Hey friends,
OK, so here's the deal - unfortunately.
My 1996 SE 5 Speed Max with 170k broke about 3 months ago, and it turned out I had to replace the ECU. I got one at the junkyard for $150 as opposed to $800 at dealership. Car works perfectly - except when I went to get smog check done they said the ECU isn't ready with the sensors. They told me to drive 50 more miles and it would be ready. I drove about 1000 more and it still isn't, so I guess it's broken. In addition to that, the car failed the emissions. All the parameters are way below limits except the NOS, which is too high at 15mph.

I guess the question is, does anyone have experience with not passing CA Smog? Is there some way to get around it if the repair is too expensive? What would you guys do in this case. It would be a shame to part with the car which I love and which runs perfect. Still, I don't want to spend thousands on it when for that amount I could get a 2002 or 2003 Max with low miles.

Thanks!!

 

what year ECU did you get.

try disconnecting sensors, see if it trips the CEL and shows communication.

 

Depending on the year ECU that you got, you may have to repin it.

 

I got the right one, it was a manual transmission ECU from a 1996.
Car works fine, no check engine light, yet doesn't work for smog.

 

I failed once in a 90 camry, they said it was the timing and told us to go to any shop. We did and the mechanic fixed it for the price of a beer.

 

Get an illegal check i pay around 150 for it to pass. remember you live in the worst state ever. money talks! mines hasn't pass since 06, Cali is crooked in every way possible!!!!
Dont get rid of you're car just for that

 

well then, where would i get an illegal check? i have no problems with doing that, its just that all the places i have gone to said theres nothing they could do about it.

any recommendations? maybe west oakland somewhere... :-)

 

where is this godly shop?

 

The test only

The repair shop
Actually, you might not want this one cause the test only said that most mech will do it for free so this one's not special.

 

DO IT ILLEGALLY IF THATS THE LAST CHOICE!!! OR BUY ANOTHER ECU!!
sorry if im being a ****..but seriously, illegally or another ecu...i remember when my mr2 wouldn't pass smog, i smogged it illegally cause i tuned my car and put on a new turbo kit...illegally would run you 150-300, thats around my area..maybe on craigslist or even on the forums here, there is someone probably selling a perfect ecu..and for the low parameters, run guarenteed to pass!! , it worked on my EF9 GOOD LUCK BRO!!

 

LOL..MY FAVORITE KIND OF PEOPLE TO WORK WITH!! I GOT A PAINT JOB FOR a 24 PACK OF BEER!! LOL!! FTW!!!

 

Well, I would prefer to just find a shop in the bay area that would do it for $150-$300. A new ECU would cost way more and a used one would be tough to install and it wouldn't guarantee a fix. The emissions pass easily and the NOS is just barely over, It's not a big polluter so I don't feel bad doing it illegally.

If no one can suggest a bay area test only station then I guess I'll go scope it out one of these days...

 

I live in California too so I've been down this road. My mechanic told me (on my Mercedes a few years ago) that a simple oil and filter change can help things significantly. IF you're due for an oil change, go ahead and do it.

Then, take your car to one of the "pass or don't pay" places. If it passes, you're good to go. If not, no big deal.

 

The emissions isn't the main problem, it's the computer which automatically fails each time. I need a place that will somehow bypass the computer...

 

just look around ask people, go to my fellow paisa's shops
my se i replace the ecu brand new, all sensors and it still throws
a speedo sensor code which i replace twice already.
no more passing smogs for me. but i still find a place that will.

 

I guess the question is, does anyone have experience with not passing CA Smog? Is there some way to get around it if the repair is too expensive? What would you guys do in this case. It would be a shame to part with the car which I love and which runs perfect. Still, I don't want to spend thousands on it when for that amount I could get a 2002 or 2003 Max with low miles.

Thanks!![/QUOTE]

I had the same problem with my '96 California car. Turns out this is a common problem for '96 California Nissans.

There's a drive cycle you're supposed to be able to take the car through to reset the sensors, but good luck with that! I can imagine getting rammed from the rear as I try to drive the required sequence on real highways.


http://www.lyberty.com/car/maxima_tsb.html

I've been through the same process twice now. After failing the OBDII readiness test two years ago, I was referred to the California Air Resources Board Referee Station. They acknowledged the problem with this year of Nissan, and allowed the car to pass after running it on their rollers (it has to pass the tailpipe test). A month ago, I had to do the inspection again, it failed for the same reason, so I just went right to the referee.

When I asked him if I'd have to do all this every two years, he said "probably". At least with the referee, I didn't have to pay for another inspection, just the "certificate" (a holdover from the days when they actually give you a piece of paper to mail in).

 

>In addition to that, the car failed the emissions. All the parameters are way below limits except the NOS, which is too high at 15mph.

My NOS was almost too high, too, so I squeaked through this time. I have a couple hidden codes that I'll have to deal with before next time. One of them is an oxygen sensor, which may affect NOS. What's crazy is that the car runs fine, got 27 mpg on a trip recently.

 

+1 on hidden O2 problems. Change your 2 front O2 sensors. That should take care of the NO2.

Unless Pmohr says otherwise.

-t

 

would taking out the air filter for the duration of the test help the emissions? i could just do that for free!

 

also, where is this air resource board referee station? i would live to go pay them a visit...

 

I think you have to first go to an inspection station (always a test-only station now for my '96). If you fail the readiness test, they can give you the California Air Resources Board contact information. Then you call CARB for an appointment, and they tell you where the station is.