I'm thinking of buying an FD with a sick engine in the next six months and resurrecting it. Not planning to build a horsepower monster, but would like a street port and upgraded twins (possibly BNR Stage 2), downpipe and various other bolt-ons. I would keep the stock cat. Will probably use an Apexi Power FC/Profec B to control boost and fuel.

What I am wondering is if there is any way in hell of tuning this setup to pass the California sniffer test? For example, at stock boost levels, is there a way of tuning the Power FC to minimize emissions (rather than maximize performance)?

Did a search but could not find anything appropriate.

 

you most likely wont be able to pass legaly with a pfc because the check engine light doesnt work with it and its a requirement for cali. and it can be made to pass but it is extremely difficult.

 

As far as the sniffer goes even huge horsepower cars can be tuned to pass the sniffer as long as a cat is in place. Visual is trickier, it depends how sharp of an eye the inspector has. Check engine light will most likely be caught, but there is a hack to make it come on with a PFC (can't remember how it works, but its just a light). No inspector would ever catch a PFC if the engine light works. DP has been caught but not usually. Tuning wise, a well tuned car (tuned for power) should also pass emissions, because leaner=more power+less emissions. Also, at the rpms and throttle load the sniffer tests at you aren't making much power anyway so its a seperate part of the fuel map.

 

Okay, I agree that the check engine light does not come on if you have a PFC.

I just want to know if anyone has ever failed a California smog test exclusively due to the check engine light not coming on. Anyone?

I also want to know how to get the check engine light to come on just to pass the smog test while keeping my PFC in the car.

 

Why bother trying to rig the check engine light. You can swap in the stock ecu in a couple of minutes for your once every two years ordeal....

For the purposes of running the test, the stock ecu will handle any mod just fine -- except for larger injectors.....

 

Hey Moconner.

Let me know when you want to do the stage 2's. If you have any questions, feel free to call.

Bryan
www.bnrsupercars.com
205 790 2514

 

I know that it is easy to swap in the stock ecu for the smog tests. But with the PFC installed I can tune my car to lower my HC and CO emissions and improve my chances for passing the sniffer test.

How ironic. My car runs cleaner with lower emissions when tuned with the PFC but I can't pass the CARB smog tests because the check engine light doesn't come on! California government at its best!

Again I ask, has anyone with the PFC passed the sniffer tests yet been failed on the visual test due exclusively to no check engine light?

 

jonesboro> Again I ask, has anyone with the PFC passed the sniffer tests yet been failed on the visual test due exclusively to no check engine light?

I saw one posting in the PFC forum that reported a failure for this reason.

I thought about the stock ECU but assumed that a street ported motor with upgraded turbos (and, say, DP and exhaust) would be too much for it to handle.

Would this be a safe configuration - for a few days, and assuming the car was not driven hard?