New ECU regulations in CA?

[RWD fun]

I have a 2013 FR-S with a tuned ECU (I'll explain). My smog is coming due and I'm concerned that I will fail smog because the ECU is supposedly tuned to remove the well-documented torque. I say supposedly because it came with an ECU flasher and I was told the work had been done. Can I reflash it back to the original? Will the smog tester know or am I ok reflashing it back to the original specs?

[p1l0t]

Originally Posted by RWD fun

I have a 2013 FR-S with a tuned ECU (I'll explain). My smog is coming due and I'm concerned that I will fail smog because the ECU is supposedly tuned to remove the well-documented torque. I say supposedly because it came with an ECU flasher and I was told the work had been done. Can I reflash it back to the original? Will the smog tester know or am I ok reflashing it back to the original specs?

Sometimes it's easier just to buy a second ECU and keep it stock. It's like 3 plugs and 4 screws or something to swap it out.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by RWD fun

I have a 2013 FR-S with a tuned ECU (I'll explain). My smog is coming due and I'm concerned that I will fail smog because the ECU is supposedly tuned to remove the well-documented torque. I say supposedly because it came with an ECU flasher and I was told the work had been done. Can I reflash it back to the original? Will the smog tester know or am I ok reflashing it back to the original specs?

What kind of ECU flasher did it come with? Some are easier to deal with than others. All are doable.

[EndlessAzure]

I just smogged recently and passed just fine after flashing back from an Ecutek tune to the stock base tune

[RWD fun]

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

What kind of ECU flasher did it come with? Some are easier to deal with than others. All are doable.

1st gen OpenFlash I believe.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by RWD fun

1st gen OpenFlash I believe.

Then it is pretty easy to use that OpenFlash tablet to restore to stock. After smog, reflash the tune if you want.

I went back to stock recently. I used Tactrix, which is a bit more difficult but not hard.

[e_lunatic]

I'm so glad i'm leaving CA soon. It's so silly to have to deal with this stuff

[RWD fun]

The reflash was insanely easy. Now, after reading my ECU I see there's a PO420 code. I have 3 options...

1) New catalytic converter. Yeah, no.

2) O2 bung. I wonder if the smog technician will open the hood and inspect it. I haven't had a chance to really see where it is or if it would be obvious. Does have a picture of where exactly it's located?

3) Citric acid wash. I've done this before and it works incredibly well. Cat soup anyone?

[EndlessAzure]

Originally Posted by RWD fun

The reflash was insanely easy. Now, after reading my ECU I see there's a PO420 code. I have 3 options...

1) New catalytic converter. Yeah, no.

2) O2 bung. I wonder if the smog technician will open the hood and inspect it. I haven't had a chance to really see where it is or if it would be obvious. Does have a picture of where exactly it's located?

3) Citric acid wash. I've done this before and it works incredibly well. Cat soup anyone?

Do you have an aftermarket header? That's probably why the car is throwing code. I doubt the cat or the sensor has gone bad. I haven't seen many instances where that has been the case.


You won't pass a real smog visual with an aftermarket header. I recommend either buying a used one or borrowing one and swapping it.

The header itself on the FA20 engine has a catalytic converter, along with the front pipe. The only exhaust emissions sensor is located on the header; it's near the header-to-overpipe connection. In the area pictured below, you'll find a pair of twin connectors (one black and one gray); these are for the Heated O2 and AFR sensors on the header, respectively. P0420 deals with the black O2 sensor; follow the black sensor connector and wire down on the left side of the engine

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by e_lunatic

I'm so glad i'm leaving CA soon. It's so silly to have to deal with this stuff

I left Cali 3 years ago, SO glad I did.

Jaden

[RWD fun]

Originally Posted by EndlessAzure

Do you have an aftermarket header? That's probably why the car is throwing code. I doubt the cat or the sensor has gone bad. I haven't seen many instances where that has been the case.


You won't pass a real smog visual with an aftermarket header. I recommend either buying a used one or borrowing one and swapping it.

It's all stock. I wasn't aware that the headers contained the cat?

[EndlessAzure]

Originally Posted by RWD fun

It's all stock. I wasn't aware that the headers contained the cat?

The car has 2 catalytic converters: one in the header, one in the front pipe.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by RWD fun

I have a 2013 FR-S with a tuned ECU (I'll explain). My smog is coming due and I'm concerned that I will fail smog because the ECU is supposedly tuned to remove the well-documented torque. I say supposedly because it came with an ECU flasher and I was told the work had been done. Can I reflash it back to the original? Will the smog tester know or am I ok reflashing it back to the original specs?

You will fail. Are you NA or Boost? Do you know if they used ECUTEK or Openflash to tune the ECU?

[RWD fun]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

You will fail. Are you NA or Boost? Do you know if they used ECUTEK or Openflash to tune the ECU?

openflash