Mass Inspection with Tune and No Cats, Am i screwed?

[czsrock1990]

Hello All,

So basically I have been searching and searching and I have read many different things about this issue. I just bought my stage 3 B5 S4 a few months ago and have been working to get everything back up to snuff and am getting very close to being 100%. I just figured I would go ahead and start doing some research on passing emissions in mass without cats because I have never had to worry about this. So after some research I have seen some stories about people being flagged by the state and sent to the motorist assistance center (MAC) where basically they are the most strict state run inspection station. Many have said they have had to either convert their cars back to stock and or sell because they couldn't end up passing / it wasn't worth it. So after going to the DMV site I read about their inspection criteria because I had read someone saying something like there are exceptions for cars over a certain age (15 years), however, since my car still has an OBDII reader I would still be hooked up to the state inspection machine.

So with that said the problem arises that I currently have a tune that codes out the efficiency codes in my rear o2 sensors. This in turn I believe setting the system to "not ready". I know in mass youre allowed one "not ready" system but I have a hard time believing that they would let the catalytic system slide. To get to the main point is there something I can do that will show the system as ready but also not have my codes come up for no cats? I have also read that inspection stations cycle the readiness on each system to see if it automatically sets back to ready without the car running to see if the there is a tune manipulating the system readiness. I was going to post this in the regional section but I figured this would get more traffic/airtime here.

Im stage 3 with K04's and no cats and a 3 inch exhaust and is currently using an older VAST tune. Not sure if there is a tune out there that would accomplish what I am looking for. Basically I have come to hate living in mass when it comes to cars.

[redline380]

Answer- Register in SD.

http://dor.sd.gov/motor_vehicles/non..._residence.pdf

I should mention that you would have to check MA laws on out of state vehicles. Lots of states say that you can only have an out of state vehicle inside that state for 60 days or something, so there could be a violation. That part is up to you to check though. I know that doing what I am thinking what technically be illegal in MN.

[czsrock1990]

^ interesting. After reading some more posts, wouldn't a defouler on the rear O2's and then changing the tune to set the cat system to ready and read all codes work?

[NonRicer]

I highly doubt that you can get by any inspection in any state without cats, even with defoulers. I think best bet would be to register out of state. Here in CA there are a couple cities that dont require smog and that's how my tags stay up to date.

[Audi9]

I highly doubt that you can get by any inspection in any state without cats, even with defoulers. I think best bet would be to register out of state. Here in CA there are a couple cities that dont require smog and that's how my tags stay up to date.

A couple cities? lol Half the state is smog excempt

Do they do a visual or just hook up the obd2 scanner? If it's just the scanner you should be good. Check to see if your monitors are set "as is" right now. If not put some defoulers on your rear 02 sensors and change your tune so they aren't coded out.

But if they do a visual, you're fucked

[czsrock1990]

A couple cities? lol Half the state is smog excempt

Do they do a visual or just hook up the obd2 scanner? If it's just the scanner you should be good. Check to see if your monitors are set "as is" right now. If not put some defoulers on your rear 02 sensors and change your tune so they aren't coded out.

But if they do a visual, you're fucked

So I know for a fact they don't do visual and they don't do tail pipe anymore. So yeah that's what I was thinking, changing the coding back to have the downstream O2's active and putting defoulers in. I honestly just don't want to get flagged so I am doing all of my due diligence before I so i don't go get butt f***** by the mass state inspection gestapo.

[Audi9]

So I know for a fact they don't do visual and they don't do tail pipe anymore. So yeah that's what I was thinking, changing the coding back to have the downstream O2's active and putting defoulers in. I honestly just don't want to get flagged so I am doing all of my due diligence before I so i don't go get butt f***** by the mass state inspection gestapo.

Do you have a little handheld scanner or a way to see if your monitors are set?

[czsrock1990]

Do you have a little handheld scanner or a way to see if your monitors are set?

Yeah I have VCDS 11 and an ebay cable that connects. The only system that is currently not ready is the cat system. I will run it again when I get home but im not sure how long after code resets it takes to reset. Have been working through the car code by code so I have been clearing a lot recently to see what is coming back.

