Failing California Emissions

ASmitty

Member
:
2010 MS3
Title says it all, and I'm not sure what exactly is causing the problems, and before i start throwing money and parts at the car, I want to list my mods for the MSP guru's, and see what they think. I can upload a picture of the results as well if needed. Putting out too many hydrocarbons.

Upgraded Sidemount intercooler
Vibrant Exhaust
Hardpipes, hot and cold
Unichip, but fails emissions with it on and off
Profec 2 running 6 psi low, 10 psi high
HKS bov w/bpv, no relocated MAF

Not sure what the culprit is, maybe vibrants hi flow cat?
Results seem to say I have too much unburnt fuel, inputs?
 
uh......well for starters switch it back to stock lol. make sure u get the car warmed up before you go in. do some spirited driving and then take it in.
 
Hmm. I would guess its the unchip. But u have tried that already. Maybe its a BOV. I passed with a highflo cat. Get a fuel injector cleaner and check ur spark plugs. And get the car nice and hot before going.
 
well. try turning your boost back to stock. and no bov. you have no stock parts at all?
 
try this, do a full tune-up, and preferably an oil change. And when you arrive at the station leave your car on while your waiting to be stationed, cars make less smog when warm and hot.
 
As for the stock parts thing, I'm military, and i bought the car a few years ago when i was stationed in South Dakota. No regulations what so ever. Fastforward to me being moved to California with a modded car lol.
 
I will never move to California just because of this. I would take and disconnect the uni chip and then change the pugs. the bov i wouldn't think would have anything to do with failing a sniffer test because it just vents air. are you recirculated?
 
Put in for a transfer and get out of that state! And tell them to take up their issue with Mazda, as the pcm is programmed to be uber rich. I'd go with some fresh spark plugs, seafoam treatment and a high rpm drive on the way to the sniffer or however its done there.
 
Just out of curiosity, did the reflash of the ecu affect timing or fuel to air mixture at all to correct the hesitation?
 
Also changed plugs, and oil (royal purple only for me). Maybe its something I can't quite see, bad egr valve, bad injector, something like that. Most mechanics in Cali don't want to touch it due to the mods, even though i maintained my South Dakota registration. I just want to get it to pass emissions so I have the option to sell the car, or trade it in.

It's going to the mazda dealership to have them dig into the engine to check internals.
 
15 mph test, 60 HC max, i tested 70. So 10, but this was on the second try with an 1/8th tank of gas, and a bottle of isopropyl alcohol lol.
 
if you have an oiled air filter (for ex.-k+n or injen), clean your maf sensor....change your spark plugs with regular NGK copper v-power plugs....i deal with this stuff all day here in CT as an emissions inspector and mechanic!

What is your CO % ????
 
I will never move to California just because of this. I would take and disconnect the uni chip and then change the pugs. the bov i wouldn't think would have anything to do with failing a sniffer test because it just vents air. are you recirculated?

yeah, but it's a small price to pay to be able to live in our slice of paradise (don't even get me started on our firearms laws). after all, who wouldn't want to wake up to this every morning:

LighthousePoint_BigSur_framed.jpg


instead of having to deal with this:

4202564182_da7c068a11.jpg


it's already bad enough that you have to drive to work each morning, but to put your life at risk just to get there? with all its faults, it's still california ftw (godown)
 
Last edited:
I like that^^^^^...lol

hmmmm.....well i'm sticking with my first guess with changing the plugs and cleaning the Mass Airflow sensor...they sell spray at local parts stores specifically for them....or you can use carb cleaner--that is if they let Californians use that stuff!!!!

In CT all we do is look for a cat. conv., look to see if the CEL works, and scan the OBDII computer, if no codes----PASS....lol we're spoiled i guess

Good luck!
 
Last edited:
yeah, but it's a small price to pay to be able to live in our slice of paradise (don't even get me started on our firearms laws). after all, who wouldn't want to wake up to this every morning:

LighthousePoint_BigSur_framed.jpg


instead of having to deal with this:

4202564182_da7c068a11.jpg


it's already bad enough that you have to drive to work each morning, but to put your life at risk just to get there? with all its faults, it's still california ftw (godown)

too bad it costs a hell of alot of money to wake up to that lol.
 
Back