B-Line

This is an anecdotal question as I'm not selling my car. And let me state, there is now nor has there ever been anything wrong with the car. But back in in the early 2000's when I first moved to California the OBDII drive cycle flag reset process was largely unknown. In other words, my car had a hard time handshaking with California smog systems. I used to go to a referee station and the car always was passed with super clean numbers and I even still have all the paperwork. But because I tried to do a 300 mile drive and retest and it still didn't pass until I learned the drive cycle, the car was designated GROSS POLLUTER in 2005.

It wasn't until years later that the BMW OBDII reset was known to anyone and everyone other than Porsche dealer/mechanics. Thanks Rennlist as always! And I obviously now know how to reset the OBDII flags prior to bringing it to a smog station.

I decided to look up my Carfax and it's dinged with all sorts failed emissions inspections.

Is that the type of thing anyone would ever care about? Again, there has never been anything wrong, no repairs necessary, etc. Matter of fact, any search on Rennlist and my name will bring up countless threads I've made about OBDII and smog check.

Just curious.

B-Line

Churchill

Neurotic buyers will care. Normal people who don't get distracted by meaningless eco-wacko bureaucratic BS will not care.

B-Line

I lol’d.

Grapeape

I agree with the Prime Minister.

fsa

You are the designated Forum Prophet!

Foxman

I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a gross polluter. Here in Massachusetts our cars are exempt from such pointless testing. Cows are more of a threat, ha.

B-Line

I should be clear. My car isn't a gross polluter. The emissions have always tested extremely clean.
It got the gross polluter label in 2005 because I couldn't get the car to handshake with California's smog system.
I eventually figured out the work flow and got the OBDII to handshake with the smog machine... But the car did not need any repair or work.

os993

Crazy situation. Incredible.

jfischet

i don't think it would make one bit of difference to the buyer of a 993 S

os993

oh, I didn’t know it was an S. Even less of an issue.

AOW162435

This.


Andreas

timothymoffat

I am deeply saddened that you people continue to drive around in these death traps killing the planet. If you simply must drive a car then electric is the only answer. Shame.

systemsc

Yes, you got all the OBDII monitors SET prior to your smog station visit. Luckily during your drive effort, no CEL occurred requiring a reset of the CEL, resulting in the monitors being RESET.
Read here for OBDII and 993 info under Porsche 993 Cycle Flag Basics; https://www.systemsc.com/codes.htm

Mr.Woolery

I bought my 993 without a PPI and immediately after being designated a gross polluter. I was able to get it to pass smog simply by turning on the AC. Turns out that the dual-mass flywheel was needing replacement, and the failing DMF was allowing the timing pickups to jitter and cause the smog fail (turning on the AC put a slight load on the rubber bits of the DMF, stopping the jitters). Replacing/upgrading the DMF with a LWF and RS clutch setup fixed the issue (something I was planning to do anyway), and the car has easily passed smog with super clean numbers ever since.
Smog fails on a VIN search to me would only indicate a recorded maintenance need for consumables, not a fundamental flaw in the car. Ruling out a car based on that would be like ruling out a car that needed new spark plugs, or a clutch, etc. However, if you're a knowledgeable buyer dealing with a seller who isn't, this can be used to negotiate a lower price.