[MikeyB3]

I'm fairly certain NH doesnt require an emissions inspection as well. (Depending on where you live in MA too.)

It's possible you might swap exhausts and a stock ECU and be okay. But you're still rolling the dice.

[vietxnam]

I passed with no cats and a tune. Are your o2 sensors coded out and set for readiness?

[ray4624]

youre 2001 so youre allowed to have one monitor that is not ready. Dont take it to a dealer or a fancy place. Look for a mom and pop type place.
have it so that youre cats are the only "not ready" monitor. Or just run spacers in your O2 or get them coded out.

[adam044]

I'm fairly certain NH doesnt require an emissions inspection as well. (Depending on where you live in MA too.)

It's possible you might swap exhausts and a stock ECU and be okay. But you're still rolling the dice.

We do. It's visual inspection of the cat... thankfully I know this guy who knows this guy who knows this other guy. So I'm good.

[adam044]

I have a tune so my rear O2 is tuned out and doesn't cause a CEL either. CEL is a automatic fail i'm pretty sure.

[f4m0u5]

Im from ma and have dealt with rhis before. You will 110% fail inspection with ur o2s coded out in the tune. You need to get a tune without the rear o2s coded out and you need to just add o2 sensor spacers.

If ur cars a 15 years or older car you dont need to pass emmisions any more (obd2 doesnt need to be hooked up)and would still pass with a cel on anyways(if the shop isnt a bunch of assholes)

Long n short just get a different tune without o2s deleted and add spacers on o2 and you will be fine

[czsrock1990]

Im from ma and have dealt with rhis before. You will 110% fail inspection with ur o2s coded out in the tune. You need to get a tune without the rear o2s coded out and you need to just add o2 sensor spacers.

If ur cars a 15 years or older car you dont need to pass emmisions any more (obd2 doesnt need to be hooked up)and would still pass with a cel on anyways(if the shop isnt a bunch of assholes)

Long n short just get a different tune without o2s deleted and add spacers on o2 and you will be fine

So I don't think this is true. I have had a car that was 15 years or older and they still hookup to OBD2 and test readiness and I think the only rule that is different for 15 year old vehicles is that you are allowed 1 system as not ready, however, I do not think that system can be the catalytic system. But to your point im just going to get the tune changed and then add the spacers and hopefully I don't throw a code.

[audacity]

just move to a state that doesn't trample on your rights as a u.s. citizen... no nonsense in PA where i live. they do visuals, sometimes but its an audi for 90% of them don't know what they are looking at...

[redline380]

just move to a state that doesn't trample on your rights as a u.s. citizen... no nonsense in PA where i live. they do visuals, sometimes but its an audi for 90% of them don't know what they are looking at...

Best thing Jesse Ventura ever did in his life. When he was governator of Minnesota, he got rid of our emissions inspections. God bless that man for that.

[f4m0u5]

So I don't think this is true. I have had a car that was 15 years or older and they still hookup to OBD2 and test readiness and I think the only rule that is different for 15 year old vehicles is that you are allowed 1 system as not ready, however, I do not think that system can be the catalytic system. But to your point im just going to get the tune changed and then add the spacers and hopefully I don't throw a code.

I was told that 15 and older dont matter if it has a cel on. (i was guesing they dont hook it up because i was told if cel was on id still pass. but they could very well still hook it up and look at readinesses for all i know and not focus on a cel)

[dannyn424]

Some wrong info here....If your o2s were coded out correctly with readiness set you can pass that part of emissions check... If you live somewhere with visual cat inspection get magnaflow cats sized for your aftermarket exhaust ....the end

[czsrock1990]

Some wrong info here....If your o2s were coded out correctly with readiness set you can pass that part of emissions check... If you live somewhere with visual cat inspection get magnaflow cats sized for your aftermarket exhaust ....the end

Is there any info on how to code this? I think my tune doesn't have the readiness set and I have never seen a mass inspector do a visual check.

