I have a tec-II in my car, and I'm going to get it smogged next week. I bought the car with the tec-II already on it, and the original owner didn't have any problems smogging it, but I'm worried. I don't know a lot about the tec, I've never pluged a computer up to it to change any thing.

My CEL light is always on, and that's an automatic fail, but I'm planning on taking out the bulb.

When I take it in, they're going to want to check the static timing. I don't think there's any way to make it static without plugging a laptop into it, is there?

They will want to check to see if the CEL comes on when the timing is set static. My brother's car recently failed smog, because his CEL would not come on.

Will I have problems if I go to a standard smog shop that does everything by the books?... I'm 95% sure I'll pass the sniffer test. Is there shops that don't worry much about the visual / timing check, and just check with the sniffer? I don't want to have to pull it off, and take it back to stock.

Anyone else in California have a Tec? what do you do for smog?

Thanks

You will never be able to "normally" pass SMOG in California with a TEC. Unless you cannot see it and big fatty plug wires make it almost impossible. At the same time, some mechanics can close their eyes on "visual" inspection and if your car passes the sniffer, you should be ok.

- Alex

I found a good way to avoid the whole CA Smog Nazis. I moved out of that automobile hell hole and found a state with a simple easy to pass inspection. All those laws and the pollution there never got any better.

Pulling the bulb from the check engine light may not help if they check to see if it comes on with the key before the engine is started.

So basicly, I'm screwed huh?

not sure about the visual check,but the obdII test is done w/ the scan tool(instant fail) only way around it is reverting back to stock coil pack,injectors,and o2 senor(stock closed loop)...only way.

I went last year w/ tec and obd failed but passed the sniffer test "exeptionally well" according to the smog guy,(this was the last year I could pass w/out obdII test.

Jeremy

Originally posted by jdk
not sure about the visual check,but the obdII test is done w/ the scan tool(instant fail) only way around it is reverting back to stock coil pack,injectors,and o2 senor(stock closed loop)...only way.

I went last year w/ tec and obd failed but passed the sniffer test "exeptionally well" according to the smog guy,(this was the last year I could pass w/out obdII test.

Jeremy

What is obdII? I don't think I've heard of that. what type of scan tool is used? Is obdII in effect in the bay area?

I was worried about them getting a static timing reading, but I was looking for the static timing specs on the lables under the hood, and saw the lable that said, no timing or idle speed adjustment needed... so I'm hopeing they won't even check it. (does anyone know if there is even a way to check static timing on a 99 2.5RS?)

The check engine light on ur car is basically a light and thats it.If ur cars ECU senses anything that is happening out of programed tolerances from the factory(subaru)...the CEL will come on(cutting the light wire does not make it go away). The smog guy willwalk over to ur car turn the key and wont even look to see if theres a light on,he willplug a "on-board diagnostic" scan tool into the jack to the right of the hood latch and download ANY trouble codes...any trouble codes=instant fail. Best advice would be get a-hold-of the guy u bought ur car from and figure out what to do,where to go.
Jeremy

Are the stock sensors removed when the tec-II is put on? I'm wondering if I'm going to have to buy a bunch of parts when I make the switch back. I have the stock coil and spark plug wires in a box, but I think that's it. Does anyone have a list of things I should make sure I have before I attempt this. I'm going to try to bribe the orginal to help me out, but I don't know he'll have the time to help me. I may have to try to figure this out on my own. At least I have my CBR as a backup vehicle, so I won't have to walk to work if I can't get it finished in a day.

I see why '73 and older muscle cars are so popular. This smog crap sucks.

And I'm really pissed off that Subaru wants $800 for a service manual for my car.

Your tec comes w/ its own o2 sensor,look under the car and see if there is 2 o2 sensors,if theres 2 then u need the stock front o2 sensor. I'm presently going through the same u r and tried(couple weeks ago)to put everything back to stock to see it would work, and then drove too autozone and no codes came up. If the guy did like I did he wrapped the harnesses(coil,injector,o2 sensor)w/ electrical tape and tucked away.I'm assuming ur injectors are stock N/A.

Injectors are not stock, but I have the stock ones. Guess I have to swap those out too.

The car failed smog today. It just failed their visual test. They didn't even run the sniffer. After looking over the motor for 20 minutes, they told me they couldn't help me, and to go to an import specialist shop. At least I didn't get charged.

Well, government is never friendly to modded cars - even if you pass the sniffer, because it's modded, you can't pass. Good thing up here they haven't started using OBD-II as a pass criteria. As long as you have a cat and passes the sniffer, you should be good.

