O2 Sensor Monitor Not Ready 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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2008_09_09highlander_hy_33-prvIf your 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fails to pass the California emissions test because of an incomplete oxygen sensor (air/fuel) monitor, your Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be subject to a recall.

Affected vehicles will require a software update to correct an issue that prevents the vehicle’s on board diagnostic computer from running the O2 sensor monitor to completion.  Per Toyota Special Service Campaign FOP and TSB #0042-15, this service will be performed on affected vehicles at no charge to the consumer.

Your Toyota dealer will identify affected vehicles based on manufacture date, software calibration, etc.  When contacting your Toyota dealer, please reference TSB #0042-15.

BMW OBD II Communication and Monitor Issues

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As touched upon in a previous post (Smog Check OBD Reference Update) certain 1999 and 2000 model year BMW vehicles with 2.5 liter and 2.8 liter displacement engines that are having trouble passing the smog inspection due to incomplete monitors may be subject to a voluntary emissions recall (00E-A01: Fault Access/O2 Readiness Codes).

Model Manufactured
E39 528i, 528iA, 528iT, 528iAT 2/99-7/99
E46 328i, 328iA, 323i, 323iA 3/98-7/99
E46 328iC, 328iCA, 323iC, 323iCA 2/99-7/99
E36/7 Z3 coupe 2.8 4/99-7/99
E36/7 Z3 roadster 2.8 4/99-7/99
E36/7 Z3 roadster 2.3 9/98-7/99

bmw-logoBMW has determined that certain 1999 & 2000 model year BMW automobiles with 2.5 liter and 2.8 liter displacement engines may not fully meet Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  and California Air Resources Board on-board diagnostic requirements.

There are two issues:

  1. Due to an engine control module software error, a communication conflict exists between the engine control module (“The Computer”) and the transmission control module (“The other Computer”).  This may lead to difficulties or prevent communication and data transmission between the engine control module and and diagnostic equipment (Including the “Smog Machine”).
  2. The oxygen sensor readiness monitor may not run to completion on affected E36/7, E46 and E39 vehicles.

Owners of affected vehicles should have received a letter from BMW as early as November 2000; however if you own one of these affected vehicles and are having trouble receiving California smog certification due to incomplete monitors or communications issues (Or are due for a smog inspection) and have not completed the recall, you should contact your BMW dealer.  It may help to refer to Emissions Recall 00E-A01 and BMW Bulletin SI B 12 15 99.

Shop Small Saturday – November 26

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Launchesmog-huntington-beach-small-business-saturdayd by American Express, the first-ever Small Business Saturday took place on Nov 27, 2010. The promotion encouraged holiday shoppers to support small, local businesses. The event grew as local mayors, governors, the U.S. Senate and President Obama voiced their support of Small Business Saturday. By 2015, 95 million shoppers generated an estimated $16 billion in sales on the day nationwide. – Forbes

Happy Thanksgiving from the Just Smogs® family to yours

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We’ll be closed on thanksgiving so that we can celebrate with our families at home, but we’ll return to our normal schedule on Friday (8:00 to 5:30) and Saturday (8:00 to 3:00).  As always we’ll be closed Sunday when we’ll be spending more time with our families and leftovers.

Today we had a little Just Smogs® pre-celebration with a deep fried turkey.

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We really are a family here and that includes you, our loyal customers.  So, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  We’ll see you Friday.

Engine Mounts

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Engine mounts (Also known as motor mounts) are designed to isolate engine vibration from the rest of the car. Most engine mounts are solid rubber blocks; however, the engine mounts in some cars are hydraulic (liquid filled).

When to replace engine mounts

img_0763Several years ago, prior to inspecting a longtime customer’s car, I noticed that a hose at the top of the car’s engine was disconnected. Since I hadn’t started the smog inspection, I did the customer a favor and reconnected the hose.

I closed the hood and performed the dynamometer (dyno) portion of the smog inspection. At the conclusion of the dyno test, I got out, opened the hood, and saw that the same hose was once again disconnected.

The vehicle had broken engine mounts that allowed enough movement that the hose going to the EVAP canister was disconnected every time the engine moved!

Most manufacturers do not publish suggested replacement intervals, engine mounts should be inspected regularly.  Under harsh driving conditions they can fail in as little as a year, but most often begin showing signs of wear that include cracking and dry rot after five years.

How can I tell if my engine mounts are bad?
Damaged Engine Mount

Damaged Engine Mount

While a little bit of cracking is normal, stretched and broken engine mounts should be replaced as soon as possible. As your engine mounts begin to degenerate or stretch, you may notice excessive vibration especially while your vehicle is idling.

During certain driving conditions worn and damaged engine mounts will allow the engine to shift and move in the engine to such an extent that it can actually “bang” against body components such as the hood or firewall and in extreme cases the engine can actually shift out of position or even drop. You may even notice that some of your hoses wont stay connected

 

 

Lamborghini engine

Engine Change Guidelines

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According to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), “Engine changes continue to present problems and challenges to car owners and technicians“.

Instead of an engine change (a.k.a swap), BAR recommends rebuilding and reinstalling the original engine, transmission, and emissions configuration.  However, if that is not possible, the following is a list of things to keep in mind.

Remember, these are guidelines for performing engine changes – not certification procedures. All exhaust emission controlled vehicles with engine changes must be inspected by an official Referee station and must have a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee label affixed to the doorpost.

