Topic: I think I was scammed on a Drive Clean test today...

[rrocket]

I brought the Forester in for the Ontario sponsored cash grab known as Drive Clean.  It's emission testing that does absolutely nothing to keep the environment cleaner.  Before I bring my cars in, I run the e-test on one (or both) of my OBD scanners.  In this case, I had 1 "incomplete" readiness condition (Evap).  No biggie...a car of my year can have 2 "incomplete" to pass.  I do the e-test; I fail.  He said there were FOUR incompletes.  I know on the Subaru, you get 4 incomplete when you do a MIL/ECU reset.  I plug in my OBD scanner..and sure enough, 4 incompletes.

I feel as though I was scammed.  I'm going in tomorrow to talk to the service manager...but I don't think it will go anywhere.

[JacobBlack]

Don't suppose you took a photo ofyyour original sscan?

[rrocket]

Don't suppose you took a photo ofyyour original sscan?

No...but tomorrow after I talk to the manager, I'm going to show him my OBD scan in real-time.  Then I'll re-test.  I bet I magically pass!

[rrocket]

I passed....

[JacobBlack]

I passed....

Ha! Nice one.
Funny how that works hey?

[rrocket]

I passed....

Ha! Nice one.
Funny how that works hey?

He tried offering reasons why it my not have worked. I called BS on all of them.

Oh well...Forester is finally legal

[wing]

Did they charge you again?

[rrocket]

They tried.......

My cat was hit or miss, so I did the $5 fix to fool the cat into passing and being "complete". So this time there was only 1 "incomplete"

[redman]

They tried.......

My cat was hit or miss, so I did the $5 fix to fool the cat into passing and being "complete". So this time there was only 1 "incomplete"

Do enlighten us ?

[rrocket]

They tried.......

My cat was hit or miss, so I did the $5 fix to fool the cat into passing and being "complete". So this time there was only 1 "incomplete"

Do enlighten us ?

Oh.  Ok.  First make sure your O2 sensors are good.  The 02 sensor reads the oxygen, but it also measures the flow through the cat.  If it detects an inconsistent flow it throws the code (usually P0420).  2 reasons usually for the code.  If there is an exhaust leak AHEAD of the cat (usually a gasket), the exhaust leaks before it hits the cat and you have inconsistent flow.  The other is you cat is operating at below 95% efficiency.  So the cat isn't bad per se...it's just not at optimal efficiency.  So what to do?

First check for bad gaskets ahead of the cat.  If those are good you can fool the cat into thinking there's consistent flow.  You just need to pull the o2 sensor out of the exhaust stream.  It will still be able to to read the oxygen saturation, but it won't be able to detect the inconsistent flow and it will think all is well.

You use sparkplug anti-foulers as spacers.  Watch this video...it will be easier than me trying to explain it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqDmmLQ4pGk

[johngenx]

And 99% of Foresters that age have below threshold cats.  When I found this out, my first inclination was to replace the cat.  The dealer wanted $2700 plus install!!  LMAO!!!  Aftermarkets could be had for $150, in the end I just pulled the downstream sensor's plug and that killed the CEL - left an exception but no light - and no running issues as the downstream O2 sensor has no effect on mapping.

[rrocket]

And 99% of Foresters that age have below threshold cats.  When I found this out, my first inclination was to replace the cat.  The dealer wanted $2700 plus install!!  LMAO!!!  Aftermarkets could be had for $150, in the end I just pulled the downstream sensor's plug and that killed the CEL - left an exception but no light - and no running issues as the downstream O2 sensor has no effect on mapping.

Odd...you pull my o2 sensor and you get a CEL (bank 1 Sensor 2).

[johngenx]

Huh, mine did the opposite.  (Maybe I screwed something else up?)

[rrocket]

Huh, mine did the opposite.  (Maybe I screwed something else up?)

It's a Subaru...have fun figuring it out.