FML, Got the dreaded Emissions test notice, Any help/suggestions? (Ford Content)

[Dasfinc]

Long story short, My 98 Ranger with a V-8 swap was titled in Ottawa IL where it was Exempt (I've owned the truck for over 3 years). I finally updated my registration 2 months ago, and got a Emissions testing notice in the mail today....

Truck was origionally a 4 cylinder, now has a 2001 ECU, 1998 V-8 engine, no Cat's, rear O2's disabled, EGR Disabled.

Currently my CEL's say I'm running rich, and 2 'garbage' codes for sensors my truck doesn't have (Fuel level sending units for Explorer and air suspension IIRC).

I have 2 primary concerns here,

#1) If I go ahead and chase down the CEL's, or use my tune to get rid of them, will I still have issues at the testing place because of the ECU and engine being from vehicles other than what I'm driving? They may not even be able to do anything anyways since I can't flash my ECU unless its in my explorer, or another ranger, so lord knows what else is wrong with the wiring?

#2) Do they still do sniffer tests on B-class trucks? I know they don't on cars with OBD2 to my understanding.


So the 3 options I think I have are:

#1) Chase down CEL's, and bring the truck in.

#2) Title it as a 'Show' truck, Not sure how I'd accomplish this, or what impact on my insurance it would have, but I've heard this exempts the truck and is how I should handle the situation since its swapped.

#3) Buy a new Shell and deal with it later (my truck is pretty visually beat up to begin with, and I have been debating for a while how much it'd cost/trouble it would be to get the body work done on it...)

Click to read more...

 

[Dasfinc]

From the Goverments EPA site:

Exempt, Kit and Custom Vehicles

The following vehicles are exempt from vehicle emissions tests:
Diesel-powered vehicles and vehicles that are powered exclusively by electricity;
Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and motorized pedal-cycles;
Antique vehicles, custom vehicles, street rods, and vehicles of model year 1967 or before.
Vehicles operated exclusively for parade or ceremonial purposes by any veterans, fraternal, or civic organization, organized on a not-for-profit basis; *
Vehicles of model year 1995 or before that were in compliance with the Illinois Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law on February 1, 2007;
Farm vehicles and implements of husbandry;
Vehicles registered in, subject to, and in compliance with the emission inspection requirements of another state;
Vehicles for which a Junking Certificate has been issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/3-117);
Vehicles operated exclusively in organized amateur or professional sporting activities as defined in the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/1 et seq.);

Race Car/Show Car affidavits are available at test stations. Please read and complete the affidavit carefully, and enclose all required documentation. The affidavit must be resubmitted every two years to retain the exemption. Any questions can be directed to the Illinois EPA at (217)785-7449.
Implements of warfare owned by the State or federal government.
“Custom vehicles” are defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-113) as a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years of age and of a model year after 1948 or a vehicle that is certified by an inspector of the National Street Rod Association, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, to be a custom vehicle manufactured to resemble a vehicle that is at least 25 years of age and of a model year after 1948 and has been altered from the manufacturer original design or has a body constructed from non-original materials and which is maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours and similar uses and which is not used for general daily transportation.

“Street rods” are defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-202) as a motor vehicle that is a 1948 or older vehicle or a vehicle that that has been certified by an inspector of the National Street Rod Association, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, to be a street rod that was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle that was manufactured before 1949 and has been altered from the manufacturer‘s original design or has a body constructed from non-original materials and which is maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours and similar uses and which is not used for general daily transportation.

If you have any other questions, please visit the Customer Service Representative at any of the vehicle emissions testing stations, call the Illinois EPA at (800) 635-2380, or check this website for updates.

 

[Runtz52]

idk anything about emissions, i plan on living in exempt places for quite some time, if ihad emissions now id be fucked, all i can say is good luck

 

[CrawlinTBSS]

your fucked.

 

[Dasfinc]

your fucked.

Thank you for the productive input,

The blower kit is CARB certified even, and I can put EGR gear back on if required.

 

[bmoore04]

your fucked.

This. You should probably find another shell. If it is all the same id find one 1995 or earlier.

 

[GOON]

if you can clear the codes you wont have any problems, the problem arises with the ecu belonging to a different car.

 

[bikrboy128]

the problem arises with the ecu belonging to a different car.

exactly. they read the vin that's programmed in the ECM. does your tuner have the ability to change this?

