Failed inspection for having a tune

[Jwc413]

Hey guys I just got my car inspected today and live in Massachusetts. I failed emissions for reprogramming my ecu. I have prl intake prl intercooler and charge pipes, hks catback exhaust, and phearable stage 2 tune. Now I have to schedule an appt for a motorist assistance center to look at my car. Just a heads up for anyone living in Massachusetts and and want to tune your car youre going to go through some bs for inspection

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[Tyler.iguess]

Did uou tell em you werr tuned?

 

[gtman]

In Maryland, I passed with my tune on. It passed visual and the OBD-II test came back perfect.

The tune itself shouldn't have caused a fail. I mean all you're running is a tune, intercooler and exhaust. What exactly did they say caused them to fail you?

 

[Jwc413]

I didn’t tell them I was tuned until after I failed. None of the sensors are disabled so I thought I would be fine. The inspector was confused he said he never seen anything like that and asked if I messed with my ecu. I told him it’s tuned and he said that must be why I failed .

 

[Bob_L]

I probably just don’t know enough about what an overall “PASS” inspection should look like, but I don’t see anything in the OBD results that would result in an inspection failure. What had the tech not seen before? Are there results missing that should be there? Should the “UNSUPPORTED “ or “READY” results be reporting “PASS” instead of their current result?

I’m in no position to offer support I’m afraid; I’m just trying to understand what makes it a failure.

Couldn’t you just flash the stock tune back onto the car for inspection?

 

[gtman]

They say it failed emissions yet I don't see anything on that sheet to indicate why.

Not sure exactly what "catalyst unsupported" means. Something seems weird here. Were they assuming you were running catless?

In Maryland (which I think is similar to MA) you have to pass a visual. You did. You can't have a check engine light. You didn't. And the OBD-II test numbers have to be within parameters. A proper tune with the cat in place should pass yet they claim you failed.

 

[Jwc413]

He said it should’ve passed that’s why he was confused. He was waiting for a passing sticker to print out and then a Failed printed out. Even if I flashed back to stock tune it wouldn’t change anything I would still fail. Everything is working like it should. Catalyst unsupported and all the other unsupported doesn’t apply to my car so nothing is out of the ordinary on that paper. The inspector was cool and really liked my car and hated that he had to fail it. It was just out of his hands said he never had to fail a car with 3000 miles in his life lol He said his guess is they’re gonna check out my car see everything is good and working fine and then I’ll be on my way it’s just a hassle. Im still waiting for them to call me back to make an appointment

 

[Si_chRis]

This is a big red flag. Does your Phearable tune disable the secondary O2 sensor?

 

[Jwc413]

No ox

This is a big red flag. Does your Phearable tune disable the secondary O2 sensor?

No oxygen sensors are ready. That catalyst doesn’t apply to my car. If I find my old inspection from last year when I passed my car was all stock it will say unsupported for that.

 

[tacthecat]

On our '12 Si Catalyst MUST be READY (Our Si also shows a PASS for Scan tool Check, not sure what your N/A means). Hopefully a Bay Stater with a '16 or newer will chime in. Not that it matters but all parts must be CARB approved - that would have to be a visual rejection - that may "bite you" if you have to go through an inspection by a referee.

 

[Si_chRis]

No ox

No oxygen sensors are ready. That catalyst doesn’t apply to my car. If I find my old inspection from last year when I passed my car was all stock it will say unsupported for that.

All modern OBD2 cars need catalyst readiness to pass emissions, this is the second sensor for post cat which your print out lists "unsupported", which leads me to guess your Phearable tune has it turned off for the infamous P0420 code.

Your Oxygen Sensor/Heater is your primary/pre cat sensor which shows "ready" in your print out.

 

[gtman]

... which leads me to guess your Phearable tune has it turned off for the infamous P0420 code.

I don't know man. Why would an OTS tune to come out of the box with that disabled? That's usually something the user can disable on their own if need be. The OP isn't even running a downpipe.

 

[Jwc413]

You think it would be better to go back on stock tune before I get it retested? I don’t know why that sensor would be disabled when I have stock cat. I only changed the cat back. And I put all my info in when I bought the tune. The inspector said everything looked good like it was supposed to pass

 

[tacthecat]

Tune has to be CARB approved too, tmk only Hondata sells such and I believe even the tuner (hardware) is unique.

 

[Si_chRis]

I don't know man. Why would an OTS tune to come out of the box with that disabled? That's usually something the user can disable on their own if need be. The OP isn't even running a downpipe.

It's just a guess since the print out is pretty much saying there is no post cat oxygen sensor. Not sure how the Phearable stage 2 tune is set up on if it's editable or locked.

You think it would be better to go back on stock tune before I get it retested? I don’t know why that sensor would be disabled when I have stock cat. I only changed the cat back. And I put all my info in when I bought the tune. The inspector said everything looked good like it was supposed to pass

I would say it's worth a try, or contact Phearable and see if they have any ideas.

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