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California Spec ECU?

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Old 03-18-2009 | 10:01 PM
  #1  
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California Spec ECU?

Okay. So I have some pretty ****ty MPG. someone told me that because I have a Cali Spec Car that my MPG is worse compared to his. Is this because of emissions control, so even if I get a Federal Spec ECU that my car won't pass emissions come next year?

God I hate Cali sometimes.
Old 03-18-2009 | 10:07 PM
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Wanna buy a bridge?
Old 03-18-2009 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by mtrai760
Wanna buy a bridge?
I'm sorry?
Old 03-18-2009 | 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Mysticcal
I'm sorry?
Pleased to be explaining. You believe everything your told. I have a bridge for sale. Wanna buy it?
Old 03-18-2009 | 11:21 PM
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I can has?
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When was the last time the car had a tune up?
Old 03-19-2009 | 05:31 AM
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Originally Posted by mtrai760
Pleased to be explaining. You believe everything your told. I have a bridge for sale. Wanna buy it?
I have some beach front property in tennessee for sale if he's not interested in your bridge..
Old 03-19-2009 | 06:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Greeny
I have some beach front property in tennessee for sale if he's not interested in your bridge..
Maybe he can buy my bridge to span your beach front property?
Old 03-19-2009 | 06:21 AM
  #8  
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Anyhow Mysticcal, no your ecu type has nothing to do with your crappy fuel mileage. First, you need to list any and all recent work done to the car, if any. then we will go from there..
Old 03-20-2009 | 04:02 AM
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Mate, your Cali spec exhaust manifolds dont have teh VTEC, thats why your mileage is sh*tty, chuck those on, and get a TypeR ECU and you'll be laughing.

Mmm.....NO. ECU has three fifths of f**k all to do with your mileage. Tell that tosser where to go.
Old 03-20-2009 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Niccos89
Mate, your Cali spec exhaust manifolds dont have teh VTEC, thats why your mileage is sh*tty, chuck those on, and get a TypeR ECU and you'll be laughing.

Mmm.....NO. ECU has three fifths of f**k all to do with your mileage. Tell that tosser where to go.
Would you believe it was a well respected member here? I won't mention any names. but LOL.

Thanks for the info.
Old 03-20-2009 | 07:58 PM
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woa, woa, woa... hold on please... you gentleman are scaring the **** out of me...

I live in CA, my emission test is on July of this year, but I had my engine replaced from a JDM and I also replaced my ECU (don't ask why, long story that some org members still remember) which I just grab any ECU from my local junkyard I think it was from a 89 SE but can't remember for sure...

I would really like to see if you guys could leave the jokes aside and say for sure if that could affect passing my emissions, the one I did 2 years ago passed with flying colors.

Sorry if this is considering threadjack I don't mean to do that, just that it's related to the topic.. I live in CA and replaced my burned ECU from another maxima which I'm 90% sure the car was from CA too, so... any info about this highly appreciated, Thanks
Old 03-20-2009 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by rmdl51
woa, woa, woa... hold on please... you gentleman are scaring the **** out of me...

I live in CA, my emission test is on July of this year, but I had my engine replaced from a JDM and I also replaced my ECU (don't ask why, long story that some org members still remember) which I just grab any ECU from my local junkyard I think it was from a 89 SE but can't remember for sure...

I would really like to see if you guys could leave the jokes aside and say for sure if that could affect passing my emissions, the one I did 2 years ago passed with flying colors.

Sorry if this is considering threadjack I don't mean to do that, just that it's related to the topic.. I live in CA and replaced my burned ECU from another maxima which I'm 90% sure the car was from CA too, so... any info about this highly appreciated, Thanks
Your fine. There is no such thing as a Cali spec 3rd gen ECU.
Old 03-20-2009 | 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by mtrai760
Your fine. There is no such thing as a Cali spec 3rd gen ECU.
i'm not so sure about that... http://www.courtesyparts.com/22611-r...611_1640_1644&
Old 03-20-2009 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by mtrai760
Your fine. There is no such thing as a Cali spec 3rd gen ECU.
Having owned 2 cali spec 3rd gens and having one chipped by JWT and one by NIStune, I can tell you for sure the ECU is special.
Old 03-20-2009 | 10:45 PM
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So...? am I safe or not? does anybody know if this special ECU it's just a regulation for CA cars or it really controls the emissions somehow...

The link you posted caped, it is for a 94 right? I don't remember what ECU I put on my car, I remember it had diferent letters at the top and I was wondering if that could affect the car performance but so far it has been working good.

Anyway I don't know if you remember when I was looking for the problems on my car I always notice it was much more stinky than before... but this was since the new JDM engine...
Old 03-21-2009 | 12:12 AM
  #16  
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I BELIEVE a federal ECU will pass, the CA ECU just regulates the emissions a tad more (position of O2 sensor / data received from it) so it can be to CA's "recomended emissions" and not lower limit.

Otherwise you wouldn't be able to smog non-CA cars in CA. and thus. pointless..

As far as if this Emission regulation affects MPG is what I'm curious about but I have more maitenance to accomplish before I even consider it. just hearing another "same" car get 10-12 more MPG than mine was saddening.
Old 03-21-2009 | 02:20 AM
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Originally Posted by rmdl51
So...? am I safe or not? does anybody know if this special ECU it's just a regulation for CA cars or it really controls the emissions somehow...

The link you posted caped, it is for a 94 right? I don't remember what ECU I put on my car, I remember it had diferent letters at the top and I was wondering if that could affect the car performance but so far it has been working good.

Anyway I don't know if you remember when I was looking for the problems on my car I always notice it was much more stinky than before... but this was since the new JDM engine...
Your "JDM" engine is identical. All our engines were made in the one place - as were the ECUs, apparently the Cali's have different settings, but its the same ECU, and those settings can easily be changed.
Your engine will pass.
Anything ECU related is easy to get passed - either go over the pits with a "Cali Spec" ECU, or change your "JDM" ECU settings to suit. Once you've passed, you can change them back.
Old 03-21-2009 | 10:55 PM
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yeah.... no need to worry. I assume that there is CA spec ECU tho. I had a 92 GXE when I was in NYC and I have a 92 SE here in So-Cal. I know for a fact that the VE engines have a Cali spec and a manual or auto ECU. When I worked at the Nissan dealer, I noticed that some GXE ( VG30E engines ) had BPT valves and some didn`t. I think the ones w/ BPT valves were CA. spec. My GXE in NY didnt have this valve, but my friends 92 GXE does. As for you having a JDM engine, just transfer everything to the JDM long block and you should be ok .
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