Jay H

Car inspections and the CEL

I have to get my MR2 inspected and every now and then I get a Check Engine Light because it thinks my Sequential Tranny ECU is kaput (P1781 DTC code). However, it's quite a common CEL for other MR2 owners with the sequential and like the others, mine works fine. Since this isn't emissions related, do you know if the state inspection (NJ) will fail the car? I presume they would check the code...

Jay

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

Jon Bell

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

I can't say from personal experience, but I have been told (by a mechanic who does NJ reinspections) that the check engine light is an automatic fail. I really doubt that the guys at the inspection center would check any code. Maybe you could sweet-talk your way through if your emissions pass, but I wouldn't count on it.

Jay H

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

I am going to erase the code, but this is a plan B scenario. The SMT ECU should have absolutely nothing to do with emissions, since it is related to operating the hydraulic clutch to shift the car into the various gears (unlike your left foot in regular manual transmission).

Jay

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

KurtEP

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

I was told (in Ohio) that a check engine light was an automatic fail. However, the last time I did an emissions check, they just hooked up to the OBD port and did a check. There was no tail pipe check. Presumably, they'd be able to tell the difference between a transmission code and an emissions one, but who really knows.

Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles

Jay H

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

Of course, since every car has emissions, they are generally the P0XXX codes, but mine is a mfgr specific one and also obviously very quite specific to those MR2s with a sequential tranny in it.... I doubt the DOT will have a clue what to make out of it... But so long as they don't just look at the CEL and go.. Fail... If for some reason they shut the car off and turn the engine on again, I won't know if the CEL will reappear or not.

Jay

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

Michael Varacin

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

Just pull the fuse out that powers all the dash gauges. I don't think they can fail the car for non working gauges, and it would keep the engine light from coming on.

I did this on an old car of mine that the light would stay on, and it passed. As soon as I pulled it out of the station, I simply put the fuse back in and drove away.

Matt Stryker

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

In GA, any CEL code (which can be read thru the OBD-II port, so pulling the light isn't going to help you) is an automatic fail - I had a non-emissions related trouble code on mine, and they failed it right away.

I'd clear the light code and hope it doesn't come back while they're testing you're emissions. You can either clear it by disconnecting the battery for 20-30 min or using a low cost OBDII scan tool (AutoZone may clear it for you for free).

Jay H

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

I have a cheap Actron Code Scanner which has a built in code eraser.

I don't recall them ever shutting the car off and starting up again so I think it'll be OK...

Jay

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

Brian Perry

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

When I had my BMW, I had a Peake Research scan tool that could be used to reset the oil change/inspection lights and also clear the error codes. However, when I cleared some codes just prior to an emissions check (I knew I had an O2 sensor or evaporator issue), the computer at the testing facility could tell that the car's computer was recently reset and thus it failed me. Apparently once the codes are cleared, the car's computer takes several on/off cycles to scan for errors before sending a "ready" signal through the OBD, and the testing facility's computer required this "ready" signal to be present. They asked if I recently had some repair work done, and as I knew what they were getting at, I said yes. They suggested I come back in a few days after the system reset itself...though I knew this meant the CEL would return.

Illinois used to allow you to request a manual (tailpipe) test if you believed the codes were not affecting your emissions, but now they don't allow that -- you have to pass the OBD test. If you fail, you have to have it repaired until the codes are clear. If the mechanic is unable to get the codes to clear, you have to show proof that you spent at least $450 on repairs.

Jay H

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

I had an E36 for a bit before my Subaru, I made my own reset tool which basically was a lead connected to a small resistor, short two pins out on the port in the engine and it would reset the oil inspection light...

Jay

You are the crispy noodle in the vegetarian salad of life

Brian Perry

Re: Car inspections and the CEL

I assume the E36 works the same as my old E38 did...not sure about Subaru.

Speaking of my E38, I knew it was time to switch mechanics (and ultimately, cars) when the independent guy I was going to said that servicing my car was "more of an art than a science."