What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Smog test California

B

baker01

Active Member
Messages
132
Reaction score
114
Points
43
Took my 2022 Ram 3500 HO to be smogged today. It failed due to the EGR monitor not being ready. the batteries have not been disconnected or gone dead. The truck has 4400 miles on it since it had the Y43 recall and ECM flash done.
Any ideas on what I could before I take it to the dealer 100 miles away?
 
Last edited:
I tried the EGR reset procedure. It did not work, Off to the dealer.
 
After Y43 repair, all OBDII emissions monitors are reset to "incomplete" (actually after replacing ANY emissions component or disconnecting the battery reset to Incomplete).

In California, as of July 5, 2023, you're allowed to pass diesel smog checks with a max 2 Incomplete emissions tests: Particulate Filter and Non-Methane HydroCarbon (NMHC). Refer to Bureau Of Automotive Repair doc: (https://www.bar.ca.gov/industry/obd-test-reference). Apparently triggers to run these two emissions tests are poorly understood and may remain incomplete indefinitely.

The vehicle's native "Inspection and Maintenance (I/M)" check will indicate NOT READY unless ALL emission tests are completed a PASS test. (This is the test described in Owners Manual where you turn the ignition ON with engine OFF, and watch to see if the "Multifunction Indicator Light" (aka Check Engine Light) blinks after ~15 seconds). You need an OBDII reader to tell which then you're down to only these two tests as Incomplete and you can pass a test station to register the vehicle in California.

This has been a very painful and off-putting learning experience. Hopefully, others may find it useful .... until it changes next year.
 
hd64180 said:
After Y43 repair, all OBDII emissions monitors are reset to "incomplete" (actually after replacing ANY emissions component or disconnecting the battery reset to Incomplete).

In California, as of July 5, 2023, you're allowed to pass diesel smog checks with a max 2 Incomplete emissions tests: Particulate Filter and Non-Methane HydroCarbon (NMHC). Refer to Bureau Of Automotive Repair doc: (https://www.bar.ca.gov/industry/obd-test-reference). Apparently triggers to run these two emissions tests are poorly understood and may remain incomplete indefinitely.

The vehicle's native "Inspection and Maintenance (I/M)" check will indicate NOT READY unless ALL emission tests are completed a PASS test. (This is the test described in Owners Manual where you turn the ignition ON with engine OFF, and watch to see if the "Multifunction Indicator Light" (aka Check Engine Light) blinks after ~15 seconds). You need an OBDII reader to tell which then you're down to only these two tests as Incomplete and you can pass a test station to register the vehicle in California.

This has been a very painful and off-putting learning experience. Hopefully, others may find it useful .... until it changes next year.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately they all have to pass as of this year. Mine is at the dealer for the EGR monitor not passing. I have 42 days till California says it can't be driven on the roads. I may end up with very expensive yard art,
 
I just went thru the same exact thing...if you have a reader, see if you have any pending CEL's. If you do, that's what's causing the EGR to not flip. If not, just drive the crap out of it in the back roads for the EGR to set to 'Ready'. I passed with PM filter and NMHC Catalyst not set ( as what hd64180 mentioned allowed by california). If you havent paid your reg fee's. Go ahead and pay it so you're not late. They'll wait for the smog cert later.
 
Wheelz said:
I just went thru the same exact thing...if you have a reader, see if you have any pending CEL's. If you do, that's what's causing the EGR to not flip. If not, just drive the crap out of it in the back roads for the EGR to set to 'Ready'. I passed with PM filter and NMHC Catalyst not set ( as what hd64180 mentioned allowed by california). If you havent paid your reg fee's. Go ahead and pay it so you're not late. They'll wait for the smog cert later
Click to expand...
No CEL's. It has been driven 5000 miles since the Y43 and has not had the batteries disconnected since then. I have put close to 1000 miles towing heavy on the highway and driving not towing on the highway in the last two weeks. It is at the dealer now. It is a 2 year old truck with 14000 miles under warranty, I'm going to give them till the 15th of June to fix it. If it is not fixed by then, I will weigh my options.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Just an update to my issue. The dealer reset the PCM and drove 400 miles using the emissions drive cycles. All of the monitors reset with exception of the EGR. They pulled the EGR and inspected it and found no issues. They submitted a star case. The reply from star engineers was that it could take up to 4000 miles for the monitor to report ready. Hmmm, it had 5300 miles on it since the ECM was re-flashed for the Y43 recall and did not report ready. So they expect me to put 4000 miles on it in the next two weeks. The truck failed SMOG on 4 May and the dealer has had it 4 plus weeks. California says it can't be driven after June 30th. Dealer says come get the truck we can't do any thing more. Expensive yard art!
 
