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Old 11-30-2008, 01:44 PM
 
Location: California
11,466 posts, read 19,355,649 times
Reputation: 12713

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My son's car 96 pontiac grand am 4 banger actually passed the test but failed because the cars computer showed 3 things that were in error but the check engine lite was not on, how can I reset the cars computer to see if it will clear these errors?
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Old 11-30-2008, 04:48 PM
 
Location: Floribama
18,949 posts, read 43,628,834 times
Reputation: 18761
Are you sure the "check engine" light is working? Does it come on when the key is turned on?

On the older models you could simply unhook the battery and it would reset the ECM, but I think '96 was when they switched to OBD II, so it may be different.
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Old 11-30-2008, 04:51 PM
 
Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, Calif.
24,511 posts, read 33,321,730 times
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I would either take it back to the shop or find one that can do adjustments and recheck it (do another smog check).
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Old 11-30-2008, 05:17 PM
 
Location: In The Outland
6,023 posts, read 14,070,967 times
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Slip the dude a few extra bucks with a wink and it'll suddenly "pass" !
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Old 11-30-2008, 05:22 PM
 
Location: Apple Valley Calif
7,474 posts, read 22,885,783 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rickers View Post
Slip the dude a few extra bucks with a wink and it'll suddenly "pass" !
Maybe in Montana, not in California... The smog machines are hooked directly to the DMV in Sacramento... They know if you try to cheat...
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Old 11-30-2008, 05:45 PM
 
Location: In The Outland
6,023 posts, read 14,070,967 times
Reputation: 3535
We have no smog check here. When I lived in San Diego my mechanic would hook up his rig to the machine and trick the computer somehow. Gotta love Montana, my rig is an 85 and I haven't had to pay any registration fees in years. It has a permanent tag that I paid a little over a hundred bucks for several years back. I rarely see a "smoker" here either despite the lack of smog checks.
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Old 11-30-2008, 05:57 PM
 
Location: Floribama
18,949 posts, read 43,628,834 times
Reputation: 18761
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickers View Post
We have no smog check here. When I lived in San Diego my mechanic would hook up his rig to the machine and trick the computer somehow. Gotta love Montana, my rig is an 85 and I haven't had to pay any registration fees in years. It has a permanent tag that I paid a little over a hundred bucks for several years back. I rarely see a "smoker" here either despite the lack of smog checks.
I know what you mean, we don't have to do that crap here either (so far).
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Old 11-30-2008, 07:22 PM
 
Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, Calif.
24,511 posts, read 33,321,730 times
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1975 and older cars are smog exempt here. It is nice not to have to bother bringing my '69 Cadillac Fleetwood in for a smog check, especially since it's only driven about 1,500 miles per year.
Unfortunately, my '76 Fleetwood Limo is required to have a smog check every 2 years which sometimes is a real pain when it needs a lot of adjustments to make it pass. When I bought it, there was a 25-year-old and older smog exempt rule then it was changed to 1976 and newer.

Someday I just may buy a '69 limo to exchange for my '76 so I won't have to bother with smog checks. I keep my cars in tune anyway.
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Old 11-30-2008, 08:02 PM
 
Location: California
11,466 posts, read 19,355,649 times
Reputation: 12713
Quote:
Originally Posted by southernnaturelover View Post
Are you sure the "check engine" light is working? Does it come on when the key is turned on?

On the older models you could simply unhook the battery and it would reset the ECM, but I think '96 was when they switched to OBD II, so it may be different.
Yeah the light comes on when you first start the car then goes out, I disconnected the battery today, i'll have the guy recheck it tuesday.
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Old 12-01-2008, 12:23 PM
 
48,502 posts, read 96,877,697 times
Reputation: 18304
They satr to do it everywhere i txas until tehy found that many new cars wold not poass the test anjhd that they couldn't keepup with demand. It was either raise the fee to cover the cost or modify the plan. They decided to modify the plan. Manufacturers didn;t like having to repair the vehicles already sold under warranties either.
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