Hello all,

A question about our cars. My 97 project car has had a history of error codes so I am assuming the PCM/ECU and the ABS control unit nee replacing/rebuilding. My question is, with these codes and messages like "poor performance" errors.. will the car still pass California smog testing? Or will it fail visual inspection because of that?

Wondering if anyone has dealt with that yet...

Thanks!

 

When you go to the smog station the first check is going to be for CODES on the OBDII. So if any code other than P1111 showing the test will stop with a fail.
Since you have been having problems, you need to have the codes read. If you don't have a reader most auto parts store will read them for free. Once they have read them have them cleared. Next drive the vehicle for a couple of days and go back and have the codes read again. The new codes will be the current ones. If you have P1000 only that indicates you have driven sufficient drive cycles for all monitors to set. If there are any other new codes post them here as well as the previous ones and we can help you sort it out.
In short if you have codes on the OBDII you will most likely get a fail. I am not sure but I believe you can have an unset monitor but not an emissions monitor.

 

A typo, I think - you mean "insufficient".

Though they may also refuse to set due to faults. They may stay like that regardless of miles driven.

(And the PCM may then be unable to flag codes to help show what is wrong.)