Emissions stored in Computer
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,619
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From: Forest Hill MD
Emissions stored in Computer
In my Toyota Tacoma (yes I looked for a Toyota site and could not find a good one so I thought I would ask the experts here) the computer is not storing the emissions readings so I am failing the emissions testing. I have it at the Toyota dealer now but they have never seen such a thing. The computer runs just about everything right? So if the computer was messed up it would run bad? The truck runs great just won't store the emissions. Could this just be a power to the computer issue that it clears when the engine is off? I am completely confused 
Thanks
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
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From: Langhorne, PA
I live in PA, they safety check my truck, and read my tailpipe emissions. If there are no check engine lights..and they don't check codes either..my truck passes.
I don't understand..what is going on, why are you being failed? Do you have a check engine, or other failure light on the dash??
I didn't even think Lancaster had emissions testing.
I don't understand..what is going on, why are you being failed? Do you have a check engine, or other failure light on the dash??
I didn't even think Lancaster had emissions testing.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,619
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From: Forest Hill MD
Good question but no, there are no CEL on any indications of a issue. I asked if they could "sniffer" test it and they said that because it was a 98 they had to read the computer. The truck has now passed and the way they read it was drive it around to store some info and not shut it off before they hooked it up. It just clears the info when shut off.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 821
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From: Riverview, MI
Sounds like a power issue.
example
Your home pc has a cmos battery that not only keeps your time set correctly, but also helps to keeps some start up info once you power down your pc.
As the battery dies, your clock will start loosing times, and you will start loosing some of the start up info that you had before.
I'm sure your computer is probably getting its memory from the car battery, so you've probably got a bad battery connection, or some bad connection in the computer. Interesting problem though.
example
Your home pc has a cmos battery that not only keeps your time set correctly, but also helps to keeps some start up info once you power down your pc.
As the battery dies, your clock will start loosing times, and you will start loosing some of the start up info that you had before.
I'm sure your computer is probably getting its memory from the car battery, so you've probably got a bad battery connection, or some bad connection in the computer. Interesting problem though.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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Yeh, i know how i got the check engine light of my moms car so it would pass inspection was to take off the battery cable and turn the key on to drain out all stored power, and pump the brake a few times to reset every vacum related switch and the checkengine light was gone,
My bronco II dosent have a check engine light, YAY. wont have that bothering me ever.
My bronco II dosent have a check engine light, YAY. wont have that bothering me ever.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Forest Hill MD
Originally Posted by Snake1979
Sounds like a power issue.
I'm sure your computer is probably getting its memory from the car battery, so you've probably got a bad battery connection, or some bad connection in the computer. Interesting problem though.
I'm sure your computer is probably getting its memory from the car battery, so you've probably got a bad battery connection, or some bad connection in the computer. Interesting problem though.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Might wanna get it fixed pretty quicky, since in effect your truck is having to relearn EVERYTHING every time you start it. I'd imagine the tranny isn't enjoying that.
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Posting Guru
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From: Alvin, Texas.
Originally Posted by fordxfour87
Yeh, i know how i got the check engine light of my moms car so it would pass inspection was to take off the battery cable and turn the key on to drain out all stored power, and pump the brake a few times to reset every vacum related switch and the checkengine light was gone,
My bronco II dosent have a check engine light, YAY. wont have that bothering me ever.
My bronco II dosent have a check engine light, YAY. wont have that bothering me ever.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 313
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They dont plug into the computer, they just do a "pipe" test, and see if theres a check engine light even on at all.
Im guessing the check engine light being on was just indicating a service interval, even when nothing was wrong, sorta like a reminder to go get a tune up. Being that the light dosent come on again after you un-plug it, it shows me that there wasnt an active problem with the car.
Im guessing the check engine light being on was just indicating a service interval, even when nothing was wrong, sorta like a reminder to go get a tune up. Being that the light dosent come on again after you un-plug it, it shows me that there wasnt an active problem with the car.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Forest Hill MD
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
Might wanna get it fixed pretty quicky, since in effect your truck is having to relearn EVERYTHING every time you start it. I'd imagine the tranny isn't enjoying that.
New User
Joined: May 2004
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They actually do plug into the computer to do emissions. In WA most vehicles 1997 and newer (it might be 96- it's been a while since I worked there) with a few exceptions (97 Subaru, some Lamborghinies, and a few others) are strictly an OBDII test. A probe is not inserted into the tailpipe. The OBDII already checks the emissions on a vehicle so to check emissions one simply has to check the cars computer for emmissions related codes, if there are none, the vehicle passes emissions. For sure the only test on newer rigs is electronic (diesles have a different test).
Posting Guru
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From: charlotte nc
I assume you have a vehicle made in 1996 or later. If so let me tell you a little about your OBD11 emmission system. First of all the cars computer has a factory program in it that monitors all of the engine and drive train sensors and can detect a malfuntion in one or several from the differant locations of these sensors throughout your cars entire emmission system. It stores the fault codes. If any of the sensors go bad the computer is pre set to alow the engine to continue running by its "default settings" even if the "check engine light" is on.hope this helps
Last edited by thefarelaneman; Jan 13, 2007 at 11:08 PM.