Certification Standards

California Certification

emissions-label-caA federal (49 state) engine cannot be used in a California certified vehicle.

You can determine if your vehicle is a California certified vehicle by checking the vehicle’s under-hood emissions label.

Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Engines

While especially popular with Honda enthusiasts JDM engines are not a legal option.  JDM engines are easily identified and will not be certified by the BAR Referee.

Certification Standards

Make sure the engine and emission control configuration is certified to the year of the vehicle or newer, and to the same or a more stringent new vehicle certification standard. The rule of thumb is that you can move forward but you can’t go backwards.

Engine Classification

Lamborghini engine

You can’t put this in Lamborghini engine in your pickup truck unless you’re hauling it in the back.

Don’t mix engine and vehicle classifications which will degrade the emissions certification standards.

  1. A heavy-duty engine cannot be installed in a light-duty exhaust-controlled chassis even if they have the same displacement.
  2. A Pickup truck engine cannot be installed in a passenger car.
  3. Non-emissions controlled engines such as industrial or off-road-use-only engines may not be placed in any exhaust emissions controlled vehicle.

Computer Controls

If a computer controlled engine is installed in a non-computer controlled vehicle, the “Check Engine Light” (Service Engine Soon, MIL, etc), diagnostic link connector (DLC), wiring harness, and all sensor and switches necessary to make the system fully operational must also be installed.

Also, the same rule would apply if you are installing an On Board Diagnostic II engine in a vehicle previously certified to earlier standards (OBD I etc).  Remember, you can add, but you can’t subtract.

Emissions Control Configuration

Mixing and matching emission control system components could cause problems and is generally not allowed. Engine and emission control systems must be in an engine-chassis configuration certified by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The engine must meet or exceed the requirements for the year and class of vehicle in which it is installed.

California Bureau of Automotive Repair

Vehicles introduced for sale in California and elsewhere in the United States are subject to strict testing and emissions certification standards. Even a minor change can result in the increased harmful gas emissions, and violate state and federal law.

The installed engine and host chassis must retain all original emission control equipment. Diesel-to-gasoline conversions must have all gasoline engine and chassis emission control systems installed (Fill-pipe restrictor, EVAP system, etc).

Engine Modification and After-Market Parts

No internal or external engine modifications (cams, pistons, intakes, etc.) may be performed unless the parts are ARB-exempted or EPA-certified for use in the installed engine. Refer to ARB’s Aftermarket Parts Database of Executive Orders to search for exempted aftermarket parts.

The word "Labor Day" with a US flag in the background.

Just Smogs® Closed Labor Day

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The word "Labor Day" with a US flag in the background.

Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, Just Smogs® in Huntington Beach will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2016.

As always, we will be open from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday September 3rd and closed on Sunday.

We will resume our normal weekday schedule (8:00 am to 5:30 pm) on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

BAR OIS Testing And Invalid Monitor Information

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On August 1, 20016, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) implemented a change in the BAR-OIS testing procedure that may result in a new type of smog inspection failure.

What is BAR-OIS testing?

just-smog-check-huntington-beach-3-bays-800x480The BAR-OIS is the Smog Check equipment required when inspecting most model-year 2000 and newer gasoline and hybrid vehicles and most 1998 and newer diesel vehicles. The system consists of a certified Data Acquisition Device (DAD) and off the shelf equipment, including a computer, bar code scanner, and printer.

During a BAR-OIS smog inspection, the DAD collects data from your vehicle’s Power train Control Module (PCM), or as most people call it, “The Computer”.

The data collected by the DAD includes diagnostic trouble code information (Mode $03), Vehicle Information (Mode $09), and the current monitor information from Mode $01. Other data is also collected, but for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on Mode $01 monitor information.

OBD II Monitor Readiness

Image of instrument cluster including "Check Engine" lightOBD II Monitor Readiness is a key element of the BAR-OIS smog inspection process.

Most model year 2000 and newer gasoline powered and hybrid vehicles can pass the BAR-OIS inspection if EVAP is the only incomplete monitor; otherwise, all other OBD II monitors must be complete.

While most vehicles behave as expected, some vehicles do not respond with proper OBD monitor information from the PCM, or the transmission computer responds instead of the engine computer.

In most cases cycling the vehicle’s ignition (off/on) will solve the problem, but occasionally the vehicle will continue to respond with invalid or no data.

Prior to August 1, 2016, a vehicle could pass the BAR-OIS inspection if this condition continued; however, that is no longer the case.

What has changed?

toyota-drive-cycle-obd-readiness-monitor-smog-checkEffective August 1, 2016, if a vehicle continues to respond with improper OBD II monitor information, the vehicle will fail the inspection.

If a vehicle in the following list fails for invalid OBD II monitor information, it should be referred to the BAR Referee. Vehicles not included in the list will most likely require repairs.

  • 2004 Volvo C70 HPT
  • 2004 Volvo C70 LPT
  • 2004 Porsche Boxster S
  • 2004 Porsche Boxster
  • 2003 Porsche Boxster

 

BAR Repair Assistance Video

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqobRosEZf4

For more information about he Bureau of Automotive Repair Repair Assistance Program, visit the Consumer Assistance Program website, or call Just Smogs® in Huntington Beach at (714) 596-1019 for all your smog check needs. You can also make an appointment for your next smog check by clicking on the above link.