Is there a tried and true procedure to get the vehicle to pass smog?

Yes, move out of CA.

 

Yup 👏🏽

 

The vehicle was sitting for a while and was started and stopped quite a few times before driving off the lot. Buy a high quality fuel additive (Chevron, etc.) and run it through the tank of Tier 1 gas (name brand I.e. Sunoco, Shell, Exxon, etc.). Then try again. If it doesn’t pass again, the dealer needs to check the engine.

 

Similar thing happened to me in Virginia, but I had over 5k miles on mine at the time. Took 4 times before it finally passed. Tech told me to drive 75 miles after the first time, didn't work. Went another 75 miles, still nothing. Took it back a couple weeks later after a 500 mile road trip and it finally passed.

 

In Virginia we don’t have smog/emissions testing.

 

Make sure you have it running (and driving) for 30 continuous minutes prior to the test. If you only drive a short distance to get it tested it could fail as it doesn't get up to operating temperature. Or if it sits at the testing site for a long period of time and cools off before they run the smog test it could fail. NOx emissions are highest on a cold start.

 

Did it fail the test or was the EGR monitor not complete and therefore was not ready to test? Most likely the EGR monitor is incomplete. It’s pretty common on RLs and Pilots that even after thousands of miles, the EGR monitor doesn’t complete. To set the monitor, you need to drive holding 3rd gear, and let the engine rev to ~6500 RPM for 10 secs and the EGR monitor should set. (I’m assuming 6500RPM in 3rd is a safe speed). To see if the monitor is complete, with the engine OFF, press the Start/Stop button 2x without pressing the brake pedal. Watch the check engine light. If it turns OFF without blinking, the monitors are complete. If the check engine light blinks 5x before turning OFF the monitors are not complete. There are several monitors. A scan tool is required to see which monitor(s) is incomplete.
With my Pilot the EGR monitor wasn’t complete and I needed to get the emission test completed. This was after 3 years and 25K miles. I tried doing Honda’s procedure to set the monitors to no avail. Read about the 10secs @ 6500RPM trick and the EGR monitor immediately completed and the emission test passed.

 

Hey there ! I’m having problems with my 2019 Ridgeline in California…. I need the smog test to get my California plates (moved here from out of state) and it keeps coming up as “not ready”. I am confused about your tip to get 6500 RPM?
How and where do I do that safely ? The guys at the shop told me to drive between 55 and 60 on the Highway on a couple of “20 minute runs” stopping and pulling over halfway and restarting the car… but I’ve tried this twice and have gone in to retest and it’s still coming up as “not ready”.
I’m starting to go crazy trying to figure this out- and each test is $55 so this is getting expensive and I feel like I’m getting screwed ? What should I try next? Any help is very much appreciated !

 

I had the exact same situation with my 2019 RTL-E, bought it in OR and had to have smog tested in CA to register it. It too failed the smog test. The solution is to drive it hard enough to engage the VTEC, you will need to get the RPM's over 5000 for about 5 - 10 seconds to set the flag in the computer. Either find some open road or put it D4 and push it. I didn't believe the dealer service when they told me that initially but they did it and it cleared test. Give it a try.

 

You live in CA and didn't buy an electric vehicle, shame on you. You do realize your state is going to fall off into the ocean someday and then all your wishes will come true, no gasoline available to buy in your state.

 

Not ready now and most likely never will be buying an electric vehicle. Highly unlikely that CA will fall into the ocean in my lifetime. CA has at least 13 full scale refineries producing gasoline which provide the residents with over 90% of their usage. You are obviously listening to too much fake news

I do believe it is an RPM thing to get the EGR to "complete". I will take it out and run it just up over 6k rpm's and get a retest.

 

Does anyone know if I plug in an OBD2 scanner while trying to set EGR monitor if it will display success? Hate to submit my new Ridgeline to 6,000rpm more than once.

 

If the scanner can display the monitor status it will show EGR monitor completion as soon as it completes.

@zroger73 gave us a tutorial the last time this issue came up.

"According to the service information, to set the EGR monitor specifically to "complete":

1. Make sure the coolant temperature is 176°F or higher.

2. Drive at a steady speed with the transmission in D at 50－62 mph (80－100 km/h) or above for more than 10 seconds.

3. With the transmission in D, decelerate from 62 mph (100 km/h) or above by completely releasing the throttle for at least 5 seconds.

