What codes are you getting or drive cycles not achieving? Your a non turbo right? I use to have a list of the drive cycles required printed out when I lived in Cali. Don't need it since I moved to west Tx haha. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Jayson

mine is not passing because my transmission blew out on me and i did not have the money to get it fixed right away so i had to make payment and my car batter died. i had a check engine light on due to misfire so i changed my plugs and reset the light. now the MIL is being a brat. so i am gonna try those task and then take it to the smog guy and tell him to let it run. if i dont have a car in done and i make my money driving my car. blah blah blah. oh and blah

AllConfused said:

Yeah I understand what your saying, however the documents you uploaded are no longer followed by Testing Stations.

On May 4, 2011 the EPA released new documentation.

Click to expand...

Now there's another update from June 2012.
http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/im/obd/regtech/420b12044.pdf

It lists my Talon problem as “All monitors reset to incomplete upon every ignition key-off “
The action according to the EPA is “These vehicles are not reflashable and should be tested without regard to monitor readiness “

I still have a waiver from back when the wiki was drafted but I will pursue again because the local MO testing station still has no exception listed for the Talon.

Thanks for the update. Funny how the Eclipse is still grey-area. You might convince a guy to ignore the readiness or he might insist you eff around with drive cycles.

The 98 Talon is sittin' pretty pretty, though.

Ok so all they would do is the sniffer test that's it? They won't do the OBD test?

Missouri tests without regard to readiness monitors
I have received the following from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in response to my reference to the EPA document mentioned in post 228:
Emphasis mine.

The 1998 Eagle Talon, with the eighth VIN digit of 'F', is now on the MDNR – GVIP exception table for readiness. The vehicle will now be emissions inspected without requiring it to meet the same emissions monitor (readiness) requirements as other same model year vehicles. You may return to the facility that did the inspection tomorrow or any day thereafter, and the change will have been uploaded to the inspection shop's analyzer. Please contact me directly if the vehicle fails a second time for the 'Readiness Result' portion of the inspection.

This vehicle was a recent addition to the list of vehicles EPA allowed states to provide alternate OBDII emissions test procedures on. The EPA's "OBD Readiness Testability Issues' cited was released in June 2012, I apologize that the addition of this vehicle to the original EPA Exception Table wasn't caught by myself or staff, and added to the software exception list prior to your first inspection. I appreciate your making me aware of this, and will ensure it, and any additional vehicles not previously allowed such a testing exception will be added to the list as soon as possible.

Click to expand...

At least for MO the problem is solved.

I live near Sacramento, and the place i went to smog in Lincoln said they have to run readiness monitors. It will not let them bypass. To add, they have no idea what im talking about when it comes to being dismissed from the readiness monitor tests. I have to smog within the next week too I'm screwed!

See that's what I was worried about. I'll have to see when I smog my car. Last time I tested my car it was with the ref and he passed me.

The EPA document is different for the Talon and Eclipse. The Mo waiver is for the Talon.

Well I'll have to talk to the smog guy before I let him smog it. Next week I am going to drive it around town with the OBD scanner first to see if the monitors set.

If the monitors set to complete, have the car tested before key-off.

Yeah I hope I remember not to turn it off. It will be a bonus if they don't test my talon for the monitors, like you said the talon is exempt from the test right?

My post number 231 has the EPA's position in bold. That had not been passed down to the testing stations in Missouri. Only after my communication with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources the testing station was informed of the waiver.

The DSM community may have to go through the same prodedure for many states.

Good Luck.

Thank you so much for who ever posted the EPA links. I've been trying since September to get my inspection sticker here in Houston and as of this morning I showed the inspector the link and I got my sticker!!!! They ran my car as "ams" they plugged the obd2 plug in scanned for mil light, smog and safety tested and put my sticker on. Cost was about $40. Better then paying a friend of a friend $100 for a sticker ! Thanks again!

I have a 98 eclipse gst that wont get the monitors ready so smog tech wont even try, any clues on how to get this to pass obd2 test?
Iam in california and car is completely stock

All the info in in this thread and elsewhere as far as Flashable ECU's are concerned.

Just have to take the time to thoroughly read thru the thread.

Hi All, read through this thread a few times, followed up and read the EPA documents, drive cycles, pretty much all covered here. Ton of great info and time spent by others. Thanks for the wealth of information.

We're in So California, Ridgecrest, Kern County. About 150 miles from no where.

