7
APR No Longer Providing Stage 2 Tunes After Labour Day. Other Tuners to Follow
- Thread starter geokilla
- Start date
Saw this on a local Mk7 FB page,
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/nat...ePMOxfLnXaiB8WJ2TH10YeVMYI3RRMMUULM_Qyh5gwhps
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/nat...ePMOxfLnXaiB8WJ2TH10YeVMYI3RRMMUULM_Qyh5gwhps
Does this mean anyone with a downpipe and stage 2 tune is gonna be gone after? I
am on the cusp of pulling the trigger on a downpipe but now I'm scared lol.
GTI Jake
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
The is20 just hasn’t missed a beat. I’ll still own my mk7 long after all you guys have moved on, so mileage doesn’t bother me. I’ve sold 15 prior Volkswagen and told the wife this is the one I’m keeping. When it blows up I’ll just grab another long block lol, I want to still have this when it’s like owning a Mk1 rabbit
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
That sounds ominous. The way I read that is not only DP's won't be available but tuning itself wouldn't be allowed. This could destroy the aftermarket companies. Anything that the EPA says could alter emissions.
Last edited:
Acadia18
Autocross Champion
- Location
- The Greater Boston Metropolitan Area
- Car(s)
- 2019 Golf R
Used Accessports are going to be going up in value.
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
Yes they will but you could be stuck with a Cobb OTS tune if no one can tune anymore. And if that happens I wouldn't use the AP Manager because Cobb could disable it with a firmware update. I don't know how the EPA could enforce this if you can pass emissions.
Couldn't people do "homebrew" tunes from their garage for the COBB? There are a number of the smaller guys that probably started in or are still basically in their garage. Same with downpipes. Someone can build them in their garage and sell them...without any official business license.
DiscusInferno
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Kalifornia
technically removing the stock downpipe and replacing it with one that was a high-flow catalyst is "tampering" with emissions controls, as well as software that disables the oxygen sensors to avoid having a CEL (but also means emissions readiness isn't ready). It's a federal offense and many states have their own statutes also.
jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
If the EPA is that serious about it I wouldn't want to risk making DP's in my garage and then selling them to someone who fails emissions and is traced back to the builder. Until all states do visual inspections and actual sniffer tests I would guess if you can pass emissions you would be okay.
@GTI Jake do you have any input on this?
AFAIK, Cobb has skirted this by not disabling any O2 readiness monitor. It only deactivates illuminating the light for certain CEL codes. So, the CEL is still stored and you will not pass an emissions test. Since the secondary O2 is still enabled and monitoring, EQT recommends disconnecting it, since they've seen the tendency to run rich over time from the rear O2 trying to change things. This seems to be a Cobb only issue, which could point to them being the only company who isn't bypassing the secondary O2.
I don't know what other tuning companies are doing to avoid the CEL with the secondary O2, but on my previous vehicle, tunes could force readiness and it was possible to pass smog tests w/o needing to swap downpipes.
It's going to be harder for homebrew downpipe makers as well, since companies like Vibrant are pulling their cats off the market as well.