This is topic Smog experts... in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Robb (Member # 9444) on :
 
My daily needs to be smogged and the check engine light came on just as i was about a block from the shop, I went home and unplugged the battery and it hasnt come back on yet. A friend of mine said that they could fail me if i brought it in and they found out i reset the computer.


Is that true?
 
Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :
 
Yes monitors need to be complete. Ecu needs to see serveral drive cycles. Assuming it's obd2
 
Posted by Robb (Member # 9444) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Adam5.0:
Yes monitors need to be complete. Ecu needs to see serveral drive cycles. Assuming it's obd2
Yeah, it is OBD2. How many miles should i drive before its safe? My local smog shop is always packed and i dont feel like waiting for an hour and a half just to fail for that reason.
 
Posted by 135.0 (Member # 4992) on :
 
Pull the codes and fix, might not be that big a deal.
 
Posted by SLOWBACK 67 (Member # 6348) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 135.0:
Pull the codes and fix, might not be that big a deal.
+1 Could be something as simple as a bad gas cap.
 
Posted by 91redmustang (Member # 10019) on :
 
Just had the same issue when I went to smog my notch. Didn't drive it enough for normal cycles and it failed.
 
Posted by sic70stang (Member # 4347) on :
 
i went through a roadside CHP smog and failed the check. they crushed my car on site and issued a $50,000 fine.
 
Posted by fredfifty (Member # 10320) on :
 
I had the CEL on in my scion (battery was disconnected for awhile). pulled the code reader and cleared it. took it in and failed, but a little birdy told me to drive it around for about 80-100 miles so the ecu could re-learn everything. it worked.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
Yes they will know you unplugged your battery because it'll turn off your monitors. Automatic fail. You can use a scanner to see if your monitors are ready.
 
Posted by 1997 SN95 GT (Member # 6111) on :
 
Yes drive for about 80-100 miles. When the Tech hooks up the car the monitors read *Not Ready*. They'll tell you to come back after driving it.

I learned that because I did in fact have a dead battery, replaced it with a new one and drove about 5 miles to the smog shop because it was due. The Tech said the car was not ready. I told him I had just replaced the battery and he said just go drive it and come back, not a big deal. Didn't fail it or anything. But then again there are dickhead smog techs who are just plain dickheads. I know they have a strict job where they could get heavy fines and lose their job, but come on it doesn't take anything to be nice for the least.
 




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