Stupid I/m monitors

[kitttransam]

ok so I took my 02 Tahoe to get its smog test a couple weeks ago as it’s registration is due coming up. It failed!!?? Ok so I recently replaced the cats and all the o2 sensors. I had the code for cat efficiency. That’s was 2 or 3 weeks before the smog test. It failed because catalyst monitor was not ready. Ca only scans the obd2 port on 2000 and newer cars. I’ve driven this thing from hell and back and still no go on the monitor. I even said screw it last week and unplugged the battery. Well now I’m at needing the evap and catalyst. Driven the hell out of it still no go. The only thing I could think of after all the searching I’ve done was the gas gauge is kinda messed up. I already had a new fuel pump unit ready to go just dreaded doing it. I fixed that today. Any other ideas about how to get this thing going? I’ve already read about that ridiculous drive cycle which is next to impossible where I live at to do. Oh and it a flex fuel federal emissions car.

 

[Doubeleive]

evap would likely be a front and/or rear canister solenoid, depending on the condition might also need a evap canister. to get the system ready otherwise you should probably drive at least 50 miles at 55mph (straight in one shot)

 

[kitttransam]

evap would likely be a front and/or rear canister solenoid, depending on the condition might also need a evap canister. to get the system ready otherwise you should probably drive at least 50 miles at 55mph (straight in one shot)

Lol 50 miles at 55. Freeway is 65 and everyone drives 75+ country roads have to many stops around here too. The car has over 300k would that be something I should replace?

 

[swathdiver]

Did you try passing while burning E85? Have you driven 400-500 miles since the new cats were installed?

 

[Doubeleive]

Lol 50 miles at 55. Freeway is 65 and everyone drives 75+ country roads have to many stops around here too. The car has over 300k would that be something I should replace?

you really need a scanner to find out the code it is giving, most autoparts stores will scan it for free or you could just buy a cheap one that just reads codes they can be had for $30 or so, harbor freight has cheap ones, I have a little cheapy centech I keep in the center console I like it because it gives the code and the definition all in one shot no need to go look it up the screen even lights up at night, but ya if you haven't changed out any of the evap parts @300k and your getting a evap code it may be advisable to replace: front evap solenoid, rear evap solenoid and the evap canister, you can find some deals on amazon, ebay, rockauto, etc.

 

[Doubeleive]

as far as driving 50 miles @55 that's just what is generally advised to get it ready to smog/inspect, it doesn't have to be exact but as close as you can get, but I wouldn't even bother doing that until you have the evap problem resolved because the light will stay on or it may still not pass. where I live your allowed one active code but the cel has to be not lit

 

[iamdub]

Drive cycles is not just X amount of miles. A complete drive cycle consists of X miles, X amount of time, various gear changes (including reverse), various speeds, various engine loads, key on/key offs, etc.

If your scanner didn't show there were any pending codes and that/those monitors were just "not ready", then you may not have a problem.

50 miles might seem like plenty to you, but it doesn't mean much when satisfying drive cycles. My GF's old car was a Montero that had a nagging emissions code. After replacing a few relevant parts, I set it on jackstands with a stick on the accelerator because I read that it needed 70+ miles to complete it's drive cycles. I put 80 miles on it with it sitting in the driveway and the light never came back on. Backed it out of the driveway for a trip around the block and the light was on before I reached the end of my street.

 

[kitttransam]

Yeah my code reader not picking up any codes. 400-500 miles after the cats. I’m sure I got close to that. I might take a drive to mariposa or oakhurst. Lots of hills. Wonder if that would kick anything in. Put more of a load going uphill and some down hill coasting.

 

[kitttransam]

At the rate I’m going I’m might have to go to dmv and get one of those stupid stickers put in my window because it hasn’t passed smog. It’s due this Friday. Even if I pay it the smog test will keep me from getting my tags. But I do plan on taking a trip for thanksgiving. It about 370 miles.

