Hey everyone, does anybody know of what the deal is with NYS inspection now, I am getting alot of mixed answers if a car will automatically fail inspection if it has an aftermarket tune on it, apperantly last year some law went Into effect, I can't seem to get a straight answer though, appreciate it.
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New York State Inspection with a tune.
- Thread starter DsSalST
- Start date
Also in NY here. I read something on this forum (somewhere) about Ford refusing to do the inspection checks because the tune resets something and they can see it but your local shop may not. It comes down to the emissions test. I’d be interested in hearing back. I don’t have a tune but I’ve only just started modding.
No, it doesn’t after a typically done reset for the applicable cel. Why would anyone take a vehicle for inspection with a light/code unless they just wanted it repaired? It WILL set a code if the “not ready” system(s) runs through another complete drive cycle of operation and still isn’t ready. This is why your vehicle can fail inspection without a code or light
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I can't speak for NY but I live in MA where they do emissions testing and my truck failed the inspection because it was tuned. It failed because the tuning changed some of the emmission system parameters to outside acceptable levels (I don't remeber which ones but I do remeber the O2 sensors and the EGR system) which automatically fails and red flags the vehicle. I had to bring my truck to a state inspection facility and the first thing they asked me was, "Is it tuned". Then he explained it to me and said to return it to stock, drive it for a few days and come back. When I went back it passed ok.
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New York, Taxxachusetts... (making fun) not to get political here but I can understand why states that are more liberal have more restrictive emissions standards. I'd venture to say climate is more a left-leaning agenda thing. I'm curious if these tuning vs. emission test issues crop up in what you'd consider more conservative states?
Cheetoduster, whadda' ya' think?
Cheetoduster, whadda' ya' think?
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From what I understand, MA uses CA emissions standards. Very stringent! However, they consider the life of a vehicles emissions system to be 15 years. So once your vehicle is over 15 years it no longer is required to go through emissions testing, just safety inspection. My 07 Ranger just needs the safety inspection now so I no longer have to de-tune it.
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Yeah this is not true at all. I’ve never had an issue with any of my cars getting a state inspection with a tune. All the state inspection system checks for is readiness and codes. If you don’t have a CEL and your O2 sensors are reading ready you’ll pass. Even passed with catless downpipes on my m3 with a cat spacer. If you aren’t passing because of a tune then your tuner has shut off o2 and cat readiness so it won’t read this won’t pass. California uses a sniffer on emissions. We don’t here.
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How do you figure "it's not true at all"?
MA follows CA emission standards- True. Look it up. Started back in 1991.
Vehicles over 15 years no longer need to pass emissions testing- True. Look it up. My 2007 Ranger does not even get plugged in anymore.
I didn't pass inspection because the tune not only disabled the rear O2 sensor (as a lot of tunes do) but also disabled the EGR.
Inspection stations used to use sniffers here up until not that long ago. Now they just plug into the OBD port to get readings. When I had my first Mustang I used to pay the guy an extra $20 and he would put the sniffer in another cars tailpipe that would pass. Some stations still use mirrors to check if your vehicle has cats as do some state troopers. They even have to take photos of the vehicle now when they inspect it to show that tires don't extend from the fender too much, the bumper is at legal height, windows are not tinted too dark, etc.
MA follows CA emission standards- True. Look it up. Started back in 1991.
Vehicles over 15 years no longer need to pass emissions testing- True. Look it up. My 2007 Ranger does not even get plugged in anymore.
I didn't pass inspection because the tune not only disabled the rear O2 sensor (as a lot of tunes do) but also disabled the EGR.
Inspection stations used to use sniffers here up until not that long ago. Now they just plug into the OBD port to get readings. When I had my first Mustang I used to pay the guy an extra $20 and he would put the sniffer in another cars tailpipe that would pass. Some stations still use mirrors to check if your vehicle has cats as do some state troopers. They even have to take photos of the vehicle now when they inspect it to show that tires don't extend from the fender too much, the bumper is at legal height, windows are not tinted too dark, etc.
