Failed inspection...Not ready?????

[DatMan]

I have a 98 GSX. Tried to get it inspected today and it failed the emissions.

Basically the following sensors read "not ready"

Catalyst
EGR
O2
And another 02 sensor reading I can't recall off the top of my head.

I recently replaced the battery but have easily placed 200 miles on the car so all of the sensors should of reset and been reading by now. Anyone have any idea what it could be?

The only thing I changed recently was putting new spark plugs in before I got it inspected.

Any suggestions as to what could be going on? I don't get an CEL or anything. My only guess is the ECU may not be getting power when the car is off and it's constantly resetting? Not sure.

Catback exhaust and intake are the only "mods".

 

[TunaTalon]

All year 1996 to 1998 ECUs have a common software problem with setting readiness flags that will fail more often that not.

See the wiki OBDII Emissions Testing and the DSM - DsmWiki for more information.

That wiki references a long thread on the topic. My 1998 Talon has a waiver for the readiness flags.

Good luck.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

I just got mine to pass. Barely.
Will first the tech couldn't get it to read. He tried twice but didn't work. Then he pulled a Scan Tool diagnostic tool and connected to my port. Few minutes later it worked. Not sure what he did. Kind of leads me to suspect that some of the machine that reads the mitus ecu is a fault, .

 

[LiquidX]

All that needs to happen is the CEL has to be able to turn on, this is what the EPA approved for at least the 2g.

Page 31
http://www.epa.gov/OMS/regs/im/obd/r01015.pdf

 

[DatMan]

Liquid thanks for the link. Even with that the inspection station says I need to call the state. I call the state and they don't know what I am talking about.

My next question is this. I have a 95 eprom ecu that I was going to use when I got link. Should I just throw it in the car and put 50-60 miles on it then bring it back and let them test it? I have 15 days to get it figured out. If it's truly the ECU using the 95 should fix everything right?

 

[LiquidX]

It's documented from the Environmental Protection Agency, they will have it on file. Either find a new place or get an official document directly from them.

Do you still have your sensors at all?

 

[DatMan]

I still have all of the sensors in their stock location.

I am trying to find a place that will do the 2 speed idle test and I shouldn't have an issue. If I can get some documentation from the state the place I've already paid to do it will do it at no charge I just have to provide them a letter or phone call saying that it's ok to do it.

Freaking nightmare.

 

[TunaTalon]

Don't use the 1995 ECU. All 1995 ECUs have a MIL bug which shows the CEL light as on all the time. It will fail.

From Appendix D of the link from LiQUiDx:

1996 - 1998 Mitsubishi vehicles - These vehicles may have a high degree of "Not Ready" or catalyst monitor due to a "trip based" design. Mitsubishi has provided driving cycles in its service information to allow monitors to operate. These vehicles should be scanned for MIL illumination without regard to readiness status.

This is the rule which justified my Waiver.

 

[Doubleot]

How did you get a wavier? I just had this problem but still got it to pass, This would just be so much less of a headache.

 

[TunaTalon]

My post #2 links to the wiki describing the waiver process.

It should be easier now after a few years have passed.

 

[Doubleot]

So you just emailed your state emissions center with that information and such?

 

[DatMan]

It's a pain in the ass. I found a place that knows what's up. If they say my car is a 97 on the computer even though it's a 98 it lets them switch to a two speed idle test which is just a sniffer. The 98 Ecu in some cars is apparently 97 ecus which are the problem.

Problem solved...for this year at least.

 

[Dserge]

I am having the same problems, everyone keeps giving me the run around.. So my inspection is out of date but I drive with all my paperwork from the shops and my EPA paperwork to explain my situation and to show I am trying to take care of it..

 

[TunaTalon]

So you just emailed your state emissions center with that information and such?

Pretty much. It took a few exchanges to find the right person first.

The sample e-mail in the wiki is from my last exchange with personal information deleted.

The big difference in my experience was the compentent person at the MO DMV. He was in danger of giving the DMV a good reputation.

 

[Doubleot]

Pretty much. It took a few exchanges to find the right person first.

The sample e-mail in the wiki is from my last exchange with personal information deleted.

The big difference in my experience was the compentent person at the MO DMV. He was in danger of giving the DMV a good reputation.

Cool, I'll start doing my home work and emailing people.

Thanks for the help!

 

[DatMan]

Update.

Finally passed inspection. Found a place that did it legally after I failed again with the same "not ready" crap.

Turns out all the inspection station had to do was input my car as a 1997 instead of a 1998. It was built in 97 and therefore their reasoning was it has a 1997 ecu.

Once the information was input the system automatically told them to do the two speed idle test and my car passed with flying colors. Total pain in the ass and had to spend money on two inspections but I got it figured out.

96-97 cars have the issue especially but it should be programmed into the inspection stations computers.