Stage 2 & emissions testing S3

[Turbonegro]

Hi everyone, I tried searching as I recall this topic being discussed before but couldn’t revive any threads?

I have an appointment Monday morning for inspection/emissions. I’m currently running apr downpipe with factory cat back. Tune is unitronic stage 2. I recall reading on this forum about putting it back to stock to pass the emissions test? I’m not sure what’s necessary so I’m looking for any input how I should prepare to pass the first try hopefully lol. I’ve got the uni dongle so switching it back to stock isn’t a problem, but is there a interval of driving before performing the test?
Thanks in advance
State is Pennsylvania
2015 S3

[mroberte]

You will want to flash back to stock. Need to drive the car around as well so all the ecu test pass internally, then you should pass normally. Make sure no codes are stored as well.

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[Flom Motorsports]

+1 for post above mine. depending on who the tune is from, you will need to either flash back to 100% stock on the ECU, or at least stage 1, to turn certain O2 sensors back on. I recently ran into this same issue. I have full APR hardware, APR said to go back to sage 1+ or lower, and it would turn on the rear O2 sensor again. But I was still having issues with getting code P1114. long story short, I will be registering my car in a different county that doesnt require emissions

[Turbonegro]

Thanks for the replies! I’ll post back with the test results Monday

[Spinnetti]

I had to put on an O2 spacer in addition to the above (uni software, APR downpipe). Was sweating it for a minute, but all good now.

[Turbonegro]

I’m reporting back with my results. Sunday evening I switched my tune back to stock & drove around for about 10 miles. Everything was looking good until my check engine light came on.. I went back home, cleared the code (oxygen sensor deficiency) & figured I would drive less time before showing up for my appointment the following morning.

Monday morning I drove for about 5 miles & went to the inspection station. Sure enough the ecu wasn’t ready to perform the emissions test. I admitted to the shop that there is an aftermarket downpipe and also the car is tuned but on stock setting. They recommend I go drive for a bit with a Obd2 buzz box that alerts you when the values are “ready”.
I drove for close to an hour before the check engine light was back. Buzz box didn’t alarm..

We cleared codes & tried again with the same results..

Then I did some research & found this thread https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...missions-story

It seemed very promising so I went back home, switched to stage 1+, plugged in the buzz box & went back out for more driving. I drove for close to an hour without the buzz box alarming or the check engine light.. I decided to go back to the shop & they hooked the car up to vcds to try and perform the tests mentioned in the above thread. After performing the tests the check engine light came on again.. we cleared codes & tried to go driving around one last time.. after about an hour of driving the buzz box didn’t alarm but the check engine light was back!!

Here is where spinnetti saved the day!

I mentioned to the shop earlier in the day about a guy in Texas who had to install an oxygen sensor spacer in order to pass emissions.

At this point it was the only thing left to try, & luckily the shop had a few spacers in stock that might work. They installed the spacer, I took the car home & flashed back to stock again, plugged in the buzz box & went for a drive. After close to an hour of driving nothing happened yet, I went home & parked the car. A couple hours passed & I went out for dinner. A minute after starting the car the buzz box finally started alarming!!
Also no check engine light!!

I went right home after eating & didn’t drive anymore for the night. I called the shop first thing this morning to see if I could come in, & we have success!! It passed emissions!!

After installing the spacer, it was the only way to get the ecu to become ready for the emissions testing without throwing the check engine light.

Thanks for the help/input of forum members & also an excellent garage who was really going out of their way to make sure I would pass emissions

[normcaldwell]

I’m reporting back with my results. Sunday evening I switched my tune back to stock & drove around for about 10 miles. Everything was looking good until my check engine light came on.. I went back home, cleared the code (oxygen sensor deficiency) & figured I would drive less time before showing up for my appointment the following morning.

Monday morning I drove for about 5 miles & went to the inspection station. Sure enough the ecu wasn’t ready to perform the emissions test. I admitted to the shop that there is an aftermarket downpipe and also the car is tuned but on stock setting. They recommend I go drive for a bit with a Obd2 buzz box that alerts you when the values are “ready”.
I drove for close to an hour before the check engine light was back. Buzz box didn’t alarm..

We cleared codes & tried again with the same results..

Then I did some research & found this thread https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...missions-story

It seemed very promising so I went back home, switched to stage 1+, plugged in the buzz box & went back out for more driving. I drove for close to an hour without the buzz box alarming or the check engine light.. I decided to go back to the shop & they hooked the car up to vcds to try and perform the tests mentioned in the above thread. After performing the tests the check engine light came on again.. we cleared codes & tried to go driving around one last time.. after about an hour of driving the buzz box didn’t alarm but the check engine light was back!!

Here is where spinnetti saved the day!

I mentioned to the shop earlier in the day about a guy in Texas who had to install an oxygen sensor spacer in order to pass emissions.

At this point it was the only thing left to try, & luckily the shop had a few spacers in stock that might work. They installed the spacer, I took the car home & flashed back to stock again, plugged in the buzz box & went for a drive. After close to an hour of driving nothing happened yet, I went home & parked the car. A couple hours passed & I went out for dinner. A minute after starting the car the buzz box finally started alarming!!
Also no check engine light!!

I went right home after eating & didn’t drive anymore for the night. I called the shop first thing this morning to see if I could come in, & we have success!! It passed emissions!!

After installing the spacer, it was the only way to get the ecu to become ready for the emissions testing without throwing the check engine light.

Thanks for the help/input of forum members & also an excellent garage who was really going out of their way to make sure I would pass emissions

Good info, and congrats on passing the inspection!
Props to Spinnetti and you.

[Spinnetti]

Awesome! Sure is stressful until you get it figured out!

[Turbonegro]

Awesome! Sure is stressful until you get it figured out!

Yeah definitely, I had thoughts of returning to the factory downpipe just to get through emissions.. luckily that wasn’t necessary..

Thank you again spinnetti!!

[Serzyfritz]

Just as an FYI each of the monitors needs specific conditions to show ready. In my experience the monitors that need driving to be set go ready quick the ones that don't are usually related to Cold Starts and the O2 sensor and that usually gets set after a few quick drives where you start car go a mile or two, stop car and let it cool down fully then do the same again. The longer drives have a higher chance of triggering a CEL for the O2 being out of range due to a bad cat or no cat.

Ive quite a bit of experience with trying to game the system, lol.

[NickBurns]

This post was passed down through you directly from the hand (and mouth) of God.... THANK YOU ALL for going through all this for the rest of us!

I have a SMOG coming up in CA. NOT looking forward to it. I own a farm in PA and would LOVE to register my cars there, but the annual inspection of the gas cap makes it difficult.....

[hec666]

This post was passed down through you directly from the hand (and mouth) of God.... THANK YOU ALL for going through all this for the rest of us!

I have a SMOG coming up in CA. NOT looking forward to it. I own a farm in PA and would LOVE to register my cars there, but the annual inspection of the gas cap makes it difficult.....

Let's us know what you did to pass SMOG here in CA.
Thanks!

Sent from my BBF100-2 using Audizine mobile app

[NickBurns]

Let's us know what you did to pass SMOG here in CA.
Thanks!

Sent from my BBF100-2 using Audizine mobile app

When the time comes, I will follow up on this thread. HOPEFULLY by then they will have eliminated CARB and CA can join the other 49 states with the emissions laws...