Helping my son out with his 1997 Sypder GS. Stock 2.4 stick no mods. He had a CEL due to a sensor on the intake, and EVAP. He took it (or was taken) to a shop where a friend worked. They understood the OBD readiness situation with these cars. Diagnostics and MAP replacement ran $450.00. The EVAP fault could only be traced down with a smoke test. They didn't even back feed it, just ran a moisture cloud over the tank area and said "yup, there's fumes there". They wanted another $450 to drop the tank, and still were not sure if a hose was the problem or not. I pulled the filler spout guard and checked for rust though, all looked good. Nothing obvious rubber wise front to back. Then I'm 60, could have missed "seeing" something

He's out of town, and with that estimate pulled the car out of the shop. I know they said they understood the readiness issue, but after they reset the ECM, did the repairs, they would have to go through emissions testing, following the newer OBD readiness procedure, it wouldn't fly due the CAT not setting. My opinion, my son thinks he friends shop would do it, not so sure he understands fully this entire mess. I've driven 300 miles, and completed drive cycles numerous times (waste of time, IMHO).
The car has been in the family for 3 smogs cycles, this being the 4th, always passing. Of course after the repairs, and resetting the ECM, the CAT and EVAP won't set, at least in a timely manner. Either the OBD readiness check wasn't performed before, or at some point (a year or so ) of driving they all will set. Thinking they did, or it wouldn't have thrown an EVAP CEL recently.

Enough of all this, pretty much know the answer. The easiest thing will be to set up an appointment with a referee (about 100 miles from us), let them put their "yea we know it's a problem" sticker on, motor down the road. The local shops refuse to just put this on their machine and run the test. If they did, the machine would pass the OBD readiness test because that's how the software is set up, but they are stuck on using the hand held first before hooking it up to the sniffer. Don't get a clear answer from them, and almost sounds as if they KNOW it would pass that way. Think it has to do with dings on their annual report card, but from reading the EPA docs, that data isn't supposed to be used for evaluation.

That's what I've pulled out from pretty much all of this.

Question I have, read in this thread where owners have swapped out their 1997 ECM with 1998's. I've tried this, the engine cranks, but won't fire. There is also no CEL when the key is turned on. Did read something about having to swap plug leads to resolve a different firing order, but recall that only necessary using the 1995 ECM.

Is this suppose to be a plug in replacement, or is there a wire mod of some sorts done to use a 1998 ECM on a 1997?

The 1997 ECM is MD326327. The 1998 I tried using is MD339763.
Just swapping out the two doesn't work. Unless one I got is bad. It is an "eBay" unit, the guy has like 5000 positive feedback (still no guarantee, he did swap out a 1999 unit I'd bought before reading they were not compatible with the 1997 Spyder).

Thanks for all the dedication throughout the years in this thread!
In the back of my mind, have always wanted a Talon 4WD turbo since seeing one some years back. The wife just can't understand why I've spent so much time on this. One, it keeps the brain sharp, and two, the vintage motocrosser in me enjoys the though of bending rules

Rustynutt said:

Hi All, read through this thread a few times, followed up and read the EPA documents, drive cycles, pretty much all covered here. Ton of great info and time spent by others. Thanks for the wealth of information.

We're in So California, Ridgecrest, Kern County. About 150 miles from no where.

The car has been in the family for 3 smogs cycles, this being the 4th, always passing. Of course after the repairs, and resetting the ECM, the CAT and EVAP won't set, at least in a timely manner. Either the OBD readiness check wasn't performed before, or at some point (a year or so ) of driving they all will set. Thinking they did, or it wouldn't have thrown an EVAP CEL recently.

The local shops refuse to just put this on their machine and run the test. If they did, the machine would pass the OBD readiness test because that's how the software is set up, but they are stuck on using the hand held first before hooking it up to the sniffer.

Click to expand...

Rustynutt, I agree, if they would just put it on the machine it will pass.
I go to a Chevron Station on 5th St west and Elizabeth Lake Rd/Palmdale Blvd (near you sort of)
in Palmdale CA.
One of the 3 test guys there fully understands Appendix J, and if your 1997 GS is in the Appendix J then
you do have a place to go. He will be doing mine in a few weeks for the 4th time for us (like yours
we have had 3 test with no trouble - from him).
I always take along a copy, he always keeps it.
I show him the spot where my car is listed and then point to the tail-pipe only test part.
Then we are all happy.

