State Inspection with Stage 1 in Texas

[JohnM]

Has anyone with Stage 1 passed state inspection in Texas? Thanks.

[Mike Radowski]

Texas doesn't use a sniffer or anything else, Just get it done. My modified Neon with a Racing PCM, headers, cat back exhauset, bored out throttle body and more, passes every year and I have my DC dealer do the inspections, right here in Austin.

Mike

[JohnM]

In the Dallas area for cars with OBDII, they use a hookup to read the ECM, and it's hooked up to the state during the test. Cars pre-OBD, they use a chassis dyno with a sniffer. I'm wondering about that OBDII issue with Stage 1. Some have reported getting that type of inspection in other states such as PA and passing, but I haven't got a confirmation on TX.

[SteelBlueGT]

My guess, yes guess, is that it will pass!

[MichaelDay]

In Texas, which county you live in changes the type of emission testing that is necessary. Counties such as Dallas and Tarrant have very strict emissions testings standards that do use the OBDII connectors, if applicable, and use a tail pipe sniffer otherwise. In most of the rural counties, no sniffer is used. Depends on where you live. You can get a vehicle inspected in any county that has as high or higher inspection criteria as the county in which you live.

[Kirby]

OBDII should see that some of the sensors are turned off (Not Functioning), I wonder if you can pass if the computer sees malfunctioning pieces in the emissions system?[8)]

[LAF]

Mine passed in PA. Wired to the state and all. It is no big deal, if it dont arent you allowed 10 days to try again, here in PA we get that time to fix what may be wrong, go back pay for the sticker and out the door.

[Kirby]

Was the PA test OBD II or OBD I? quite a difference.

How will the pcm respond to a swap out and back again if that is necessary?

If you own a 180 HP, or a 2003 turbo, how will the higher volume injectors react in a sniffer test using the old PCM that may not recognise them?

Little questions, but major if you happen to be the testee in a tough area.[8)]

[ptgtcb]

quote:Originally posted by Kirby

Was the PA test OBD II or OBD I? quite a difference.

How will the pcm respond to a swap out and back again if that is necessary?

If you own a 180 HP, or a 2003 turbo, how will the higher volume injectors react in a sniffer test using the old PCM that may not recognise them?

Little questions, but major if you happen to be the testee in a tough area.[8)]

No sensors are turned off, a couple, some, several "monitors" are supposedly turned off? In CA the enhanced( non enhanced?) areas run a system readiness test which checks all the monitors and you are allowed up to two monitors to "not" be ready and still pass. This isn't to say that they can be turned off only that they are not ready or signed off. Someone needs to actually perform a enhanced area dyno smog check to see how the system readiness test comes out. The test can be aborted if the readiness test fails. One of these days I am going to take my Cruiser down and do this at the shop that does our smogs, when [:I].
The larger injectors should not become a problem but I would suggest driving the vehicle to let the stock pcm adapt to the fuel injectors. If there is an adaption problem then it will set a check engine light and you will know it won't pass for sure.
[:0]

[JohnM]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Still no one in Texas? I think I may just go ahead and be the guinea pig. The worst that could happen is that I would have to R&R the ECM and injectors (mine's a 2003) a couple of times. LAF is correct in that we have some time to correct the situation if it doesn't pass and can come back to the same station and not have to pay for the check a second time.

I was going to wait for stage 2, but I've come to believe that stage 1 might be a better choice for a number of reasons. The price factor being a significant one. I was impressed with the 1/4 mile times that Mike-in-Orange, Tess, and Mac recently recorded with stage 1. 15 seconds flat or so with the autostick is very good in my opinion. Many of the SRT4 guys with stage 2 aren't running any better than 14 flat.