[WEBER]

I know state to state will see differences in the method of testing but here in Oregon we get one readiness fail and still pass emissions. If you have a manual car there are really only a couple emissions tests. My stage 2 with coded out rear O2s and no secondary cats passed no problem. Then again they don't do a visual unless you look like an asshole. My previous A4 with all readiness set to "pass" didn't jive with Oregon's DEQ and it was downhill from there. Good luck...


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[czsrock1990]

So upon further research it is looking like I need to change my tune to set the catalyst system to ready and turn the o2 sensor codes back on. However it doesn't look like there is a way to have this done through VAG-COM, I have an old vast tune so I am kind of at a loss on what to do now. Should I buy a new tune or try to get this one changed? Or are there other suggestions?

[f4m0u5]

Are you running a bigger injectors and maf?

If not just throw in a stock tuned ecu and then put there for inspection witbout boosting much (since u have k04s) And get some o2 sensor spacers so you wont throw a code

[czsrock1990]

Are you running a bigger injectors and maf?

If not just throw in a stock tuned ecu and then put there for inspection witbout boosting much (since u have k04s) And get some o2 sensor spacers so you wont throw a code

Yeah I am running bigger injectors and MAF.

[f4m0u5]

Either spend the money on a new tune or spend money on stock injectors and maf thenn swap back to stock tune just for inspection, but that would be a pain in the ass.

Without vast around im not sure anyone can alter ur ecu but i could be wrong

[czsrock1990]

Either spend the money on a new tune or spend money on stock injectors and maf thenn swap back to stock tune just for inspection, but that would be a pain in the ass.

Without vast around im not sure anyone can alter ur ecu but i could be wrong

With that being the case =/ is there any recommendations out there on existing tunes that would suit my needs? Or other routes to go? Again thanks to all for chiming in here, its great to have a forum base like this that is reliable and active.

[f4m0u5]

With that being the case =/ is there any recommendations out there on existing tunes that would suit my needs? Or other routes to go? Again thanks to all for chiming in here, its great to have a forum base like this that is reliable and active.

Id check on the classifieds to see if you can find a used combo,

If you dont mind spending money josh at solo motorsports could hook you up with a nice tune and flashloader but its kinda pricey.

And ya These forums have helped me numerous times idk what i would do without them lol

[czsrock1990]

Id check on the classifieds to see if you can find a used combo,

If you dont mind spending money josh at solo motorsports could hook you up with a nice tune and flashloader but its kinda pricey.

And ya These forums have helped me numerous times idk what i would do without them lol

So I took a look at the website for them and I wouldn't mind spending that amount to get a new tune, but I am running 42lb green top injectors (440cc or close to) after looking at their tuning options I noticed it goes from stock - 550cc. Should I be running larger fuel injectors on this K04 stage 3 setup? have bailey Dv's, catless dp's, 3in exhaust, intercoolers, 85mm hitachi. I don't have that much expierence with #boostlife so sorry for so many questions. But this could be an answer for my problem and a possible power upgrade.

[f4m0u5]

Every tuner and tune uses a different injector, you could actually end up gaining power if you were pushing close to ur fueling limits before. And even then being a different tuner he could tweak the maps to get a little more out of it(maybe more boost and more timing?)

What you should do is hit up a awd dyno close to you to get ur numbers now before you switch to a different tune so u can see the difference. I think esp is near you with a mustang dyno

I personaly have solo motorsports stage 2 93 coctane tune and got the flash loader with it. I also have a stock tune with egts deleted(i use as my daily tune) snd i have a race gas tune for when i go up to the track and cont complain at all. He tweaked my race gas file a couple times to make it better once i sent in some logs. If you dont have vag com im pretty close to you ( within 2 hrs) if you ever need to do any logs or w.e

[kdf8454]

I'll just say that readiness can be set with the tune. When I scan my car, all of my checks are set to "ready" and I don't even have rear O2 sensors. Visual inspection is another hurdle, but I managed to convince the nice lady at the inspection place that my exhaust manifolds were cats....

Regarding the tune - you can either try to pull your tune with nefmoto from your ECU or go to a tuner and see if the vast tune has an encryption. If not, should just be a matter of some small tweaks from someone competent in tuning.