If this doesn't work, try again. If it still doesn't work, it's time to visit a dealer."

New 2019 RTL-E emissions not ready

Long story short, I live in California but bought a new RTL-E in Oregon and have brought it home. The Republic of California insists that all vehicles new or otherwise brought into the state must be smog tested in order to register in the state. When I took in to the test station it failed for...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

Tried that several times on my Pilot and it didn’t set the EGR monitor. A few seconds @ 6500RPM and the EGR monitor immediately completed.

 

@zroger73 gave us a tutorial the last time this issue came up.

"According to the service information, to set the EGR monitor specifically to "complete":

1. Make sure the coolant temperature is 176°F or higher.

2. Drive at a steady speed with the transmission in D at 50－62 mph (80－100 km/h) or above for more than 10 seconds.

3. With the transmission in D, decelerate from 62 mph (100 km/h) or above by completely releasing the throttle for at least 5 seconds.

If this doesn't work, try again. If it still doesn't work, it's time to visit a dealer."

New 2019 RTL-E emissions not ready

Long story short, I live in California but bought a new RTL-E in Oregon and have brought it home. The Republic of California insists that all vehicles new or otherwise brought into the state must be smog tested in order to register in the state. When I took in to the test station it failed for...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

 

I will give this a try tomorrow but won't know I was successful till Monday am when I return to the smog check station.

 

Yes you do; maybe not your county but vehicles registered in Northern Virginia counties are required to test.

 

In Texas it's County, by County. I live in Ft. Worth, Texas where it is in effect to get the smog test to get your State Inspection, but in Decauter, Texas up the road 38 miles where I purchased my vehicle it is not required in that County. Now one thing you can't do is take your vehicle to that County for a state inspection, your have has to get your inspection in the County your vehicle is registered in.
trainman

 

Stupid question but how do you turn the ignition on without starting it? Ignition goes on as you press the start button.

 

Usually you press the start button and don’t press the brake pedal

 

Press the Start/ Stop button 2x without pressing the brake pedal. 1st press is accessory mode, 2nd press is ignition ON. On the 2nd press all the gauge cluster lights will illuminate. The CEL will come ON for about 10 secs. If the CEL turns OFF without blinking, all monitors are complete. Press Start/Stop again to turn OFF the vehicle.
If the CEL blinks 5x before turning OFF the monitors are incomplete. If the monitors are incomplete you’ll need a scan tool to determine which monitor is not ready for testing.

 

Thank you guys that's exactly what I needed to know. According to the smog tester, it's my EGR that is not ready. I will be out today trying a couple of different methods learned on here to get the EGR monitor set. I hope to verify success with the Check Engine light and then I will be back at the smog testers on Monday morning.

 

Went out and tried two suggested methods, 1.) 50mph-62mph for 10s and then decelarate for 5s with foot off accelerator.
And then I took it up to 6500 rpm twice, which pained me to do to a new vehicle.

Using this criteria, turn ignition on and if the Check Engine light flashes after 10s of steady on EGR is not set. My EGR is not set using this criteria. CEL flashes after 10s. Going to the dealer this morning see what they have to say. Vehicle still only has about 340 total miles.

 

You don’t really know if it’s the EGR monitor that is incomplete if you don’t use a scanner to read the status. In MD, which basically follows the CA emission laws, the evap monitor doesn’t have to be complete to pass the test but the EGR monitor has to be ready.
How long do you have to get the vehicle tested? At 340 miles, I’m sure the dealer will tell you to keep driving and the monitors will complete.

 

I assure you it went through much worse between the assembly line and the day you took delivery.

 

Is it possible that there is something wrong with your truck (e.g. the EGR system malfunctioning) that it is unable to complete the readiness test?

 

It is possible but I am doubtful. Visiting dealer today to get their thoughts. I believe that it just needs to get a few thousand miles on it before a smog test.

 

Can the dealership do the smog test? I'm just asking because one time I had a new vehicle that needed to be inspected, and when I went to a generic shop (probably a JiffyLube/Kwik Kar type place, I honestly don't remember, this was nearly 20 years ago), they failed it saying the emissions monitors weren't ready. They suggested it was an issue with their testing equipment communicating with the brand new car. Maybe they hadn't updated their software yet? I'm not sure, he didn't really elaborate. Anyways, long story short, I made an appointment with the dealership, and got it inspected and registered no problem...