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

their computers do not read the PCM vin....ive ran plenty of cars through with junkyard ecu's with no problems...the only thing their system does is check the on board diagnostic emissions monitors.
you cant just clear codes as the vehicle has to see at least two drive cycles and anywhere from 10-100 miles for the test to run and pass/fail (ready/not ready) newer cars have far more extensive OBDiagnostic test sequences
your lucky though, any vehicle 99 and older can still pass even with two monitors not run/passed/failed so you may be able to squeek by by spoofing the phantom equipment codes and driving it just enough to run most of the monitors....unless you can flash it to set it to instant pass...then id go that route.
with Btruck plates you may be required to run the BAR97 idle sniffer test...but youll have to run it through to know for sure.

btw there is also a repair exemption if you can show them reciepts for >1k in repairs with no positive result you can get off the hook.
also you can just get an extended registration for "drive cycle testing" it'll usually give you another 6 months (or less dep on what you pay for) after the plates expire.

you can always "buy" a 95 ranger and do a "body swap" but ill stop there lol

good luck

 

[Dasfinc]

their computers do not read the PCM vin....ive ran plenty of cars through with junkyard ecu's with no problems...the only thing their system does is check the on board diagnostic emissions monitors.
you cant just clear codes as the vehicle has to see at least two drive cycles and anywhere from 10-100 miles for the test to run and pass/fail (ready/not ready) newer cars have far more extensive OBDiagnostic test sequences
your lucky though, any vehicle 99 and older can still pass even with two monitors not run/passed/failed so you may be able to squeek by by spoofing the phantom equipment codes and driving it just enough to run most of the monitors....unless you can flash it to set it to instant pass...then id go that route.
with Btruck plates you may be required to run the BAR97 idle sniffer test...but youll have to run it through to know for sure.

btw there is also a repair exemption if you can show them reciepts for >1k in repairs with no positive result you can get off the hook.
also you can just get an extended registration for "drive cycle testing" it'll usually give you another 6 months (or less dep on what you pay for) after the plates expire.

you can always "buy" a 95 ranger and do a "body swap" but ill stop there lol

good luck

This unfortunately may be the permanent solution.

Just took a look at the affidavit, and the ranger wouldn't be eligible. So I'd have to clear all the codes and pray for no sniffer test. I'll call on that tomorrow.

Going to call Sniper as well to see if the higher end commando software can tackle this as well.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

fed epa laws prevent ecu reflashing equipment from tampering with emissions monitors unless its for "offraod" use only so they may not be able to offer you that solution.

good news is you should be able to find a 95 "donor" for cheep

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I'd try and fix the cels and get it tested. If that doesn't work then I'd get a po box from a county that's exempt or a real good friend.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

cali is far more intensive/anal when it comes to emissions and you should have no problem fixing it here in IL...ive done it plenty of times...just remember....give it patina, make it look old, secure an obd1 connector in an OEM location to lend more credence to a 95 ranger with 98 drivetrain "update"

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Fuck changing anything other then the address it registered to.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

he may still be required to test it unless the adress he changes it to is out of state....ya shoulda never changed it in the first place

 

[GTwolf]

Not sure about the sniffer test on trucks, but I don't have an EGR or downstream o2, just tuned the codes out it passed.

 

[GOON]

my dad has a 2003-2005 e350 and i went with a couple of months ago and all they did was plug into obdII, i am also pretty surte he has special truck plates due to the weight he carries in the back, i went with the cobra 2 weeks ago and passed, I am catless with rear o2's turned off.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

this will be the 3rd time ill be getting our 97 e150 to pass emissions just by clearing codes and only completing the drive cycle portion for everything but EGR and cat (DPFE sensor issues and cats) which is the two im allowed....
last time the cel came on 5 minutes after i left the test center 0$ spent on emissions repairs

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

btw never buy a mechanics personal car unless its the "toy"....we dont do shit unless absolutly neccessary

 

[Smokinhot]

I may be .2 from winning the 1/4 mile race (at the moment) but I won this battle

My shit passes w/no problems


lol, I had to

 

[Dasfinc]

I may be .2 from winning the 1/4 mile race (at the moment) but I won this battle

My shit passes w/no problems


lol, I had to

Indeed

I just emailed the Sniper/Delta forces guys to see if the Commando software (which I have been putting off purchasing) can suppress codes... if it can do that, this whole disaster may be far easier than I was worried about.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Get a po box in Wisconsin.

 

[Shocker]

My saturn has cels all the time. I just cleared them drove the shit outta it and was able to pass. The results showed the area I get my cel was "not ready"

GTO passes and when I pull in the whole area smells of gas lol the people workin there really don't care.

Clear ur cels first then see what they tell u

Using Tapa yo!

 

[CrawlinTBSS]

problem #1 ... your using Sniper.

 

[syP]

this blows.. I wanna see you and shomuff run them at the track.