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jaimesix, welcome back.
The 'monitors' that need to be in ready status for a smog check dont' necessarily rely on just miles being put on the vehicle.
Some are based off of drive cycles The secondary air pump for example needs a certain amount of cold starts before it will be ready for smog. You can pick up a cheap obd2 scanner on amazon and many of them will show you which monitors are ready and which still aren't.
good luck, I know passing smog can be a bit of a challenge here in CA.
Hi Jedi.
Thanks for your reply.
I bought a while ago this scanner, "FIXD" brand, never used it.
Will connect it and check it out , what sort of information should I look for to tell me the car is ready for the smog test, or that it is not ready yet ?
From what I see this scanner uses a FIXD App that shows what the scanner is supposed to ready.
I never used a scanner so I am not experienced in it.
Here a couple photos, it is brand new and will test it on my RX 👍 FIXD scanner. Instructions. Instructions.
jaimesix: did you get a chance to install the app and try the reader?
It looks fancy but also seems like they really want you to pay for their premium subscription which honestly seems overpriced.
I can show you screenshots from my simple bluetooth reader that shows me the smog monitors but I don't really know how that would help you since I'm not familiar with your device's screens.
This is the $11 code reader I use on my RX-8
jaimesix: did you get a chance to install the app and try the reader?
It looks fancy but also seems like they really want you to pay for their premium subscription which honestly seems overpriced.
I can show you screenshots from my simple bluetooth reader that shows me the smog monitors but I don't really know how that would help you since I'm not familiar with your device's screens.
This is the $11 code reader I use on my RX-8 OBD 2 Bluetooth
if you have an iphone, they have one for that as well.
Hi Jedi
About the smog, took it yesterday and passed. Although I was surprised, it was a "Star" station supposed to be very strict
Been to those before (not the regular station, every now and then the state directs a car to these strict shops) and I remember them testing even the fuel cap
This guy put a device akin to a scanner on my car , under the dash on drivers side and told me this time it was ready to proceed , he proceeded using his computer inside his shop while scanner connected to my dash, my car outside the shop.
He never put my car on the machine, I mean the dynamometer machine the car is supposed to roll on, never a device in the exhaust pipe, and after about 5 minutes he said .... it passed !
He told me the DMV electronically got notified and he gave me the physical certificate
Despite that I know my car is in good shape and always passed the tests so I am ok, probably the guy was in a hurry ... who knows but my car passed
About the FIXD device, yes, read the reviews and the instructions say ... "enter the app but do not start until connected /plugged in and then move forward" Reason why I have not actually used it just yet
Corroborating what you say FIXD never mentioned this fact about having to pay memberships for the device to work and most users deem it a scam, Amazon reviews attest to this fact
Have not used it yet but will check it out but from what I can understand it offers minimum help, the needed diagnosis is part of the "pay for service" items
My engine light was taken care of when I replaced tree oxygen sensor at RRR so I will try it (FIXD) in my other car just to see
Had their sales pitch included "needed membership payment for it to work" statement , I would had never bought it
For a membership for life to be justified, then the purchasing price should be low "and" we would need a new device sent to us every two years because this device we have will be obsolete in a few years
I am surprised even Amazon sells this thing
Last edited by jaimesix; Jun 23, 2021 at 11:51 AM.
glad to hear you passed smog!
Your experience is actually pretty common now as CA changed the smog testing procedure a while back for vehicles equipped with OBDII ports and they no longer require being put on the rollers. Only older vehicles get on the dyno nowadays.
his was done because CARB (California Air Resource Board) figured this was a more accurate test because they could see more data.
For us it's nice because our cars struggle with the tail pipe sensor if our cats are aged and especially for guys running catless. The tech is supposed to do a visual check but many guys don't want to go crawling under an RX-8 so sometimes you can get away with aftermarket parts and still pass.
either way, congrats! You're good for another 2 years.
as for that OBD dongle, yeah seems very sales gimmicky to me but remember, Amazon will sell just about anything as long as they get a cut of the sale.
If you don't like it, check out something similar to what I linked, they're cheap and work well.
^^ yup, they're always on amazon or ebay.
just make sure you buy the one that works with your phone. It's been a few years but I think I remember there was a iphone compatible one and an android.
it's good to have if you ever get a CEL or whatever.
