Specifically, CARB states, "Exempted parts are add-on or modified parts that have undergone a CARB engineering evaluation. According to CARB's website, aftermarket manufacturers can obtain an Executive Order that shows its parts are still within CARB compliance. The good: CARB-approved tunes are still legal.
The bad: Any non-CARB-approved tune is considered to be a modification to a vehicle’s emission software and is, therefore, an illegal modification that will cause an emissions inspection failure. So what is California’s official policy on ECU Tunes?Ī. For now, though, let's get into a few other FAQs you may have about your tuned car and whether or not you're about to fail your next emissions test.
We'll update this and other stories if we hear back from the agency that changes the reasoning behind the enforcement update. We also reached out to CBAR to clarify further questions but haven't heard back at the time of writing.
Once OEMs broke our trust with their software cheating, there was ample notice that we would be using all tools available to ensure everybody was following the rules, including the aftermarket." So we have always been very clear with the industry as to their responsibility to obtain an EO ( Executive Order) to ensure their modifications are legal for their customers. The official added, "Since the beginning of computer-controlled vehicles, software has always been an important part of the emissions control system. Or in some extreme cases, a police officer cited a grossly smoking vehicle, for example, a diesel truck 'Rolling Coal'." It's just been something that typically was only found if the vehicle failed an OBD check or the smog technician noticed physical tampering with the computer or an add-on box. So it's always been illegal and vehicles failed when discovered. And the best examples of all are the alterations of vehicles such as VW did. "We have had enforcement cases against manufacturers and distributors of aftermarket parts based on this issue. A statement provided to The Drive via email by a CARB official goes into the reasoning behind the new push for enforcement. Based on this, CARB and CBAR can access your car's ECU through its OBDII port during an emissions test and see if there are any unapproved vehicle tunes.