3rd Gen Emission Struggle.

[SpicyMchaggis]

Alright folks. I just spent the day with two mazda techs and a desk jockey from CT (thats connecticut for you slow folks) Emissions "standards and protocol" According to OBD-II Requirements, they will be checking for the following things: That both Cats (exhaust manifold and rear main cat) are installed and are in their "active" mode on the ecu. They will be checking codes from the PCM. Moreover and more importantly. They monitor and test OEM Combustion temperature and compression. In short, I'm screwed.. So if you have custom ground cams that are drastically higher lift than oem, you might have a problem. Basically, anyone who's done any sort of internal motor work thats changed the compression ratio and lives in a strict emissions area like the northeast, you might be in some serious trouble. I'm not sure if the J-pec cam's will be thrown into the mix, they are rather mild and don't really change the lift. So you guys are probably ok. Recently I had my ecu re-flashed to MP3 spec and had my VTCS disabled. If your not sure what VTCS is, see theMAN's faq. Basically. As my car sits, I failed on several counts, prior to this, I was told my mods were completely street legal. Aside from the missing cats. I gotta tell you, I'm quite fed up with all this emission bullshit. They can't get a good reading, the ECU doesn't match, they can't get the this, they can't get that..blah blah blah..They tell me one thing a few months ago, and now everything that i've done and in the middle of doing, is now completely illegal. So, after that huge rant, I need to move back down south.

[uclap5]

why dont you go get a emissions pretest to see how you would do regardless of what they tell you.

[Maz_Speed13]

that sucks man i live in somerville MA and i wanted to do a full turbo back exhust but i havent yet cause of the emmisions so i will most likely have to settle for a cat back system. but i guess you do what you have to

good luck

[SpicyMchaggis]

thats just it man, I failed the pre-test..really badly at that.

[Kooldino]

Why are they being such cockblocks on car enthusiasts?

[acidbbg]

Find a mechanic..that sells stickers..i know 2 here in NJ!

:p

[SpicyMchaggis]

ct has really strick emission policy no more shady dealing.

[acidbbg]

ahh..i heard that about NJ but then talked to some racers..and found some connections!

Chas

[uclap5]

so what part(s) exactly did you fail on?

[SpicyMchaggis]

well the missing cat's didn't help. My ecu didn't "match up to spec" That also goes for you MP3 swap ecu guys..your fucked. My car didn't match up to guidelines of a OEM 2002 DX. So mazda told me flat out that it wouldn't pass..Which, btw, is fucking news to me since they are the ONLY people i've ever heard say that combustion temp. monitoring is part of the emission process..its all total bullshit. I hate this damn state.

[xxmikkoxx]

are u seriouss kyle thats totally retarded about monitering combustion temp that i think is BS cuz in MA all i know they do it stick that tube on ur exaust tip and drive the shit outta ur car...aside from the other dumb shit they do did u take ur car to a mom and pop shop aside from mazda becusae we all know that mazda dealers are out for money and they know they got ya by the balls man! and yes the south is a wonderful place for tuners! emissions i think not!!

[SpicyMchaggis]

nope, i checked a local shop. btw, they DO NOT use the sniffer test on OBD-II cars. Its a scanner on a diagnostic computer. They do check the combustion temp. so ends project DX. sorry guys..this was looking to be the fastest DX on the forum. at least now i can save money and look into a faster car.

[servoeyes]

Wait....they're gonna check the PCM/ECU to make sure it matches to spec??? That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard? That pretty much ensures that we can not modify our cars...even to meet emissions standards. That seriously pisses me off! They're taking away our freedoms with this shit! It's insane! I'm gonna look into this!

[SpicyMchaggis]

Do it up. I'm sure it'll vary how deeply they'll look into the ecu's..im sure if they see mazda..they aren't going to care. me on the other hand. I'm done. Maybe I'll get some headers and then its over. This about killed all the protege enthusiasm i had left.

[SpicyMchaggis]

By the way, there are no freedoms with car modification..There never was. Back in the day education on the matter was unclear. Now their trying to step up to the plate. I wouldn't be as upset if there was any other way to make power in this car aside from the dark side of boost. So it goes. I'll keep the protege..I have a bike to worry about.

[xxmikkoxx]

projects DX is over!! look at what them asses down at mazda did! all for what? to be a bunch of asses! state laws like that make no sence and are pointless

[solid_snake2x]

is there anyway that you can get sema involved in this ?

www.sema.org (http://www.sema.org)






projects DX is over!! look at what them asses down at mazda did! all for what? to be a bunch of asses! state laws like that make no sence and are pointless

[SpicyMchaggis]

Well put into a more practical light. It makes sense. Most people aren't going with higher/lower compression than stock and still driving it to work. So there won't be some huge public outcry around here for it. My hunt begins for a shop that will just test me based on the name on the ecu and me having both my cats.

[akhilleus]

Mass. might be different than nj, but as long as u can find a shop that will bend the rules u should be fine.. and u shouldnt have done the pretest @ mazda ... u should have done it local as well... now your dealership knows what u have done too. good luck. I will be in your position in a couple years :(

[Shades]

Well, ok, only maybe sort of. (Lemme explain) the purpose of laws in the United States (founded as a "free country") is to preserve the freedoms of as many individuals as possible. In order to preserve some freedoms, others must be limited. (AKA, killing someone else severely imposes upon THEIR freedoms... to like, live and mate and stuff) This even includes sheltering from factors that will inhibit a person's freedoms later (i.e. drug laws - so kids can't easily pick up crack habits at the age of 8) Emissions testing is constitutional on all fronts because it's determining the safety of the air quality that comes out of your car (so you don't poison other people and kittens with your car)

So, smog checks are constitutional. Checking to see how you've modified your car besides poison or a safety spec -- (safety spec meaning: taking off your brakes so you can't stop, or tinting your windows too dark for a cop to see if you got a gun or something along those lines) -- is not constitutional for the STATE to do... The DOT however? The deal w/ THEIR laws is: If you want to use our roads, you must meet our standards. Otherwise, you and your car are trespassing (therefore it's perfectly legal and constitutional for them to ask us to put ugly reflectors on our cars, have 3 brake lights, and emissions stickers because we're on their property) The highway is NOT owned by the public. It's built and maintained by federalized institutions and owned by them who get to set their own crazy laws who we pay through taxes (ok, so you piss on me AND take my money?). In a very broad sense, no matter what they call it, it's private property.

So... in endeffect, the State can't pass a constitutional car-modifications law, according to the constitution's definitions, but an institution can. In other words: They have us by the balls as long as we don't want to fly to work... or drive through peoples' backyards.

[SpicyMchaggis]

There are no constitutional rights being infringed by a DOT law. These's requirments were put into to place the second OBD-II came into existance. People just got lazy and never checked. The pre-test I had done at mazda was just for sheer shits and giggles. It's not a car modification law. Its pure common sense. Higher Combustion temperature means more exhaust being emitted. The cat's are built for spec for a certain spec. So if I'm putting out more power and running through cat's built for a stock-ish sedan. The cat's are working effectively. Basically, the best way around it is misdirection and shady dealing.

[akhilleus]

well either way i hope it works out for u, good luck

[Micah]

Find a mechanic..that sells stickers..i know 2 here in NJ!

:p
Or have a mechanic drive your car until it establishes a passing drive cycle and do it legally. All they need is a MODIS or similar tool to monitor the drive cycle. Once everything switches to OK, just pull it into the garage and plug it into the states computer.

[SpicyMchaggis]

i'm metting with a couple people this week to chew this ct emission crap out..i have a year until i need to do this anyway.