david9962000
Drag Race Newbie
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Car(s)
- MK7 GTI
7
California will start scanning for ECU tune when you get a Smog!!
- Thread starter david9962000
- Start date
averyislost
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Car(s)
- 2020 GTI S
I wonder how much of a headache this would be for people that are running CARB legal tunes? I'm pretty sure that APR Stage 1 (and I would assume APR+) is CARB legal (https://arb.parts/Executive-Order/D-783.pdf). I guess that would be the most hassle free tune for people to run, asides from the annoyance of having to "prove" to the smog check stations that your tune is good to go.
FSTSNAL
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Sacramento
- Car(s)
- 2019 DVP Spektrum R
From what I understand they look for a checksum against a database of approved values to identify oem and carb approved tunes
vjmvjm
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- Los Lunas, New Mexico
- Car(s)
- 2016 VW GTI S DSG PP
There's already an entire thread on this topic:
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/inde...cking-for-ecu-tunes-during-smog.386285/page-5
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/inde...cking-for-ecu-tunes-during-smog.386285/page-5
averyislost
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Car(s)
- 2020 GTI S
Lol yeah for some reason that one took off, although this one was posted first. Either way, yep this has been discussed.
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
You will have to completely unmarry the Cobb AP.
https://www.dragzine.com/news/california-to-check-for-ecu-tunes-heres-the-workaround/
averyislost
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Car(s)
- 2020 GTI S
That sounds annoying even for a once a year type deal
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
I thought that you didn't have to go yearly in California? Also I understand that Cobb just got CARB approval.
averyislost
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Car(s)
- 2020 GTI S
Ahh good call you’re probably right. I’m in NC so we do yearly inspections, and emissions is included as long as your car meets the requirements
Cobb has EO numbers for their stage 1 and stage 2 tunes. So "technically" you can just flash to one of those and not completely unmarry the AP.
https://cobbtuning.atlassian.net/wi...58289489/VW+CARB+EO+numbers+for+COBB+Products
It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out with EO aftermarket tunes.
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
Right. The link I posted was before Cobb got CARB approval.
zucchinies
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- San Diego
- Car(s)
- 2020 A3
Does this screw anyone's plans for their car? After hearing this I scrapped my hybrid turbo, MPI build. I intend on getting as many bolt-ons that'll allow me to still go back to stock tune file and pass. This means no more MPI, hybrid turbo, HPFP, etc. Kinda sad I can't chase the 400hp+ club but I really don't want to deal with the hassle of getting my car smogged unless this can be easily bypassed. I might not even keep the car anymore and go Golf R or S3 when possible to just make it easier.
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
Don't you have 7 years in California before you need to get tested? That's a long time to enjoy the car the way you want to. And how long do you keep a car?
zucchinies
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- San Diego
- Car(s)
- 2020 A3
You do and I guess I could just upgrade and when the time comes sell the car but I bought a relatively newer car so I can keep it for a while. I like to drive my cars till they die.