Emissions monitors being rejected by E-Test

[GTA]

I have a 2003 Audi A4 (B6) with a 1.8T (AMB) engine with a Stage 1 tune from Eurodyne - everything is stock except for this tune.

I've tried to E-test my car at two different places but both emissions tests have been aborted or rejected due to OBD II engine monitors in a state of 'Not Install' or 'Not Supported' instead of 'Not Ready', which would indicate that my car need to perform a test cycle to make them ready. In essence, I haven't failed my test; they just won't test my car because of this.

The ECU hasn't been reset since last summer when I replaced the battery so it's not like I tried to reset the ECU. So I went over to my buddy's shop to scan it using Vagcom and a Snap-On OBD II scanner.

Using Vagcom, all Engine Readiness monitors show 'Passed' except for the Catalytic Convertors which shows 'Failed or Incomplete'. However, using Vagcom in Generic ODB II mode, there are a few monitors that shows 'Not Installed'. This was verified when I scanned it with a recent Snap-On scanner.





According to Eurodyne, the file I have is emissions ready they're blaming my car because 'no one else is having the smae issues' as me.

Can anyone explain to me why ther is a discrepancy between what the Audi s/w reports and what the OBD II reports? Shouldn't they be reporting the same thing? Or am I completely missing something here?

[AudiA4_20T]

My guess is they probably updated their equipment. The old trick of "writing it out" used to work until a few states starting making their equipment smart and failing systems that would "force readiness". Seems like Toronto may have gotten this equipment. My recommendation would be to get new software.

[GTA]

You may have a point there Clint. They used to perform the E-test by sniffing the exhaust while running on a dyno but have since switched to OBD II based only in the last year or so. I spoke to the dealer and he's willing to get me back to the OE file to do the test. I'm hoping that will get my monitors back to normal so I can get the test done.

[Charles.waite]

Can you reflash a stock file?

[diagnosticator]

You don't need to rely on the dealer to manage your ECU files. Another way to do this is buy a used ECU with the stock OE programming calibration, and adapt that ECU to your immobilizer. Install the adapted immo ECU and the your A4 will pass the OBD II emissions inspection easily. Both ECUs will have the same immo adaptation, so you can swap them out one for the other as needed.

[GTA]

That's a very good question. The author of the file from Eurodyne says that he left a stock file on the server for my dealer to use. He was kinda wishy washy on whether it can be done though. I have no choice at this point to try it.

If it doesn't work out then my only other choices would be to get another ECU for and have it coded for my car or go to Audi and have them re-flash me back to stock. This latter option is not where I want to go because they'll probably charge me an arm, leg and my left testicle.

Or go out an buy a Honda ;-) but I'm still open to suggestions.

[diagnosticator]

That's a very good question. The author of the file from Eurodyne says that he left a stock file on the server for my dealer to use. He was kinda wishy washy on whether it can be done though. I have no choice at this point to try it.

If it doesn't work out then my only other choices would be to get another ECU for and have it coded for my car or go to Audi and have them re-flash me back to stock. This latter option is not where I want to go because they'll probably charge me an arm, leg and my left testicle.

Or go out an buy a Honda ;-) but I'm still open to suggestions.

Adapting a used stock OE ECU to your immo does not require the dealership. Having a second ECU to use for emissions does not need any reflashing done.

[GTA]

Adapting a used stock OE ECU to your immo does not require the dealership. Having a second ECU to use for emissions does not need any reflashing done.

Really? Can you elaborate please? Or provide a link if you know of any? I'm going out to shovel the mountain of snow that fell overnight so I can get my car out to the dealer for OE flash.

[diagnosticator]

Really? Can you elaborate please? Or provide a link if you know of any? I'm going out to shovel the mountain of snow that fell overnight so I can get my car out to the dealer for OE flash.

Adapting the immo to a used ECU with the stock OE programming is routine. Eurodyne should be able to help with this for little if any charge.

I had the local Audi dealer adapt a used ECU to my '03 at my request, and the task was done without a large fee, IIRC. My premise was I didn't like how the APR tune worked with the tip transmission. So instead of flashing the original APR tuned ECU back to stock, they only had to install the used ECU with stock files, and adapt the immobilizer on the second used ECU. Eurodyne should be able to assist and advise you about doing this on a used ECU. Any ECU with PN suffix AF, AK, or BC can be adapted to your '03.

An alternative to adapting the immobilizer to a used ECU, is to have Eurodyne provide a stock ECU file with the immo turned off, but adapting the immo is probably easier.

If the OE stock ECU .bin file can be found on Eurodyne's server, then they can use that to reflash a used ECU having the same immo adaptation as the original ECU, or use that .bin to clone the original immo to the new used ECU.

You can adapt a used ECU to your immobilizer using VCDS yourself. You will need to derive the five digit SKC from your current ECU and from the new used ECU, to adapt the new used ECU to the original immo. Using the stock ECU .bin stored on the Eurodyne server, Eurodyne should be able to tell you what the SKC is to use to adapt the second used ECU immo.