Really? Then why do parts companies do not sell to California but sell to Massachusetts. California has its own C.A.R.B program. Massachusetts doesn't. You're completely wrong about taking photos. The entire inspection is video recorded, and they just ensure that the inspector is doing the process correctly. They can't tell about the window tint etc. Photos are taken of the Front license plate, Rear license plate, VIN plate, and Odometer only. Tires are allowed to extend out a certain distance if it is a 4x4 vehicle and they don't measure bumper height. Most tunes do not disable the O2 sensor anymore because tuners are not wanting to lose their license. Never once had an issue passing an inspection with a tune. I have 4 vehicles, and all are tuned and some making north of 1000hp and still pass inspection with a tune. Also, modern cars do not have an EGR valve anymore to disable like the old engines. Just have to fool the O2 sensor and computer which isn't hard. There is no requirement to check for cats in a state inspection that's what the OBD emissions check is for. If you fail for too much emissions they can send you to state inspection station. How do I know these things? I was a state inspector and a service director for a large dealership group prior going to law school.
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MA LEV Program
I stand there and watch my mechanic take pictures with a point-N-shoot digital camera every time I go for a sticker!
Yes, they can fail your vehicle if the windows are tinted more than 35%!
Tires are not allowed to protrude from the outer most fender wall unless it's a 4WD. Not positive but I think it's no more than 2"
Key word on the tunes is "anymore". I'm talking about my 2007 going back about 12-15 years when I was failed and flagged and had to go to a state station. The first thing the guy said was, “Is it tuned”.
Same with the EGR. My 2007 has EGR.
As for the cat's, if your exhaust is loud, they can check for cat's. If they pass your vehicle and then you get stopped the next day because a cop thinks your exhaust is too loud and they pull out the mirror an see there are no cats, you're getting fined and they will go after the station issuing the sticker. I've seen it happen more than once! Lot's of guys used to keep their OEM exhaust just to switch it back when going in for an inspection. I only had it happen to me once when I had to go to another shop because my mechanic’s machine was down. They said my truck was awful loud and checked to see if I had cats and a muffler. Little did they know, the cats were punched out. How long ago did you work at a station?
I stand there and watch my mechanic take pictures with a point-N-shoot digital camera every time I go for a sticker!
Yes, they can fail your vehicle if the windows are tinted more than 35%!
Tires are not allowed to protrude from the outer most fender wall unless it's a 4WD. Not positive but I think it's no more than 2"
Key word on the tunes is "anymore". I'm talking about my 2007 going back about 12-15 years when I was failed and flagged and had to go to a state station. The first thing the guy said was, “Is it tuned”.
Same with the EGR. My 2007 has EGR.
As for the cat's, if your exhaust is loud, they can check for cat's. If they pass your vehicle and then you get stopped the next day because a cop thinks your exhaust is too loud and they pull out the mirror an see there are no cats, you're getting fined and they will go after the station issuing the sticker. I've seen it happen more than once! Lot's of guys used to keep their OEM exhaust just to switch it back when going in for an inspection. I only had it happen to me once when I had to go to another shop because my mechanic’s machine was down. They said my truck was awful loud and checked to see if I had cats and a muffler. Little did they know, the cats were punched out. How long ago did you work at a station?
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You must have poor reading comprehension. I never said they don’t take photos. They do not take photos of the things you listed. The front plate, rear plate, vin plate and odometer are what are photographed. I never said you can’t fail for tint either. Good grief. Slow down and read what I wrote. I can tell you I have never heard of a state trooper pulling out a mirror. And some cars you can’t see the cats. My g80 m3 is catless and a race exhaust beyond loud never had an issue with cops or inspections looking for cats. They don’t have a reason to look at the inspection station if I pass emissions. And the person in this post was talking about now if you will fail for a tune not 18 years ago. And you’re wrong they can’t go after an inspection post inspection. They have no proof the modification wasn’t done after the car left the station.
