Illinois Emissions result: Reject WTF???

mikeyk101 · February 27, 2020

I really hate Illinois but due to circumstances beyond my control, I am stuck here for at least 10 more years... So Illinois requires emissions testing in NE Illinois every 2 years in order to renew your license plate sticker. I just took mine over to get tested. I do have a Range AFM module that I have been using for the last couple months. I remember seeing somewhere to remove it prior to getting testing done so I took mine off before heading over. The test site is less than 10 miles away. When testing, they now use an OBD tester to check. I figured I would be good because I have never had a MIL problem. When I got the results, it said it was rejected because of the OBD and that it could be a result of a dead battery that had to be recharged. The good thing though is that a fail because of an OBD issue doesnt automatically trigger a trip to a mechanic. I get 2 more tries before I need to do that.

So I assume that using the Range AFM Disabler is the reason that the fail happened??? So if that's the case, how long do I need to leave it off before getting it retested? Looks like I will be driving around again in M5 before retesting...

wforrest08 · February 27, 2020

31 minutes ago, mikeyk101 said:

how long do I need to leave it off before getting it retested?

It’s on their website (Q&A section?) but if I remember correctly I believe it’s at least ten (10) key cycles they recommend.

Bash74 · February 27, 2020

3 parts to an OBD emissions test. MIL light comes on when key in, a check that all monitors are in a ready state, and set MIL light on then off with OBD. AFM disabler doesnt fail any of these. I have pulled out peoples disablers before doing inspections and it still passes. Now if they just reset an engine light or codes then they would have to go drive around a little bit to get all monitors to a ready state.

I am glad I finally moved and dont have to deal with this stuff anymore. I hated failing people for stuff they did to their vehicles because of state bullshit.

I would just move. I need way more freedom then anyone in Illinois could ever get. I would leave and live in my truck in a parking lot till I found a job if I had to.

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It's Tim · February 27, 2020

16 minutes ago, Bash74 said:

I would just move. I need way more freedom then anyone in Illinois could ever get. I would leave and live in my truck in a parking lot till I found a job if I had to.

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"Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose..."

Janis Joplin

newdude · February 27, 2020

59 minutes ago, mikeyk101 said:

I really hate Illinois but due to circumstances beyond my control, I am stuck here for at least 10 more years... So Illinois requires emissions testing in NE Illinois every 2 years in order to renew your license plate sticker. I just took mine over to get tested. I do have a Range AFM module that I have been using for the last couple months. I remember seeing somewhere to remove it prior to getting testing done so I took mine off before heading over. The test site is less than 10 miles away. When testing, they now use an OBD tester to check. I figured I would be good because I have never had a MIL problem. When I got the results, it said it was rejected because of the OBD and that it could be a result of a dead battery that had to be recharged. The good thing though is that a fail because of an OBD issue doesnt automatically trigger a trip to a mechanic. I get 2 more tries before I need to do that.

So I assume that using the Range AFM Disabler is the reason that the fail happened??? So if that's the case, how long do I need to leave it off before getting it retested? Looks like I will be driving around again in M5 before retesting...

The Range very well may have caused it. Depending on what parameters it changes, it might, when removed, reset the readiness monitors in the ECM, which would require a drive cycle or two to reset them.

mikeyk101 · February 27, 2020

1 hour ago, Bash74 said:

3 parts to an OBD emissions test. MIL light comes on when key in, a check that all monitors are in a ready state, and set MIL light on then off with OBD. AFM disabler doesnt fail any of these. I have pulled out peoples disablers before doing inspections and it still passes. Now if they just reset an engine light or codes then they would have to go drive around a little bit to get all monitors to a ready state.

I am glad I finally moved and dont have to deal with this stuff anymore. I hated failing people for stuff they did to their vehicles because of state bullshit.