 

[Doubeleive]

Yeah my code reader not picking up any codes. 400-500 miles after the cats. I’m sure I got close to that. I might take a drive to mariposa or oakhurst. Lots of hills. Wonder if that would kick anything in. Put more of a load going uphill and some down hill coasting.

I was just sharing what I was told to do by the smog tech before here in California, worked in my case, of course the light came back on 2 days later but in the meantime I had passed, but Chris is right there a book method of doing it like driving 55 for x miles, then stopping for x minutes, then driving again at xx mph for xx minutes, turn engine off, turn engine on, etc, etc.

 

[kitttransam]

Did you try passing while burning E85? Have you driven 400-500 miles since the new cats were installed?

Never seen an e85 station around where I live. I bought this car used so I bought what was available flex or not.

 

[swathdiver]

Never seen an e85 station around where I live. I bought this car used so I bought what was available flex or not.

Just wondering if it might pass inspection burning E85 rather than gasoline. If interested, use the GasBuddy app to see if there are any stations around selling it.

 

[kitttransam]

Well this brings up another problem. So yesterday I changed my fuel pump.because of the gauge. I had it already and it was the right one for a flex car. So after getting the damn tank down I noticed the plug was different. I thought maybe the plug should’ve been updated or something. Well new pump did not come with a plug. But after doing some research guess what figured out someone put a non flex fuel pump in and the plug it had was spliced in. I really wanted to put the right pump on but nobody in my area stocked the plug. Well I can’t keep this thing down and when I bought this thing it passed smog with that same fuel pump. So I bit the bullet and bought the same kind of pump with the same plug and put it in. Asked rock auto for a refund on the other pump. I’m not changing it again. Unless needed. But I guess this confirms a flex car can run the other fuel pump. Whether it can handle e85 or not I’m not sure.

 

[afpj]

Part of getting IM monitor to set, iirc, requires 3 cold starts with gas tank between 25% and 75% full. So if fuel gauge is woncky, might not be able to set.

 

[kitttransam]

Just wondering if it might pass inspection burning E85 rather than gasoline. If interested, use the GasBuddy app to see if there are any stations around selling it.

Looked at gas buddy. Nobody sells e85.

 

[swathdiver]

...someone put a non flex fuel pump in and the plug it had was spliced in. ...Whether it can handle e85 or not I’m not sure.

Probably not at WOT.

Looked at gas buddy. Nobody sells e85.

Where do you live? There are large swaths of the country with no stations, my county has added 4 stations in the last two years bringing us up to seven now that I know of. The one south of me has 2 and the one north has none.

 

[Doubeleive]

Probably not at WOT.



Where do you live? There are large swaths of the country with no stations, my county has added 4 stations in the last two years bringing us up to seven now that I know of. The one south of me has 2 and the one north has none.

Same here you guys on the east coast or middle America must have it, there is like 6 stations in the entire northern California area none of which are within 50 miles of me, which is weird because we grow a lot of corn around here but I think almost all of it goes to feed because we are one the largest dairy producers as well

 

[kitttransam]

Probably not at WOT.



Where do you live? There are large swaths of the country with no stations, my county has added 4 stations in the last two years bringing us up to seven now that I know of. The one south of me has 2 and the one north has none.

Merced ca. One of the many armpits of California.

 

[kitttransam]

I’m about to take this thing for drive in a bit. Found a country road that is fairly long.

 

[swathdiver]

Same here you guys on the east coast or middle America must have it, there is like 6 stations in the entire northern California area none of which are within 50 miles of me, which is weird because we grow a lot of corn around here but I think almost all of it goes to feed because we are one the largest dairy producers as well

Merced ca. One of the many armpits of California.

No money in it for Governor Moonbeam, at least he hasn't figured out how to profit from it yet.

Well, it doesn't make sense for you to regularly use it Ricky, but there's a Boyett in Modesto that sells it. Might be worth trying to pass emissions, but I'd do more research before taking the drive.