Emissions test failed because OBD2 communications failed

[Landon427]

So I went to have my 99 SE (2.5L) emissions tested. They told me that the vehicle fails the test because OBD2 communications failed; they claimed they tried several different test setups (not sure what that means). I took it home, noticed the OBD2 pins looked corroded and dirty, and cleaned them with the little interdental brushes and MAF sensor cleaner. Took it back and it failed again for the same reason. I checked OBD2 port pins 4 and 5 (chassis and signal grounds) and both were 0.0 ohms. Pin 16 (battery power) reads 12.4 V.

Last year (first I owned it) it passed just fine. The battery was disconnected for a long period of time when I rebuilt the engine. I've only put about 58 miles on it since the rebuild. Is there some emissions readiness threshold that I haven't cleared? Would appreciate any advice. Should I just go to another shop and see if they can do the test successfully ($35)?

 

[macleanflood]

I'd spend $20-30 on a Bluetooth ODB dongle and see if you can talk with the PCM. Download the free app Torque Lite.

-Mac

 

[Landon427]

I was able to connect a code reader, as Mac recommended. It showed the emissions state as ready, which answers that question. I talked to the repair shop and they said their emissions testers read more OBD2 pins than the code reader; I wonder if that is true.

 

[macleanflood]

I was able to connect a code reader, as Mac recommended. It showed the emissions state as ready, which answers that question. I talked to the repair shop and they said their emissions testers read more OBD2 pins than the code reader; I wonder if that is true.

Bullshit. I'd call your state emissions board and report them.

-Mac

 

[GoldenGorilla]

If you're getting a good reading with the bluetooth ODBII reader, they'll be able to do the scan. There are no "extra pins". And the emissions readiness doesn't require a ton of miles driven.

My HP Tuners has been a bit fickle plugging into the ODBII port on my 2004. At some time perhaps I banged into it with my legs with my bluetooth reader installed and damaged the crappy plastic mount it hangs from the dash on. All of my other cars have had a much more stable backing behind the port, so perhaps the shop isn't taking care when plugging it in to actually plug it in. I don't seem to have any corrosion issue, just mechanical difficulty getting it connected.

 

[thrownclear]

Try another shop ?

 

[Landon427]

So I took it to Autozone (Oreilly's scanners weren't working); Autozone confirmed what my scanner said (ready for emissions, no codes). I took it to another shop, and it passed emissions. I called the first shop and told them. Their response was that occasionally they get vehicles brought in that wouldn't communicate on other shops emissions testers. Well, it would have been nice if they would have mentioned that yesterday; instead they wanted $95 to diagnose the problem. Guess I won't be going back there..

 

[macleanflood]

$95 to diagnose the problem. Guess I won't be going back there..

Dispute the credit card charges and report them to the state emissions board and state board of professional services. Better Business Bureau. If they've got an ASE sign up report then there too.

-Mac

 

[ColoJeep]

So I took it to Autozone (Oreilly's scanners weren't working); Autozone confirmed what my scanner said (ready for emissions, no codes). I took it to another shop, and it passed emissions. I called the first shop and told them. Their response was that occasionally they get vehicles brought in that wouldn't communicate on other shops emissions testers. Well, it would have been nice if they would have mentioned that yesterday; instead they wanted $95 to diagnose the problem. Guess I won't be going back there..

Where are you located at ? This doesn't make sense . Air Care Colorado is the testing vendor the state of Colorado is contracted with for E-testing in the required counties. They don't do repairs and can't charge for diagnostics . I hate to play the E-test game forced on some of us .

 

[hear]

obligatory "if they want to test emissions they should stick a sniffer on the exhaust" post.

Having messed a tiny bit with arduinos & the OBDII interface, there is no obvious reason why I couldn't just disconnect the OBDII plug and instead wire in my own device that would return the response the reader is expecting.

 

[ColoJeep]

obligatory "if they want to test emissions they should stick a sniffer on the exhaust" post.

Having messed a tiny bit with arduinos & the OBDII interface, there is no obvious reason why I couldn't just disconnect the OBDII plug and instead wire in my own device that would return the response the reader is expecting.

Would the " device " play well with what the expected readings should be during dyno. testing ? Remember VW , Audi and Cummins have all been slapped down for some truly ingenious E-test strategies .

 

[hear]

Would the " device " play well with what the expected readings should be during dyno. testing ? Remember VW , Audi and Cummins have all been slapped down for some truly ingenious E-test strategies .

Well I'm sure i have no idea, but it's just inputs and outputs, so there's no reason I couldn't code for it. I don't even know what they do in Texas for emissions, but we all know it's a scam to repair stuff that they wouldn't otherwise repair. Downstream cat code? FAIL. The emissions might be fine, but we don't care about emissions. If we did, we wouldn't test the computer. But I'm just Old Man Yells at Cloud on this topic.

 

[ColoJeep]

The emissions might be fine, but we don't care about emissions. If we did, we wouldn't test the computer. But I'm just Old Man Yells at Cloud on this topic.

You and me both !

 

[Landon427]

Where are you located at ? This doesn't make sense . Air Care Colorado is the testing vendor the state of Colorado is contracted with for E-testing in the required counties. They don't do repairs and can't charge for diagnostics . I hate to play the E-test game forced on some of us .

Utah

 

[lcashmack]

Where are you located at ? This doesn't make sense . Air Care Colorado is the testing vendor the state of Colorado is contracted with for E-testing in the required counties. They don't do repairs and can't charge for diagnostics . I hate to play the E-test game forced on some of us .

I am having the same issue. 2001 wrangler, new engine installed this year from Titan. Runs great, my $200 scanner shows all clear. AirCare CO scanner can't connect, fails. They don't charge me, but keep saying they're scanner can't connect. at first it was O2, then needed to run through it and let it reset itself, and clear the Check Engine lights, now it shows clear but fails.

 

[hear]

If only there was some other way for emissions to be tested..... nah, impossible.

 

[ColoJeep]

If only there was some other way for emissions to be tested..... nah, impossible.

Wait a minute ..... You think this has anything to do emissions ....rather than government virtue signalling ..

 

[InOmaha]

I don't understand. Testing? They matched VIN numbers at the DMV when I brought a car in from another state. I've renewed the cars online since.

Send them an extra $2 and you don't have to go there and stand in line to register. They even mailed us new plates when the state changed the design.

My driver's license photo is more than a decade old (maybe 2). They mail a new one to me every 6 years if I pay the fee. I worry the guy at the airport will look at it and think it's a fake ID.

 

[Hamfists]

I just went through the same thing , you need to log more miles after disconnecting you battery to input enough data for the emissions test .

I passed the smog sniffer test , but failed because my battery was disconnected when relocating my winch contactor, and had only driven maybe 60-100 miles

 

[John Cooper]

Just so very glad I live the free south!!!!

No emissions testing!!!