TeCKis300

I appreciate the inputs. But let's focus a bit here.

Facts:
- My car passed with flying colors 2 yrs ago based on CA's combined sniff and OBD-II test (that allows 1 incomplete OBD-II flag)
- CA changed their criteria to strictly an OBD-II on board test. This requires all monitors to be ready.
- I've done the above drive cycle 2x.
- My car is a daily driver that gets lots of opportunity to be 'ready'. I've not pulled the batts or anything in the last 10k miles.
- I have no active or pending CEL's, or any emissions related codes, other than the since catalytic converter readiness flag not being set.
- I have a 'GT650' kit with 5bar fpr. Cannot use stock tune.

I'll attempt to put back on the stock exhaust this weekend to see if I can satisfy the catalytic readiness.

I sure hope I don't need to go as far as a new tune, though I'm suspecting it's necessary.

Which vendor out there has good tunes that are CA appropriate, but also are good for my early Alpha 28 (GT2860rs) turbo's? I might even take this as an opportunity to change up my fueling with proper 70lb injectors.

John@Fabspeed

Hello TeCKis300,

We have a very skilled tuner here in house that I would like to run this situation by and hopefully resolve your issue. PM sent, and hope to hear back from you shortly.

"02996ttx50

readiness monitor reset is not as easy as it appears to be in "print", which is why so many ( myself included ) have issues with them continuing to be "not ready" irrespective of how often the car is driven or how often one attempts to reset them using the protocol as outlined above. one can drive the car for thousands of miles with the readiness monitors being "NOT ready" absent any obvious issue(s).

I have a 10+ year old cargraphic 1.2/3 tune and aftermarket exhaust w cats and the car passes every time.

so no, to whoever asked if I didn't believe that this had beenalready attempted and was done properly, and that was "it", doesn't mean it's the end of the "story".

improperly working 02 sensors are the next most likely point of failure, but this all depends upon what portion of the obd ( only ) test is showing a "fail".

it has nothing to do with *most* decent tunes that don't trick the ecu by turning "off" the post pre/post cat sensors. most notably? older? epl tunes. again, my ages old cargraphic tune has never been the cause of any "not ready".

TeCKis300

Thanks for emphasizing the need to do a proper emissions "drive cycle". I do understand what you're getting at and the way most of us drive these cars, is not conducive to the OBD-II diagnostics. That said, I'm very aware of the the how's and why's, and I've done the same definitive drive cycle (that you posted) very carefully but have not had luck getting the catalytic efficiency monitor ready. And yes, the catalyst readiness is a aggregate of multiple tests that the drive cycle attempts to satisfy. I'll give it another shot.

But in the mean time, I'm reaching out in hope of learning some more information.

Have people had success in getting catalytic readiness with aftermarket exhausts?

Kevin

TeCKis300, I have been watching and running aftermarket exhaust system tuned with OBD2 systems since the 993TT. The only CAT's that will work LONG TERM (greater than 2 years) are made by Emetic packaged by HJS in Germany. However, installing 120mm diameter HJS CATS will fail quicker than system that run the 130mm 100 cell or 200 cell units. For example. Europipe uses 130mm Emitec/HJS German cartridges. Dock on this Forum has run his 13 or 14 years.

If are running the Milspec brand ceramic 100 cell CAT's they will fail within a year. The CAT's will still run but not to the correct specification and OBD2 compliant.

For your car, I think that you have two issues.. One is the exhaust but more importantly your ECU tune is not in compliant. Think VW diesel coding (smile)..

And BTW, you engine will run correctly with the 5 bar and turbochargers. Unless you have a non stock MAF, the stock tune will control your turbochargers. The reason why I say this is.. You can switch to the correct factory "stock" tune and then flash a correct tuned file if needed. You won't have the power output, but you will have boost control and fueling.

TeCKis300

That is great information and I really appreciate it! At least I'm informed enough to come up with a strategy to my dilemma now.

I'll be swapping in my exhaust this weekend and attempt a couple more drive cycles for readiness.

If that doesn't solve the problem, I'll have to find a way flash back to stock. Kevin, if I'm reading your post correctly, I can flash back to stock, even with the 5 bar, and it'll run fine so long as I don't go too much into boost? I assume this is because closed loop fueling will pull enough fuel to compensate for the 5 bar and run fine? And yes, I'm on stock MAF.

