I am a NYS inspector and heres how it works in NY, im guessing in NC its almost the same thing.
When you turn off the check engine light with a scanner (or discn. the battery), the code goes away but the computer takes a note that you did that until it has time to get new information and deside if it is running within specs, so when you plug it to the machine, it comes up as "system not ready" (basicly telling you that the sensor hasnt read long enough to decide if it is good or not) and you will fail. you have to drive the car until the sensor comes back online with a reading....but then your check engine light will come back on and you will still fail.
With the MILs however, I dont know if they just give the sensor that "system not ready" code which turns off the light, but doesnt solve the code, or it acctually gives you a false reading and trick the computer into thinking its working properly. I have them on my car, but never inspected the car with them...can anyone help me out with that?
sgarlic said:
Well, I know what you're talking about with the p1000 code. Supposedly people from several states (wish I could tell you which ones offhand, but it's on old threads,) have told the people that their battery had gone bad, and was recently replaced, causing the cycle tests to not have been completed. I'm just going by what I read, I personally don't go through emmissions testing, so I can't really interject more than that.
Whoever told you this has no clue what they are talking about. If i see this, (1 or more sensors has that "system not ready to read" msg) by law, I have to drive the car until all the sensors come back online and then check again for codes. DO NOT DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO CLEAR CODES- you will fail the inspection.
you can only pass an OBDII inspection if all sensors are reading and producing accepted numbers and there are no codes. As for not having cats, we are SUPPOSED to do a visual inspection, but if the computer dont read it, we dont bother....the the OBDII gives you a check engine light if it doesnt meet any standards, so it does everything itself, the test takes about 15 minutes. And there is no way to "talk out of it" because the inspection computers are hardwired into the DMV network and they acctualy aprove or fail the car, so they know before the technitian does...theres absolutely no way to pass a car unless it passes the test.
So heres the real question:
How do MIL Elliminators effect the sensor? does it give a fake reading?(you pass inspection) or does it just turn the sensor off?( you get a "system not ready" reading on that sensor and you fail
Disclaimer:: this is how it works in NY, CA and NJ.......I dont know about your state, some have no emmssions at all.