the alcohol is different you would get the same result. but NOTE, i have never done it.

 

[Stephen_G]

In NJ, i have taken two eras of cars through myself. I only use NJ MVC Stations, it is free...and no shenanigans of fake passing it.

1992 Mercury Sable 3.8L Essex V6

2003 Mercury Sable 3.0L Vulcan V6

1992 Sable: Pull the car into the inspection bay put a inductance based dyno on the windshield, and clip to a spark plug wire. Idle and 2500RPM test. Tail pipe is probed during the test, after that part, they drive it over to the gas cap station where the cap is tested. Mine passed with flying colors on this test. Pre 1968 gets idle only, 1996+ Gets OBD-II




2003 Sable: OBD-II test which i failed due to the mechanic i got the car back from about 20 mins before reset the computer, NJ used to let it pass (we did it on my grandmothers 1997 escort, took it through with a freshly reset computer) but now it actually fails the car. I got a nice red REJECTED sticker on the windshield, i drove 40 mi did stuff for college and came back around 2PM, it passed with flying colors.



Now in NJ i could see cheating with the system if you go to a private facility, slip the guy a 20 or 50 to pass a car that will fail, we did it, took a 1983 malibu to a lenient place when we had safety inspections in the 1990s, it had a small crack on the windshield that we glazed over, but we did not want to risk it failing.


1992 Sable Result:the 2003 is the same, but has no gas info.