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Stumped.(2011 gX with 285k) I'm in CA trying to get smog test done. 2 yrs ago they made a new rule that you can have any historical fault codes in order to pass. One shop told me it just to drive it more. Another shop said it would take 200 miles and 15 starts, stops cool downs. I've done both and it's still there. After 15th of June supposedly registration will be far enough out that they can tow car if I'm pulled over. Any suggestions? Thermostat was replaced in September.
The drive cycle is there for emission readiness which is a different thing. Unfortunately IIRC..deletion of that historical code will also reset the emissions readiness state which would then require more drive cycles.
That's called a Permanent code. The 200/15 is just for the smog computer. It wont clear in 200/15 but the smog computer will ignore it as long as you got the 200/15
Permanent codes are a new thing is 2010 and newer vehicles so folks are not up to speed on them yet. With the check engine light off and a permanent code present does not mean there is anything wrong with your car. It means there WAS something wrong with your car and those codes are going to stay around a while to make sure you fixed it right. If not for a CA SMOG you can basically ignore Permanent codes they are not hurting anyone hanging around inside a ECU.
You cannot clear a permanent code with a scanner or battery disconnect.
You can pass a CA SMOG check with a permanent code in place as long as you have these items in place:
No Check Engine Light (meaning no current codes)
Monitors Complete (Except for EVAP, that can be incomplete)
And this is the important part: Driven 200 miles and have 15 Warm Up cycles since the last time the DTC's codes were cleared.
Now doing this 200/15 task will not clear the Permanent code but rather the CA SMOG machine has been programmed to ignore the Permanent code if 200 / 15 is complete.
If you go for the smog and the inspector turns you away because of a permanent code tell them to kindy run your vehicle through the test. It's not thier job to save you from a fail. They are to run the vehicle as it is presented, that is what the BAR tells them.
If they wont give you a test file a complaint with the State BAR and keep at trying another place. I got a guy with 4 complaints in on shops.
Assuming OP gets issue fixed the permanent code should go away once issue is fixed after drive cycle is completed for emissions
Thats what some of the literature says but that is not what we have been seeing in real life. In fact it is why CA had to come up with this 200/15 rule because these things were simply not going away like they should after even 40 drive cycles.
Part of the problem is the criteria to clear it is it wants to see similar conditions as to when the code sets. So if you never have those conditions again it never clears.
And in this case OP fixed it in September? You think he did not complete the monitors in that time?? Of course he did, multiple times. That is the problem.
Yes many PDTC's clear pretty quick. But there are these outliers that catch people up in this smog hell.
The issue is many SMOG inspectors do not entirely get the concept and see the PDTC still in there and turn people away assuming it will be a fail.
Part of the problem is we have been forcing the idea of "Any code in the system will be a fail" for years then in 2010 they kinda turned that on it's head.
06-11-24, 01:36 PM
Smog P0125
