CarHopper

Lately I have seen a handful of threads regarding failed inspections with tunes. I'm here to at least put a big part of that to bed.

I live in NY which is one of the most strict states for inspections, but most importantly, the OBDII scan needs to be done every year here.

Now, I have been running Eurocharged v5 tune for about a year. Furthermore, I haven't touched the car in the past year. No CELs, No clearing codes, No swapping files, nada. Just drove it. Pulled up to get an inspection, all monitors were good to go, in and out in 5 minutes.

I will note: When I bought the handheld + v5 from EC I asked them to leave the monitors alone when sending me a file. I do not remember if they said they leave the monitors alone or not, but I do know I asked mine to be left alone.

So, who cares, right?

If you are planning on buying a tune, but worried about inspections, EC v5 works.

If you are failing inspections because you run a non-EC tune, or a previous version, the EC v5 works.

And -- Be sure to ask EC to leave the monitors alone. Again, I'm not sure if this is the default for v5 tunes, or, if it something that they can go in and change for people, but it didn't take any time for them to send me the v5 tune once I requested it.

***I have primary cats IN and untouched. I still do not have a CLEAR CUT answer and solution to running headers + passing inspections guarantee'd every time but I will continue to work on that***

I am Jeff

I can beat that and give you a clearcut answer! 2 years of passing NYS inspection. 1 year with EC tune and 1 year with MHP tune.

ARH Long Tube headers with 200 cpi cats with MHP tune with the rear o2s shut off. In and out of OBDII inspection in the same 15 mins with a Passing NYS inspection sticker. :-)

Skizz

Whew. I just put ARH Long tubes with 200 cel cats on with EC tune, although on an W211 E63. In DFW area. Been sweatin' it as I've yet to get it inspected, but feel a bit better now. Thanks for the info, fellas.

zcct04

v5 has hopefully fixed this, but the issue has not been 'put to bed' for older tunes. I had a v3 on my otherwise-stock 2012. It would not pass the OBD test - v3 apparently had some of the sensors turned off. Had to go back to stock to pass inspection.

I am Jeff

When I had the EC v3 and v5 tune only files, I told them to keep all the sensors on. I did the same for the EC header file, but the tune ran rich, but I didn't have any issue passing my OBDII inspection. I can't comment about whether or not the EC tune will pass the sniffer test.

Jasonoff

I will double check, but pretty sure my monitors are off. I've had an EC tune since V3 (old school method) ~5 years ago. Picked up a handheld to upgrade to V4 then V5 when they came out.

604 C63

Can I ask a dumb question? Well, of course I can. Im very good at it.

But here it is: What do you mean by monitors and monitors off?

Skizz

FWIW, if you have tubes, EC is pretty straight forward about them not passing the sniffer.

I am Jeff

I apologize about the misunderstanding. The guys at EC are a great bunch of guys. I thoroughly enjoyed my v3 and v5 tune and they have been great to deal with.

I was just stating that I have never used the sniffer, so I can't comment about it. That statement applies to all tunes.

Skizz

No, my bad if I misunderstood. All I was saying is that when I got my tubes and tune by EC, they said I should be able to pass the OBD, but if they wand it, no go. My inspection bud says they, themselves,don't wand anymore, so feel better about getting inspected. Yeah, the EC guys have been great to deal with. Apologies if I tripped you up.

I am Jeff

This is what we mean by monitors and readiness.

AMG6.3

I live in MA a strict emissions state. I failed with V5 tune no headers....

First year with V5 tune I passed and second year failed with V5 tune as ut has cats turned off.

I switched to stock to pass. Not sure how guys are passing with headers in Cali or MA... year after year.

jylee

If you know the inspection station, any vehicle will pass emission or safety inspection.

AMG6.3

This would not matter.... My car was flag by the state for changed emission parameters. It catches up with you it just might take second year to do so in a strict emissions state.

AMG6.3

This would not matter.... My car was flaged by the state for changed emission parameters. It catches up with you it just might take second year to do so in a strict emissions states.

Jasonoff

This is mine. I believe that will fail.

604 C63

Interesting. Don't have to deal with anything like this out here in BC.

So I am thinking they are taking a read of your car via OBD, and if various types of monitoring are not supported then they know you have made some emissions affecting changes to your car and thats a fail? So the setup to request if you are in an area with this this kind of program is to ask for monitors to be left on. Interesting, cos government regulators wouldn't be the only ones who could easily spot a tune this way then......

AMG6.3

Yes, you will fail as your cats monitors are turned off.

Flip car back to stock tune and drive it for a day or so then recheck your monitors prior to inspection.

Jasonoff

So, sounds like monitors off is the default unless you specify otherwise.

Flipping back to stock for a couple days before testing is easy enough. If you don't have access to a scan tool to verify, fip back to stock anyway so you're not blindsided doing the test.