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[email protected] clare@snyder.on.ca is offline
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Default EPA caught VW cheating - how does the car know it's being tested?

On Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:34:45 -0500, "." wrote:

On 9/19/2015 12:20 PM, Steve W. wrote:
. wrote:
On 9/19/2015 11:12 AM, Steve W. wrote:
Sure will. You have to enter the VIN into the system to start the
inspection. IF the EPA requires a recall to reflash the ECM to remove
that software and "correct" the problem, that would have to be done at a
dealer. They will track completed vehicles by VIN. The state can just
flag ALL those vehicles. You pull in, they plug in the tester, and your
VIN doesn't show on the "recall complete" list. You don't get inspected.

That has happened before for other recalls. I'm betting the fix will be
to re-flash the ECM software to remove the "switch". Then run each one
through the full EPA test regardless of registration state. That because
this if a federal law that was broken.

What will be fun will be watching all the johnny racer types who
modified the cars by removing emissions gear and "tuning" the ECM. VW
could actually show them to the EPA and say "THEY removed the systems so
they should pay a fine as well".

When has the EPA ever gone after individual passenger car vehicle owners?


Happens a lot more than you might think. States get into the act under
the umbrella of the EPA laws.


I've still yet to hear or read of a single case myself.


Spot checking of modified vehicles at large "car shows" has been
promised, and reported. Just because your car is registered as a 1927
model "T" ford does not mean it is exempt from emissions testing if it
has a 2009 Chevy LT between the frame rails.

Officially it needs to meet the requirements for the 2009 vehicle the
LT was originally supplied for (determined by the engine number).


VW intentionally wrote software for their vehicles with the express
intent of violating the EPA laws.


Yes, I know. But the EPA will be the only route by which this
could be addressed given that many states don't even do testing.