My wife just had our 2001 EB Expy at the emissions testing center today, and for the third time, they said there was a code in the computer. They ran it on the treadmill, and it passed all the tests.

In Missouri, if your car is ODBII compliant, they will just hook it up to the computer and make sure it's clean. If any codes exist, then they have to run it on the treadmill. They stated today, that after this year, they will no longer run it on the treadmill, and the vehicle will simply fail.

After the first two times, I took it to the dealership, and was promptly informed that there was nothing in the computer, and they didn't know what was wrong. They claimed to have reflashed the computer hoping that would solve the problem.

Has anyone else experienced this with emission testing? The truck runs fine, and the MIL is not on, and never has been. The only issues that we have with it right now is the oil pressure gauge dies intermittently.

I'm not real worried about it, as I am most likely getting rid of it this year, and Missouri only requires testing every two years. That being said, I'd like to fix the problem if it's simple enough, so I don't stick someone else with a problem.

Thanks,
--Mike

 

In California, we are required to have a smog test done every other year as well (unless it is brand new) but whenever it is sold as well, it must also be tested. You may run into this too unless you just turn it into the dealer.

 

I'd most likely trade it to a dealer, but I have know idea what the testing requirements are when doing that.

I need to make a correction, this the SECOND time it's failed not the third, I thought we had it tested twice before.

That's the thing though, I don't think anything is wrong with it. The dealer doesn't see whatever the emissions test is seeing, and it's pretty much been that way since it was new. We bought it new in 2000, and the first emissions test was done in early 2003. It had the problem then, and it still has it now, yet we have not had any problems with the truck. Like I said, the tailpipe emissions pass the treadmill test with flying colors, everything is well under the limits.

Does Ford have something strange with their computers that the emissions center doesn't like?

--Mike

 

A quick update to this problem, as I just got home and was able to look at the printout my wife had from the emissions test center.

What they are flagging is that some components of the system are reading that they are "Not Ready" .
They are:

Catalyst Not Ready
Evaporative System Not Ready
Oxygen Sensor Not Ready
Oxygen Sensor Heater Not Ready
EGR System Not Ready

Basically the entire emissions system is not giving a status.

There were no diagnostic codes retrieved, and the MIL is not illuminated. (but it did pass the test, yipee)

It passed the tailpipe test just fine, HC max is 220ppm, it read 5ppm and CO was 0.

Anyway, if anyone else has experienced a problem like this, please let me know what was done to resolve it.

Thanks much!
--Mike

 

Mike,
Not sure of the whole history on this vehicle. If the battery was disconnected or if anything was repaired, those systems will show up as not ready until the truck has been through an entire driving cycle. I am not sure anymore what the cycle consist of. It used to be something like so many starts and x amount of time in stop and go and x amount of time at highway speeds and x number of miles. So if the truck has only been used for very short trips this could be the issue. Honestly if nothing has been done to the truck then these requirements would easily be met during daily driving. Also have a question for you. You mentioned a gauge problem. During startup do any of your gauges peg out and then indicate there normal reading, If so this is an indication of the computer resetting every time you start the vechile. As far as the dealer, all he did is what autozone would do and that is look for codes, even the actron reader that autozone uses as a free service will read the system ready status in addition to the regular fault codes in the right hands. Hope this post helps to get the thread going for you.

Dave

 

Nope, no repairs have been done. We have owned it since mile 1, and it is at 75,000 now with no major problems. (knock wood)

This same issue was seen two years ago in 2003 during the emission test, and it was tested on the treadmill and passed. I had it at the dealer shortly after that to have the rear window wiper replaced, and I had them check this out too. They said they reflashed the computer, but since I have no way of verifying that, I have to take them at their word.

I just cleaned the carbon deposits out of the throttle body, changed the oil, replaced the PCV valve, and put injector cleaner in the tank three weeks ago. I did clean a bunch of corrosion off the negative battery terminal, but I didn't disconnect it. The battery is original, and still cranks the engine with plenty of power. Overall, the truck runs and performs perfectly fine. Other than needing new shocks and ball joints, it's great.

I have checked out the gauges when starting, and I don't beleive that they have ever pegged out. The only issue I have seen is that the oil gauge drops to zero and then pops back up to normal occasionally.

Would other settings be lost if the computer was resetting? Things like the seat and mirror memory? The only time that was ever lost was back in 2002, when the truck was at the dealer's body shop having hail damage repaired.

Your suggestion does seem to make sense, but is there any way that a dealer could check to find out the last time the computer was reset, perhaps through their diagnostic reader?

Thanks for your help!
--Mike

 

Hum? As far as other things being affected by the computer, not really most of the generic items like mirrors, seats, windows, etc... go throught he GEM module which is stand alone. If you have an AutoZone or Checkers nearby they loan the code scanners for free or will usually read them on the spot. Don't concern yourself with the codes unless one is showing up at fault but for example with the Actron scanner (Autozone) you can check system status which is what you are having problems with. Mabe you have a bum ECU from day one. We get screwed is Arizona with yearly emissions test and if the OBD-II has any codes or system ready failures you fail, no treadmill chance. You might want to jump into the engine forum with this as all F-series platforms use basically the same engine controls.

Dave