996 SAI Emissions Check
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 352
Likes: 2
From: Santa Monica, CA
996 SAI Emissions Check
Having just completed an engine rebuild on our 996 (LN Engineering Nickies after buying with a cracked cylinder) the car runs absolutely wonderfully. Couldn't be happier with the result. However, it needs a smog check to take it off NonOp status, and it will not clear the SAI cycle check. Here's what I know:
The air pump works, blows plenty of air from cold start for the right amount of time (about 90-120 seconds).
There is no check engine light
The O2 sensor voltages behave exactly as they should during the cold start SAI cycle as described in other threads here on Rennlist
All other emissions test cycles are ready except for the EVAP one that is not necessary here in California.
I've done three drive cycles all with the same result
Tomorrow I'm going to a guy I know that has a PWIS to see if that might give more clues than I can see but in the meantime....
Any ideas from the collective experience?
The air pump works, blows plenty of air from cold start for the right amount of time (about 90-120 seconds).
There is no check engine light
The O2 sensor voltages behave exactly as they should during the cold start SAI cycle as described in other threads here on Rennlist
All other emissions test cycles are ready except for the EVAP one that is not necessary here in California.
I've done three drive cycles all with the same result
Tomorrow I'm going to a guy I know that has a PWIS to see if that might give more clues than I can see but in the meantime....
Any ideas from the collective experience?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,769
Likes: 7,049
From: Alabama USA
The PIWIS will "FORCE" the SAI test and set the readiness flag...
The DME actually doesn't do the SAI test when cold , it waits untill the engine is fully warmed up and a lot of conditions are met, then it does the SAI Test at idle at a red-light ...( sorta randomly ..lol )
The DME actually doesn't do the SAI test when cold , it waits untill the engine is fully warmed up and a lot of conditions are met, then it does the SAI Test at idle at a red-light ...( sorta randomly ..lol )
Racer
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 379
Likes: 291
From: Khartooshkaville, ID
CA tests to see if SAI works?
Slakker says SAI not really needed and can be eliminated in any of their engine builds. Brandon said leave it off, just plug a few holes and be done with it.
Maybe call Brandon @ Slakker and ask his expertise on what to do? Lucky for me and millions of others, we don't have to put up with CA fanaticism. JMO.
YMMV
Slakker says SAI not really needed and can be eliminated in any of their engine builds. Brandon said leave it off, just plug a few holes and be done with it.
Maybe call Brandon @ Slakker and ask his expertise on what to do? Lucky for me and millions of others, we don't have to put up with CA fanaticism. JMO.
YMMV
Last edited by Siberian14; Yesterday at 01:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 352
Likes: 2
From: Santa Monica, CA
Thanks, guys. Another drive cycle done but not SAI check cleared. EVAP cleared. The guy with the PIWIS says that the "force" has limited success from his experience so I'm going to try another cycle before going that way and taking his time from his autoshop.
Fingers crossed
Fingers crossed
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,769
Likes: 7,049
From: Alabama USA
When you try to force the SAI Test with PIWIS it will tell you if all conditions are met. It will not run the Test if all conditions are not met ....And iirr it will tell you which conditions are not met ...
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 370
Likes: 333
From: Laguna Beach, CA
Fellow CA owner here... and I had the same issue. What drive cycle did you do exactly? I was having trouble getting SAI ready, and ended up following a very specific set of instructions (something like 20 mins under 45mph and 3000 rpm, then 15+ minutes at highway speed, but _not_ above 60 mph). When I did that specific process the SAI flipped to ready almost immediately. I'll see if I can dig up the specific cycle I followed...
Update: found this in another thread and it jives with my memory of what I did:
Start engine, let idle for approx. 2 min, 10 secs.
Accelerate to 20-30 MPH, Maintain steady speed for approx 3 min, 15 secs.
Accelerate to 40-60 MPH, Maintain steady speed for approx 15 mins.
Decelerate and come to a stop.
Idle in Neutral for 5 mins. (manual trans.)
During the drive cycle, do not exceed 3,000 rpm or 60 mph.
I remember reading elsewhere that it's important this is done on a stone-cold engine (i.e., let it sit overnight and then follow this procedure in the morning)
Update: found this in another thread and it jives with my memory of what I did:
Start engine, let idle for approx. 2 min, 10 secs.
Accelerate to 20-30 MPH, Maintain steady speed for approx 3 min, 15 secs.
Accelerate to 40-60 MPH, Maintain steady speed for approx 15 mins.
Decelerate and come to a stop.
Idle in Neutral for 5 mins. (manual trans.)
During the drive cycle, do not exceed 3,000 rpm or 60 mph.
I remember reading elsewhere that it's important this is done on a stone-cold engine (i.e., let it sit overnight and then follow this procedure in the morning)
Last edited by binaryaudax; Yesterday at 07:15 PM.
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 370
Likes: 333
From: Laguna Beach, CA
I hear you... I had to be very careful about the time of day I chose to do this, and luckily, I'm close to a toll road with light traffic during the day. But doing only 55mph (a safe margin under 60mph) on a toll road from San Juan to Newport really pissed off a lot of other drivers.
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