[Dabjbr]

So... apparently there's a ECU tuning ban in California? I don't know if it's already in effect or coming but F me, California. I mean come on, really???

Anyway, here are my questions:

1) Flex fuel kit requires a non-gm tune to run e85, right?
2) Can I have my ECU tuned remotely from an out of state vendor?
3) How simple/difficult is it to toggle between stock and e85 tune? (Ca requires smog check every 2 years)
4) My intention was to hold off on an e85 tune until my warranty is out. Given the ecu tune ban, should I just buy a flex kit while I can and just store it away for 2 more years?!

I should note that California requires smog checks after the car is 6 or 8 years old. What's unclear is whether or not these ecu inspections will commence after the car is that old or earlier.

Story:
https://www.fordmuscle.com/news/cali...he-workaround/

[Brudda*Termite]

Cali, what can be done. I'm sure E85 burns a lot cleaner than premium E10 at the tailpipe though. Is California intrusive enough to hook something up to your diag port?

[Spaceme1117]

Originally Posted by Dabjbr

So... apparently there's a ECU tuning ban in California? I don't know if it's already in effect or coming but F me, California. I mean come on, really???

Anyway, here are my questions:

1) Flex fuel kit requires a non-gm tune to run e85, right?
2) Can I have my ECU tuned remotely from an out of state vendor?
3) How simple/difficult is it to toggle between stock and e85 tune? (Ca requires smog check every 2 years)
4) My intention was to hold off on an e85 tune until my warranty is out. Given the ecu tune ban, should I just buy a flex kit while I can and just store it away for 2 more years?!

I should note that California requires smog checks after the car is 6 or 8 years old. What's unclear is whether or not these ecu inspections will commence after the car is that old or earlier.

Story:
https://www.fordmuscle.com/news/cali...he-workaround/

You pretty much have no options if you live in CA. Sorry.

[sandm]

Originally Posted by Brudda*Termite

Is California intrusive enough to hook something up to your diag port?

idaho and nevada hook up to obd port for emissions. only use tailpipe for older cars that don't have the proper sensors hooked to the ecu.

[Brudda*Termite]

Originally Posted by sandm

idaho and nevada hook up to obd port for emissions. only use tailpipe for older cars that don't have the proper sensors hooked to the ecu.

Ouchie, so a tune is going to get you failed even it if meets emission standards and has no trouble codes?

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Brudda*Termite

Ouchie, so a tune is going to get you failed even it if meets emission standards and has no trouble codes?

This would be unfair, yet understandable, since a tune can turn off any and all codes, leaving only the driving cycle monitor to gauge emissions compliance (and although I'm not sure, that can probably be circumvented as well). Although emissions can actually improve as well with a tune, it's not likely to be a target for most people.

[Chrome383Z]

I’d be curious to see how they are going to monitor if it’s tuned or not. Are they just checking to see if it’s flashed? Does this have to be done at a dealer?

If it’s flashed back to stock would it still fail?

[sandm]

Originally Posted by Brudda*Termite

Ouchie, so a tune is going to get you failed even it if meets emission standards and has no trouble codes?

not in idaho/nevada. they hook up to pull codes and make sure that everything is good. my genesis coupe had a tuned ecu, intake and catback and they didn't care at all in nevada. idaho I had 2 heavily modded evolutions, both catless and not a care as well as long as ecu has not codes..

cali has already announced that tuned cars are a no-go.

[Chrome383Z]

Originally Posted by sandm

not in idaho/nevada. they hook up to pull codes and make sure that everything is good. my genesis coupe had a tuned ecu, intake and catback and they didn't care at all in nevada. idaho I had 2 heavily modded evolutions, both catless and not a care as well as long as ecu has not codes..

cali has already announced that tuned cars are a no-go.

I’m still wondering how they are going to determine if a car is tuned. That’s not an easy process I wouldn’t think. I’m not a software guru so I don’t really know. But I would imagine if a dealership reflashes an ECM it’ll change the checksum or whatever it is. How will they determine if the tune is stock or not?

Seems like a huge project to capture all of the stock ECM data for all MFGs. Unless I’m missing something…

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Chrome383Z

I’m still wondering how they are going to determine if a car is tuned. That’s not an easy process I wouldn’t think. I’m not a software guru so I don’t really know. But I would imagine if a dealership reflashes an ECM it’ll change the checksum or whatever it is. How will they determine if the tune is stock or not?

Seems like a huge project to capture all of the stock ECM data for all MFGs. Unless I’m missing something…

I bet what they'll do is make it binary: if the calibration ("tune") has the same version and write count as the OEM calibration from either the factory or the last authorized dealership update, you're fine, otherwise you're fined. The people wanting to enact these regulations aren't exactly the kind that's willing to think about the potential of harmless or even emission enhancing tunes.

[Chrome383Z]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

I bet what they'll do is make it binary: if the calibration ("tune") has the same version and write count as the OEM calibration from either the factory or the last authorized dealership update, you're fine, otherwise you're fined. The people wanting to enact these regulations aren't exactly the kind that's willing to think about the potential of harmless or even emission enhancing tunes.

Probably. I’m not in CA so I really don’t care except for my fellow Camaro friends in CA that have to deal with it. What sucks is my car FBO with high flow cats and running E85 would probably do better in an emissions test then a stock car. That’s what blows.

[kropscamaro16]

its not illegal but you need a tune to use it on our vehicle so technically yes


some gm vehicles such as older trucks and suvs come flex fuel equipped from the factory

[SC88]

Originally Posted by Brudda*Termite

Cali, what can be done. I'm sure E85 burns a lot cleaner than premium E10 at the tailpipe though. Is California intrusive enough to hook something up to your diag port?

IL connects to the OBD port. They check Emission readiness and codes. They don't care if your tuned.

[Dabjbr]

I came from a BMW where you could use a Cobb accessport or similar device to flash your ECU back n forth between tunes or factory setup.

Is there anything similar for the Camaro?