Ref: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...I_ECU_Swapping

Also:http://nefariousmotorsports.com/forum/index.php

[GTA]

Very nice. So the link to the Ross-Tech Immobilizer III ECU Swapping is the on I need to do my 2003 B6? If that's the case, then I can do it myself because I have access to VCDS. Thanks!!!

I'll update this post with further developments.

[f1torrents]

Pm'ed

[agart]

My guess is they probably updated their equipment. The old trick of "writing it out" used to work until a few states starting making their equipment smart and failing systems that would "force readiness". Seems like Toronto may have gotten this equipment. My recommendation would be to get new software.

I second this. If you're going to go the route of buying a second ECU, why not just get a new tune. Save yourself the hassle of swapping the ECU each time you need to get an inspection.

[GTA]

I second this. If you're going to go the route of buying a second ECU, why not just get a new tune. Save yourself the hassle of swapping the ECU each time you need to get an inspection.

Since it's obvious Eurodyne is seemingly being ignorant about the update on the new procedures, and hassling them on this has been absolutely fruitless, I may just go another tune. It's just that they said that their tune wouldn't affect the E-test. I may be the first to complain about it but I'm sure I won't be the last, and ultimately, they may have to update their file to reflect the government changes. Though that won't help me out now.

I guess that's what you get for listening to promises that cannot be met.

APR has a tune that you can change with the cruise control switch, I think. I'm not sure which way to go yet as all I'm looking for is to be able to be tested, pass or not.

[agart]

Since it's obvious Eurodyne is seemingly being ignorant about the update on the new procedures, and hassling them on this has been absolutely fruitless, I may just go another tune. It's just that they said that their tune wouldn't affect the E-test. I may be the first to complain about it but I'm sure I won't be the last, and ultimately, they may have to update their file to reflect the government changes.

I complained back 3-4 years ago when I went through this exact same process, with the logic that they'd have to deal with it sooner or later. They simply do not care. I changed tuners and am happy to say it's one of the best decisions I've made. It sucks that you have to fork up the extra money, but for me at least, it was well worth it.

[GTA]

I complained back 3-4 years ago when I went through this exact same process, with the logic that they'd have to deal with it sooner or later. They simply do not care. I changed tuners and am happy to say it's one of the best decisions I've made. It sucks that you have to fork up the extra money, but for me at least, it was well worth it.

Which tuner did you finally end up with? Have you been happy with it vs Eurodyne? And did you pass your latest emissions?

[diagnosticator]

I second this. If you're going to go the route of buying a second ECU, why not just get a new tune. Save yourself the hassle of swapping the ECU each time you need to get an inspection.

I agree.

[agart]

Which tuner did you finally end up with? Have you been happy with it vs Eurodyne? And did you pass your latest emissions?

Custom tune through Daz. Car runs significantly better than it did on Eurodyne but, I also was mafless when I was running Eurodyne. So that's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison. Yeap, passed emissions no problem.

[WB650]

Which tuner did you finally end up with? Have you been happy with it vs Eurodyne? And did you pass your latest emissions?

Not sure if he can ship to Canada but Motoza is great. You handle the flashing yourself, if you need to go back to stock, you can do it yourself in just minutes.

[GTA]

Just an update. I have passed the E-test after going back to stock tune and waiting for the monitors to be in ready state (drive cycle). I have since flashed back to the stage 1 tune and so far no troubles. I'd hate to do this again in another two years (because it was a complete PITA!!!), assuming I'll still have the car at that time. But now I know how to do the E-test with this Eurodyne Stage 1 flash.

Eurodyne swears up and down that it shouldn't affect the emissions but I've proven that it does. It's speculated that Ontario's Drive Clean has caught on with the aftermarket tuning and had changed the test procedure, and may be the reason I had been rejected from the test. Whether or not the Ontario Drive Clean procedure has changed is irrelevant in my mind because the OBD II monitors were essentially turned off with this tune.

It won't matter for another two years until I have to get tested again. In the meantime, I can at least enjoy the extra oomph in my daily drive.

[diagnosticator]

Just an update. I have passed the E-test after going back to stock tune and waiting for the monitors to be in ready state (drive cycle). I have since flashed back to the stage 1 tune and so far no troubles. I'd hate to do this again in another two years (because it was a complete PITA!!!), assuming I'll still have the car at that time. But now I know how to do the E-test with this Eurodyne Stage 1 flash.

Eurodyne swears up and down that it shouldn't affect the emissions but I've proven that it does. It's speculated that Ontario's Drive Clean has caught on with the aftermarket tuning and had changed the test procedure, and may be the reason I had been rejected from the test. Whether or not the Ontario Drive Clean procedure has changed is irrelevant in my mind because the OBD II monitors were essentially turned off with this tune.

It won't matter for another two years until I have to get tested again. In the meantime, I can at least enjoy the extra oomph in my daily drive.

It is a lot easier just to have a second ECU ready. Regardless, if any OBDII monitors are turned off by the tune, the values obtained from the monitors will not exist, so that will likely be detected by the emissions test.