Originally posted by KGB
Well, government is never friendly to modded cars - even if you pass the sniffer, because it's modded, you can't pass. Good thing up here they haven't started using OBD-II as a pass criteria. As long as you have a cat and passes the sniffer, you should be good.

Wait... I thought they started useing the OBD-II as a pass criteria back in January 02. Am I wrong?

Man,

When I got bagged, and refered to a referee, I went in with the PE1820, 565cc Injectors, a CEL, and ...that was it...

You know what they tripped on? The stupid Apexi pen type turbo timer! Since it monitors the rear O2, they were pissed. They allowed me to disconnect it, and pull the battery cable to reset the CEL.

Passed with flying colors. They looked at the engine bay and asked if it was stock...and I was like, "Yeah, I just pulled off the heat shields!"

That was a CARB smog ref mind you! Screw this socialist state. I am going to register my car in Nevada, so as to avoid the mayhem the next go around with the law!

Andy

That sucks. I've never had to go to a referee station. When ever I get a smog test, I tell them to run a pre-test first, if it passes, then I have them run the real test. If it fails, I have them give me the results, and I'll repair it and come back later.

In this post, someone in CA registered there car in a smog exempt county.

"Nope Not worried at all since my car is registered in a SMOG EXEMPT county....Hence the no cats....."


http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=275491&highlight=smog

Jay

No county in california is "smog exempt." but there are countys that don't make you smog your car untill you attempt to sell it. Since I'm selling my car, I have to smog it.

This is the map that shows what countys don't make you smog it till you sell it.

http://165.235.17.9/stdpage.asp?body=/geninfo/factsheets/Program_Map-May_2002.htm&LB=NO


Also: still haven't gotten it to pass smog. I'll give it another attempt this friday. I should have the tech-II off, and the stock injectors on. But I'm going to leave the tech in the engine compartment. Hopefully they won't care since it's not effecting anything.

How many times have u tried? let us know the results...kay

I'm in the middle of taking off the tech. I've run into some problems. I have one stock connection, that I don't know where it goes. And two sensors still plugged into tech II, and I can't find the stock connection for it.

If I can locate a digital camera, I'll take pictures of them, but I'd really like to compair against a stock RS. Is there anyone in the east bay area with a 99 - 01 2.5RS that can stop by brentwood for a little bit?

The car started, but it's not running well, idleing at 1500RPM, and I still have a check engine light.

After talking with AWD_Dan, it looks like one sesnor isn't needed by the stock ECU at all, and one of the O2 sensors was changed out with the tec, so the connection is different. Which would account for all 3 connections that I had questions about.

I replaced the O2 sensor, but I'm still getting a CEL

I pulled the CEL code and it'd P0325 --> knock sensor error.

What do I need to do to fix this? I must be missing a connection somewhere. Where is the knock sensor? does the tecII just plug into the stock knock sensor, or does it use a different one?

the tec 2 uses its own knock sensor, which should be bolted onto one of your motor mounts.

Found that out. I called Subaru, and they wanted $80 to replace that stupid little sensor. So I pulled it off, attempted to clean it. (you can't really clean a knock sensor) put it back in, and the CEL went out. It runs great now.

I'm taking it in again tomorrow to smog it. It should pass this time. Visualy, there's nothing that will fail. The tec and all the wires / sensors for it are compleatly out of the car now.

Originally posted by phread
And I'm really pissed off that Subaru wants $800 for a service manual for my car. Try Subaruparts.com for a complete set of seven manuals for under $300. You can also purchase the ones you want individually, though the set is a better deal.

http://www.subaruparts.com/catalog/?section=205

Originally posted by Wingless Wonder
Try Subaruparts.com for a complete set of seven manuals for under $300. You can also purchase the ones you want individually, though the set is a better deal.

http://www.subaruparts.com/catalog/?section=205

except mine a 99RS... so it's $800

Originally posted by phread
except mine a 99RS... so it's $800
My oversight (on the manuals), sorry.

Hope things go well on your next smog check.

Failed again on the visual :(

Originally posted by phread
Failed again on the visual :( What caused you to fail?

They didn't like the routing of the vacuum lines. There was one line that should go to the purge solenoid valve, that was moved when the tec-II was on. It's easy to move the vacuum line back, but the problem was, on the purge solenoid valve, the plastic thing that the vacuum hose slides over was broken off and taped up. So they failed me, and charged me $20 for their time.

So I did what I always do when I run into problems with the Tec... I called AWD_Dan. I talked dan into swaping valves with me. I re-ran the vacuum hoses, they way they should be, took it back to the smog check station, and it passed. Now I have to order a new purge solenoid valve to give to Dan. I hope those things aren't expencive. But it's Subaru, so it probably is.

But the good news, is the car finally passed smog, and tomorrow it will sold.