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All the important emissions monitors "not available"
After reflashing my DME from an EVOMSit x50 tune back to "original" using a handset supplied with the tune, I am unable to get any of the important emissions monitors to show as available (much less "ready"), even after a fair amount of driving and attempting the multi-part drive test posted all over this forum and others. My smog testing shop originally flagged this to me as "your car is not reporting that it has an EVAP system/monitor - do you have a tune on/was that coded out?" (at that point, I believed I had reversed the tune to stock, and no, nothing should have been coded out, even with the former tune).
Here's what it looks like on a couple different OBD apps:
OBDLink Android app view (connected to OBDLink MX Bluetooth/OBD dongle) Torque Android app view (connected to OBDLink MX Bluetooth/OBD dongle)
Is this view known to be normal for 996tts? I seem to recall seeing available but not ready previously (long ago), but I must be dreaming.
In other words, does each monitor show "not available" until it simultaneously goes "ready?"
So did you actually put a stock tune on it? I'm confused as you say you did, then say you might need to go to the dealer to get a stock file put on it.
Getting the readiness monitors to set on these is notoriously difficult, quite a few local people here have had to go to the dealer, where they have some procedure they do that makes the monitors finally set...
So did you actually put a stock tune on it? I'm confused as you say you did, then say you might need to go to the dealer to get a stock file put on it.
Getting the readiness monitors to set on these is notoriously difficult, quite a few local people here have had to go to the dealer, where they have some procedure they do that makes the monitors finally set...
The full history is that I bought this car in 2017 from out of state with a tune of allegedly GIAC origin and was able to get most of the emissions monitors ready but I was never able to get the catalyst to ready up. Under pressure to get the car registered for the first time in California, I finally capitulated and visited a dealer for a stock flash.
After that, I successfully passed smog, and then had EVOMSit installed. Part of what I paid for was a handset containing the original image (or rather, what the dealer had done for me) and the new tune so I could ostensibly switch back and forth. That device is not EVOMS-branded but is instead a Dimsport "My Genius" if that helps anyone understand what it's capable of doing and not.
Fast forward to a few days ago when I went for the smog test, failed, and went back for a retest after using the MyGenius handset to return to "original" (that was the name of the file stored in it for this purpose). I have not yet gone to a dealer for a repeat of their programming, and hope I don't have to.
After starting this thread yesterday, I also tried using the handset to flash back to EVOMSit tune, then to "original" again to see if the missing monitors reappeared and showed not ready - but no change in results. The advice I got from the shop who installed the EVOMSit tune originally (and supplied the handset) was that running the usual drive cycle was a must and to have faith. I just remember what it was like when I first got the car with that original tune and I spent weeks off and on driving it around ultimately in vain before giving up and heading to the dealer.
Every time you flash the ECU the readiness monitors reset. So by flashing it two more times they're automatically NOT going to be set, if that makes sense. Like I said, these cars are reluctant to set their monitors, you need to drive it a bunch and if that doesn't work take it to the dealer. Not to have them flash it back to stock but to have them get the readiness monitors to set. BTW, GIAC doesn't delete any of the monitors, so their tune should've still had all the monitors set....
you have drive the car I believe something like 20-50 miles before you can set the readiness of the emissions files. that way you can't go to get your car inspected and while you're on line, Clear the codes and pass.
Every time you flash the ECU the readiness monitors reset. So by flashing it two more times they're automatically NOT going to be set, if that makes sense. Like I said, these cars are reluctant to set their monitors, you need to drive it a bunch and if that doesn't work take it to the dealer. Not to have them flash it back to stock but to have them get the readiness monitors to set. BTW, GIAC doesn't delete any of the monitors, so their tune should've still had all the monitors set....
Yes - I understand the flash resets the readiness status. I'll have to do all the driving again; I just wanted to make sure the "missing monitors" weren't something that could cured by a reflash. I can now confidently say reflashing (at least with the device I was given with the tune) didn't bring these back, so all I know left to try are more drive procedures (may fix) or a dealer visit (will fix for sure, presumably).
GIAC (the former tune, allegedly) showed all the monitors as present and ready except "catalyst", which was present but never readied up after weeks of drive cycles. I suppose it's possible the reflash at the dealer came with some forced ready help (I was told the dealer could do this for stubborn cars) and that's what got it to pass originally.
The GIAC flash definitely didn't do anything to the catalyst readiness codes, so that was likely something else. I'd drive the car as much as possible and watch the monitors to see that they're set. If after a few hundred miles of driving they still aren't set, go to the dealer and ask them to please do whatever they do to make them set...
The GIAC flash definitely didn't do anything to the catalyst readiness codes, so that was likely something else.
Agreed - when I bought the car and couldn't get it to ready up, I did some research with GIAC and Champion who was said to have installed GIAC when the car was younger. They couldn't confirm what exactly had been installed, but they asserted that if it were GIAC, it would have been a chip based on the date of purchase, not a software tune, and based on the pic of the DME board I supplied, they confirmed no chipping. Highly possible, then, some other tune got on there subsequently and was not documented in paperwork handed down among owners.
In the 90s when I lived in MD, you'd have to spend $150 trying to get your car to pass smog inspection. If that didn't work, you'd provide the receipts and they'd pass you anyway. I live in KS now and they don't do emissions testing. Will CA similarly pass it like MD? Might be cheaper than paying a dealer to flash it, or force fix the flash.
My car is stock, and I've been considering a flash. But this sort of discussion makes me think it's better to just leave it. Honestly, the car is fast enough stock for me. And the Porsche engineers probably know more than aftermarket tuners for all around driving performance.
In the 90s when I lived in MD, you'd have to spend $150 trying to get your car to pass smog inspection. If that didn't work, you'd provide the receipts and they'd pass you anyway. I live in KS now and they don't do emissions testing. Will CA similarly pass it like MD? Might be cheaper than paying a dealer to flash it, or force fix the flash.
My car is stock, and I've been considering a flash. But this sort of discussion makes me think it's better to just leave it. Honestly, the car is fast enough stock for me. And the Porsche engineers probably know more than aftermarket tuners for all around driving performance.
California does have the referee program. To use the referee you must have no aftermarket or modified emissions equipment on the vehicle. You must fail a smog, then spend over $650 on repairs and then fail again. You are allowed one referee pass per vehicle so this would only buy you two years. You can not use the referee pass again. The car could potentially be disqualified from referee because the ECU was technically modified.
California does have the referee program. To use the referee you must have no aftermarket or modified emissions equipment on the vehicle. You must fail a smog, then spend over $650 on repairs and then fail again. You are allowed one referee pass per vehicle so this would only buy you two years. You can not use the referee pass again. The car could potentially be disqualified from referee because the ECU was technically modified.
Wow, that's harsh. Not surprised I guess, considering it's CA.
I had to drive something like 250-300 miles to get them all reset after a battery change. Failed twice before it cleared SMOG. Now when i get a SMOG test I'm always asked about the prior failures. My car has always been stock. I would certainly talk to a specialist like the ones recommended in the thread....... what I wouldn't do, especially with the even tighter clamp down on tunes, is announce on a public forum that I am tuning my car back after passing the test. Fines are quite steep.
08-21-2022, 05:44 AM
All the important emissions monitors "not available"