And to flash back to stock, I'll need some options. I can go to Porsche for the stock programming, or I'm thinking perhaps an Accessport using OTS stock maps? Any other ideas?

Though I do want to flash my current map back after all said and done.

jeanmarcboilard

I might be wrong but I bet you have a Softronic tune. I have a similar early gen set up and my car had a Softronic tune. Give them a call and they should be able to tell by your vin if it's one of theirs. If it is, they can send you a stock file to flash back to.

TeCKis300

I'll definitely give softronic a call. I'm thinking it could possibly be a EVOMS tune as well and I may try there.

I can't tell what cats are used on the Fabspeed v3 other than I see the Fabspeed placard welded onto it.

At any rate, I busted out the stock exhaust from the attic. Only to realize I don't have the stock straps!%$ Grrr.

Anyone got a spare set of stock exhaust straps handy that I'll happily pay for. No point buying new straps.

"02996ttx50

if you're not running an exhaust with hjs or one of similar quality ( e.g. tuv cert'ed ) --( my kline 200's passed no problem ) and if the 02's are not coded out which is one sorely half assed way to accomplish turning off a cel, then i would ( again, look to exhaust ( cats of unknown origin again ) or bad o2's ( whether they've been tricked thru ecu manipulation or not ). sometimes changing out 02's are all it takes. my new kiline ( with new cats ) was throwing 02 cels and sure enough, i threw a new set on and no more 02 codes. imagine that.

i have faith by now, that someone as understanding as you are, would have been able to make the determination by now whether or not it was indeed merely "drive cycle" related, because while "tricky" it is only tricky relative to one's experience with these particular cars. so, based upon purely anecdotal details you've provided, i'd rule out the obd drive cycle reset,..

but not the cats, or 02's, then lastly i'd think about the tune. any reputable tuner ( evoms/alex@sharkey/ my ancient cargraphic! ) tuned the cars to pass with proper emissions stuff active and present. not "trick the system" epl.. and well.. VW in recent news lol.

cats ( realtive to your fabspeed, ( which i'm not sure i'd trust for an obd in KALI ?! ) next properly working 02 sensors and lastly, merely readiness not ready, obd monitors. which again, for you and in this case given your level of acumen, i have ruled out. it may be difficult, but its mindless 30-40mph drive cycles. you have of course figured that one out. good luck, it's frustrating, and never drive into a star test station w/out having handlehld w a reader, "passed" down the block "pre-entry".

EVOMS

The monitors are likely disabled in your tune. If it's running our software, give me a call (480-317-9911) or shoot me an email (sstone@evoms.com) and I can get you sorted out. The GT650 kit is pretty old school, so we may have some power updates available at the same time.

88mmm

^^way to step up. Give them a call before you mess with exhaust and everything else. I know some are adament that the tune is the last resort but its the easiest thing to try and will give you answers before throwing money at parts.

"02996ttx50

i wouldn't say the tune would be the source of issues of last resort, but close! so much as i'd say it should be the least likely thing that should be preventing a mildly modded car ( let's just a tune & exhaust ) from passing smog in CA, which is known to have some of the most stringent requirements in the US. older tunes that turned off the 02's portion were asking for issues from customers. ...

and its not the "easiest thing" for someone like me that inherited a perfectly good german tune and has to date passed every time, that is as old as the car itself. i don't have a stock file to revert to, so flashing it backwards, would be an enormous PITA. if i had a handheld with 3 files? sure no prob lol.

point is, i've had a cpl minor "readiness" issues pre testing before, and not one of them was tune related.

Kevin

02996TTX50, My Tuning module has EIGHT locations for file selections. Email me if you what to spend a "few" dollars and have your tuned file, and stock file!

"02996ttx50

well, as it happens kevin, you are in fact the only person i have planned on calling if and when i "need" a new(er) tune. i will of course, change my name so we can start "fresh"

though i must say i have been following the cobb stuff with some interest. BUT you make the turbos i use, and i also prefer the personal service that smaller individual tuners such as yourself, provide.

thank for the offer and do not be surprised if i take you up on it! thanks again.