 

I will pose that question to the dealer today. Not sure all dealers are certified to do smog testing, but I will find out.

 

Is CA really that totalitarian??

 

CA is not the only state that requires emissions testing. Emissions testing is required in one or more counties in more than two-third of states including several in Texas.

 

Interesting. Here, in SC, no one cares about any of that. In fact, there are no inspection requirements for resales. Only a handshake.

 

Exactly the kind of nonsense that caused me to flee California when I retired 6 years ago. Thanks for affirming my decision...although no affirmation was really needed.

 

In MD an emissions test is required ~ every 2 years. A new vehicle‘s first test is at 3 years. For light cars and trucks, the test consists of reading the test status from the OBD2 port. So basically if the CEL is OFF, the vehicle passes. The vehicle’s ready monitors must be complete for testing. The state also installed self serve kiosks that are open 24/7. Cost is $14 for an attendant to perform the test, $10 for the self-serve option. Testing has been in place since the early 80s and it’s really not a big deal. Especially now that on board diagnostics are used to determine pass/ fail and self serve testing is available.
Emissions testing requirements are generally driven by the EPA so my guess is VA is changing their requirement to be in compliance with updated fed mandates.

 

My Ridgeline passed the smog test yesterday. My first test was at 290 total miles when it failed. Tried a few of the methods recommended in this thread that did not seem to work. Went to my local Honda dealer and their recommendation was just drive it and get some miles on it. The key was that someone mentioned that when turning the ignition on only, the check engine light should light for about 10 seconds and then go out. If it flashes after the 10s it's not ready for smog test. At 290 miles I would get the flashing CEL, at 400 miles no flashing CEL! Took it back for a retest and all was good!
Thanks to you all offering input.
Happy to be a member here and hope I can help in some way on here down the road.

 

Same problem here, same RPM solution. I recently purchased a used 2020 Ridgeline RTL-E and needed a smog to transfer the title. It failed last week with "EGR not ready." Reading this forum, I was able to confirm the CEL blinking 5 times during the "no foot on brake" startup procedure. After the truck was good and warmed up, I took it on the freeway, shifted to S mode. Going about 55, I downshifted with the paddles to M3, then accelerated slightly to get up to 6200 RPM. It held there without upshifting. Kept it there for about 5-7 seconds. That did the trick. No CEL blinking and passed the smog. Thank you for the solid advice.

 

Just a piece of info for future buyers in CA. You can take new cars to the state referee if you are under 1000 miles and monitor will not set and they will give you a passing smog check as long as your car has CA emissions equipment (think all cars do now) .

This is not something they advertise but many of the corvette owners do it that take delivery straight from the assembly plant and do not want to put any miles on thier collectible cars. Here is a snip it fro a GM bulletin explaining, they mention specifically the O2 sensor but I believe they do it for any monitor that is not ready on a new car:

Customer Options to Resolve the Case of a New Vehicle Not Being Ready for the California Smog Inspection
When the vehicle is not ready for the Smog Inspection, the customer has a few options to resolve the situation as follows:
1. Obtain a Temporary Operating Permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which will allow the customer to drive the vehicle allowing in many cases for the problem to resolve itself.
2. The customer can work with a GM Dealer to make sure the catalyst break-in period has completed and the O2S/HO2S Monitor Complete has been set to Yes, which could take 700–1000 miles of vehicle operation.
3. In California, the customer can call 1-800-622-7733 to make an appointment with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Scheduling Center in order to get a waiver from the Oxygen Sensor Monitor Complete requirement.

 

There's a referee? Like a basketball/football game?

 

Yea sort of, they are located at area community colleges. They resolve questions on the SMOG rules and inspect more difficult cars. When you create a system that is tougher than the federal emissions laws (and more complicated) you are bound to need someone to interpret the rules, even for the people enforcing the rules! LOL

Wish I knew that about 6 weeks ago But thanks for that info. I am sure it will be helpful to others that encounter the same thing I did.

Yea I just found it out myself! They do not advertise that service!