Last edited:
Interesting, one of my smog techs was telling something about smogging newer diesels. I’ll double check next week but if I’m correct he said that once it failed the smog test you have to drive it 400 (four hundred) miles. After the 400 miles it will pass the smog even if there’s incomplete monitors.
 
This state is so effing stupid.

OP, might be a good time to start your LLC in Montana and tag the truck there for 1/10th (literally) of what it costs in CA.
 
gimmie11s said:
This state is so effing stupid.

OP, might be a good time to start your LLC in Montana and tag the truck there for 1/10th (literally) of what it costs in CA.
Click to expand...
I looked into that. For insurance purposes it still needs to be insured in California with the LLC listed as a interested party. My current carrier would not do that. I looked into other insurance options. Unfortunately most insurance companies do not want to do new business with LLC's listed as interested parties in California. The only quote I could get was $1700.00 a month or $10000.00 for 6 months. This amount is over 1100% more than what I pay every 6 month now (not feasible).
 
Last edited:
Jeeper93436 said:
Interesting, one of my smog techs was telling something about smogging newer diesels. I’ll double check next week but if I’m correct he said that once it failed the smog test you have to drive it 400 (four hundred) miles. After the 400 miles it will pass the smog even if there’s incomplete monitors.
Click to expand...
Well, that would be nice, I would be more than willing to let your tech smog it and pass it.
 
baker01 said:
I looked into that. For insurance purposes it still needs to be insured in California with the LLC listed as a interested party. My current carrier would not do that. I looked into other insurance options. Unfortunately most insurance companies do not want to do new business with LLC's listed as interested parties in California. The only quote I could get was $1700.00 a month or $10000.00 for 6 months. This amount is over 1100% more than what I pay every 6 month now (not feasible). I am going to end up trying to Lemon Law it.
Click to expand...

To do it right, you get a DL in Montana along with MT insurance.

Obviously there is risk as CA CHP has caught onto the trick, but if you are able to display a MT license you will be in a much better position when pulled over.
 
baker01 said:
Took my 2022 Ram 3500 HO to be smogged today. It failed due to the EGR monitor not being ready. the batteries have not been disconnected or gone dead. The truck has 4400 miles on it since it had the Y43 recall and ECM flash done.
Any ideas on what I could before I take it to the dealer 100 miles away?
Click to expand...
Have you had any luck on fixing this? we are having the same problem on a 2022 3500, and no resolution after 5 weeks with the dealer.
 
Probably not what you want to hear... The dealer had it for 33 days and was unable to resolve the issue. They pulled the EGR valve and checked it for proper operation. They then reset the entire system (PCM) and drove it for a total of 400 miles trying to get all of the monitors to set as ready. They then contacted STAR and were told it could take 4000 miles of driving to get all of the monitors to set as ready. At that point my registration was going to expire in 10 days. The dealer told me there was nothing more that they could do. I picked up the truck. I asked the dealer that if I could put the 4000 miles on the truck and is still did not pass what would they do then. I was told nothing more they could do and I should pursue a buyback from cooperate. I picked up a temporary operating permit from Cali DMV (60 days). I put 4500 miles on the truck and it did not set as ready.
 
Last edited:
baker01 said:
Probably not what you want to hear... The dealer had it for 33 days and was unable to resolve the issue. They pulled the EGR valve and checked it for proper operation. They then reset the entire system (PCM) and drove it for a total of 400 miles trying to get all of the monitors to set as ready. They then contacted STAR and were told it could take 4000 miles of driving to get all of the monitors to set as ready. At that point my registration was going to expire in 10 days. The dealer told me there was nothing more that they could do. I picked up the truck. I asked the dealer that if I could put the 4000 miles on the truck and is still did not pass what would they do then. I was told nothing more they could do and I should pursue a buyback from cooperate. I picked up a temporary operating permit from Cali DMV (60 days). I put 4500 miles on the truck and it did not set as ready. The truck is now with the lawyers.
Click to expand...
Well it's looking like that is how this is heading as well. Did they by chance change your PCM, not just reset it? We have had ours re-flashed after the Y43 recall and had the Catalytic converter as well as the DPF changed and almost 4000 miles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top