Okay just googled and read the current listing on bar.ca.gov and it clearly lists
ALL 1996 to 1998 Mitsubishi readiness monitors will not set and to bypass/ignore
during the test. So, seems it just requires a smog center with a brain, ability to read English,
willingness to comply with California law. Not many of those.
How about people start posting known stations that are Mitsubishi friendly and have shown to be competent. That list would be worth a lot.

rhodes2010 said:

Rustynutt, I agree, if they would just put it on the machine it will pass.
I go to a Chevron Station on 5th St west and Elizabeth Lake Rd/Palmdale Blvd (near you sort of)
in Palmdale CA.
One of the 3 test guys there fully understands Appendix J, and if your 1997 GS is in the Appendix J then
you do have a place to go. He will be doing mine in a few weeks for the 4th time for us (like yours
we have had 3 test with no trouble - from him).
I always take along a copy, he always keeps it.
I show him the spot where my car is listed and then point to the tail-pipe only test part.
Then we are all happy.

Okay just googled and read the current listing on bar.ca.gov and it clearly lists
ALL 1996 to 1998 Mitsubishi readiness monitors will not set and to bypass/ignore
during the test. So, seems it just requires a smog center with a brain, ability to read English,
willingness to comply with California law. Not many of those.
How about people start posting known stations that are Mitsubishi friendly and have shown to be competent. That list would be worth a lot.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that Rhodes!
Only issue that might come up is we are in Kern County, Palmdale is in LA County. They may not be able to test the Spyder due to that. I will make a call down to verify in the morning.

Will follow up as soon as I find out.
Starting a list of stations by State and County would be a great tribute to all the knowledge that went into this thread.

The Spyder has a fun background to read, more aproaprate in another thread, and will update my new profile with info as well.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Finally, the 1997 Spyder is smogged for yet another two years!
See how things go in the future, odo is setting at 299204 miles!
Warrens Automotive in Ridgecrest did the honors, following the EPA document, Appendix J, exclusion of monitor readiness.
Note, the EIS did not skip the test, as some machines have done in the past for this car, the tech had to manually skip that part of the test. The owner said to be sure and keep that document in the glove box.

Now to search for a place that can install a top. This one is shredded.

You can do it! If you can smog that car you can do anything!

I want to leave this link here for anyone having trouble passing smog in CA .All 96-97 Mitsubishi's monitor readiness are ignored by the smog check computer. https://www.bar.ca.gov/pdf/Smog_Check_OBD_Reference_Guide.pdf

I just want to add cliff notes to rusty nuts post, he reset his check engine light and used the exclusion clause to pass the emissions test even though he had a legitimate check engine light and emissions problem.

Way to go bud, get caught and you could get the entire platform off of the exclusion list

Thread revival!!!!!!


First, let me say like so many others have that this is an awesome thread with wonderful information!!!!!! Because all of the contributors to this thread, I understand much more about my car and the emission system, ECU, etc.!!!!!! Thank you all very much!!!

I do have a question that has not been answered on this thread or in other threads I could search and it stems from my experience with my 97 GSX that I recently purchased. I do not need to pass smog for registration or title change at this point (thank goodness) but the question is more for my own knowledge going forward.

Background: When I bought my car it had no cat and I believe the EGR has been deleted (I see what appears to be the EGR block off plate on the top of the intake manifold. The car is a 1997 with (what I now know thanks to these forums) a 95 EPROM ECU because I have full DSMLink V3. Even though the car had no cat or EGR (I think) all of the OBD2 readiness indicators were showing “complete” when I purchased the car. My mechanic installed a cat (but no O2 sensor after the cat if that matters) and the car passed the sniffer test and the overall smog test (because OBD2 indicators were showing ready). Smog tech never even looked under the hood. I was able to then complete the title change, registration process, etc. required here in California.

I later had the car dyno tuned by Road Race Engineering and since then the OBD2 readiness indicators are showing “incomplete.” I assume this is because RRE disconnected the battery for one reason or another.


My Question is more about what the OBD2 readiness "complete" status represents. Is this readiness the ECU testing and confirming the cat, EGR, O2 sensors, etc. are actually installed and working properly or is it the ECU to confirming its’ own ability to search for these things, thus achieving “complete” status of "readiness" but then possibly throwing DTCs for any item not found or not operational? I know DTCs can be controlled via Link but not the actual readiness.

In short, how could the “OBD 2 readiness” have been previously “complete” if there was no CAT or EGR? I know the previous owner used a PC with DSMLink and not the old Palm software. Will a long/complete enough drive cycle restore the "complete" status of these monitors even though equipment may not be installed? Or, is the working emissions component required to be installed to achieve a "complete" status of a certain readiness monitor?

I hope my logic makes sense. Thanks to anyone who provides feedback!