I would just move. I need way more freedom then anyone in Illinois could ever get. I would leave and live in my truck in a parking lot till I found a job if I had to.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

I really wish I could move but it's impossible right now unfortunately., unless I get divorced and that could turn into an expensive proposition. It's the wife's job and her family keeping us here for now. I do have a basic OBD II tester and it might be worthwhile putting that on to see if any codes are present. But one thing to note was that several sensors listed on the printout that get tested by the Illinois emissions procedure did say not ready or something like that. So it would seem that this might have been a result of using the Range disabler. As far as how the procedure gets done, you drive into the testing area and leave the vehicle running so there is no key off part. They just plug in the cable into the obd port and the testing is done while vehicle is still running.

Edited February 27, 2020 by mikeyk101

mikeyk101 · February 27, 2020

Checking with my bluetooth obd II scanner, there were no fault codes but it also showed several sensors were not ready. So my next step will be to drive around for a couple days without the Range disabler, do another check with my obd scanner, and if everything looks ok, back to the emissions testing center. I'm just glad I didnt wait til the last minute. My plates expire the end of March so I have a bit of a buffer...

BlaineBug · February 28, 2020

Did they mention that not all of the readiness monitors had completed? Perhaps when you remove the range module, the OBD system goes back into learn mode just as if the battery was disconnected.

mikeyk101 · February 28, 2020

15 minutes ago, BlaineBug said:

Did they mention that not all of the readiness monitors had completed? Perhaps when you remove the range module, the OBD system goes back into learn mode just as if the battery was disconnected.

I think that is probably what is going on. I plugged in my little OBD reader and there were no faults but this it what it also showed

BlaineBug · February 28, 2020

Looks like you have the ELM327 code reader with the Torque app like I do! Go and have it re-tested when everything is showing complete. Let us know how long it takes for that to happen too!

Edited February 28, 2020 by BlaineBug

mikeyk101 · February 28, 2020

Only downside is it may take a little longer. I'm retired now and dont drive as much as I used to. But as soon as I get all completed, I will have it retested.

mikeyk101 · February 28, 2020

And I guess I should have gone to the Range web site first where I would have found this answer. I did drive about 10 miles before the test after unplugging the Disabler but obviously not enough...

Edited February 28, 2020 by mikeyk101

BlaineBug · February 28, 2020

Interesting. So it's possible that the range module keeps the vehicle in a perpetual state of having at least one readiness motor not complete its cycle? That doesn't sound good overall and would lead me to believe that the module can potentially keep the vehicle from reaching peak performance or efficiency.

Edited February 28, 2020 by BlaineBug

mikeyk101 · March 10, 2020

Update... Like I mentioned, I really dont drive that much. So I was keeping an eye on my own OBD Tester and it was still showing Incomplete on the Evaporative System and the EGR System. On Sunday, I had some time to kill so I went out for a drive. I did about 35 miles or so and finally the EGR System showed Complete but the Evap System continued to show Incomplete. I looked back at my previous post and saw that I should have stopped off the tank before driving. I only had 1/4 of a tank when I started. Today, I topped off the tank and went out for another drive. After about 40 miles, I still had Incomplete on the Evap but decided to head to the Emissions site and get it tested anyway. I ended up at about 60 miles by the time I got to the site and this time it passed. The printout also showed Not Ready on the Evaporative System but it passed nonetheless.

What a pain in the arse this was. Luckily I am now good for 2 more years before it has to be tested again. Hopefully by then I will be somewhere that doesnt require this nonsense. Or I will pull the Range AFM disabler at least a week or two before I take it back for testing...

BlaineBug · March 10, 2020

Glad to hear it. I wonder which tests are allowed to be "incomplete" as per their testing? I live in northwest Indiana and our testing is very much the same as in Illinois although with more testing sites that are state run. Believe it or not they are not inefficient for being state run, unlike your Illinois secretary of state offices. I've been there and they are crazy depressing. Our Indiana BMVs are a dream come true. I registered my new vehicle purchase back in January in about 5 minutes flat believe it or not.

Edited March 10, 2020 by BlaineBug