Hello all,

I've got a 2008 Mustang GT and can't pass Texas emission test. My car has the following mods:

C&L RACER CAI - COLD AIR INTAKE
SCT/BRENSPEED TUNE 93 OCTANE
MAC LT HEADERS
MAC PRO CHAMBER
PYPES HIGHT FLOW CATS
MAGNAFLOW MAGNAPACKS

PROBLEM:
o2 sensors not ready
o2 heater not ready
Evap Not ready
Catalyst not ready

History is I bought the car used (6800 miles) and the guy had off road exhaust (no cats). Since then (2yrs then some) I've been trying to get this car to pass Texas emission test (14,315 miles). As stated above I do have catalaytic convertors on now.

No Check engine lights what so ever. Been through 5 tunes now with no success, and "YES, REAR o2 SENSORS ARE ON". Tried replacing rear o2s just to see if it would resolve the issue, but nothing. Tried putting factory cold air intake on with stock tune (orignal factory tune settings) and still no good. Took car to FORD dealer to ensure ECU (computer) was working correctly and it was. Had another guy run a diagnostic to ensure all sensors were monitoring and working and yes they were. Last year inspected 2 times with same results and finally found a mechanic that hooked me up due to my frustration. I've uplugged the battery more than once to reset everything. Driven the Ford specified drive cycle many times. Put more than 3500 miles trying to get all to go "Ready". Checked the o2 sensors wiring, connections, and tightness. Checked entire exhaust for leaks. Ordered o2 sensor extensions to place directly into the CATS and then installed rear o2 sensors. "This is suppose to pull the o2 sensors out of the direct exhaust from the CAT to assist with normal upstream and downstream changes to allow the vehicle to go Ready". Still the same issues; all not ready. I've read, called and driven to shops to help, but never no resolution. The only real answer was from an exhaust guy in North Austin that told me he had the same problem and even though his car was setup just like other peoples he had to install an o2 simulator to resolve his issue. I've not been able to locate any simulators, but I'm at my wits end and will do whatever. I'm even thinking about going to a junk yard and buying a complete exhaust with headers and taking the custom exhaust off to resolve the problem. PLEASE HELP WITH ANYTHING YOU MAY HAVE TO OFFER. I've tried every trick, test, drive cycle that i've read and was told to try with failure. I need this car to be legal to drive and don't want someone else to have the headache when i sell it.

 

Ive seen afew threads with someone attempting to load a tune on their car from a tuner that had already been used on another car. When this is tried it usually ends badly, with the stock tune being completely erased and it must be towed to the dealer for the computer to be reset. Maybe a dealer can wipe clean the pcm and install the stock tune?

It sounds like you might have more of a software issues rather than a mechanical one. I havent been in your position but hopefully someone might chime in that has.

 

My only suggestion is to find a sketchy shop and slip the guy some extra cash. That's what all the no cats guys in houston do lol. Or talk to some other car guys in ur area and see if they know a place

 

only certian counties in texas use emissiosn testing, drive to the next county and run it. i suspect you are in austin IIRC dallas area does emissions too. here in tyler they only look to see if the cats are on the car.

 

Problem with that is that sometime outher counties won't inspect your car if they don't do emissions but yours does. For example when I lived in houston and went to school in baton rouge I tried to drive to beaumont to get my car inspected, but they said they can't do it bc harris county cars can only be inspected in harris county

 

Do you have the tuner that came with the car?

Contact Brenspeed with the serial number. They should be able to help you resolve the problem by writing a new tune for the mods you have on your car now. They should also be able to see what if any problems the previous owner reported with the tune.

I agree with 07_Cervini, your issue is a software one, not mechanical.

 

wow, had no idea about that. what if you are on vacation for say a month (as far as they know) and need an inspection? as far a a tune issue, it could be those hi flow cats. i was warned by a few people that those cats may not pass inspection.

 

I do have the tuner and have given Brenspeed the serial off of it, due to having to pay 50.00 for a new customer 2yrs ago. Since then they have sent me 5 tunes which all have not resolved the Not ready issues. I've sent them all of my mods and even the failed inspection paper so they could see the issues. I've had the pcm cleared totally and started from scratch thinking a software load or missing/corrupt software issue could be the problem, but no go. I appreciate the help.

 

if they have reworked the tunes for you and still no joy, id look at the hi-flow cats. you just need to find you a mom and pop shop in a non-testing country, give them a sob story about being in town for a while helping a sick grandma and you just need an inspection. id wager someone at a small store wont think much about where you are from.

 

No tests in Arkansas, so I'm not sure about procedure. But, does the state keep record of what shop did tests to what car? Because a smaller "mom & pop" shop might be more interested in covering their a$$es, I'd look into a performance shop nearer by. Plus, does the state count an extended vacation within the state an excuse to not have a local inspection? Seems like they'd say you knew the inspection was coming or something along those lines. But then again, like I said we have no inspections in AR