JHM tune, pipes and catback on an RS4 in Ontario - will it pass Drive Clean... ?

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

This question may be more for Saki, but comments from anyone with MTO Drive Clean experience is welcome.

I’m considering the JHM tune with downpipes+catbacks but am concerned it won’t pass the Ontario Drive Clean test. Any have experience, and if it won’t pass, any way to make it work? (without reverting to stock).

I’ve read the JHM tune suppresses VAG-COM codes (if any) but considering the recent changes to the Ontario test (they now read the ODBII codes for emissions issues, and don’t analyze the exhaust anymore), I’m a little more concerned.

Thanks.

#2

i think you should in theory be less concerned because OBDii is easier to fool than an exhaust sniffer

if you’re looking at catless, I am not sure what’ll happen. In theory, readiness would show the cat failed wouldn’t iot? How many fails are you allowed? Do they do a visual inspection? If so make sure the belly pan is on to hide the lack of cats!

Before I think we had no chance. Exhaust sniffer + catless = instafail

Now…not sure. We at least have till next year or 2015 right?

p.s. you can always get a hot swappable cat section for driveclean time…then swap back to catless. I know some people do that. iit’s about 40 minutes to swap I believe…if all goes well.

#3

Hmmm, looks like more research required - I’ve no idea if the readiness test would show a fail with no cats, no idea how many times you can retest, and which is easier to pass - OBDII or exhaust sniffer. I think they’ll do a visual if they suspect the car’s been messed with.

Hell, I’m not even sure which way to go - piggies or JHM downpipes? Is the stock catback good enough for this tune?

What do you have on your car?

#4

The readiness should be fine with the tune. If you’d like I’ll scan my car tomorrow to see what the readiness says since I still have my catless section in (I had an exhaust shop make me a hotswappable section with cats).

Visual inspection was one of the reasons I decided to go the hotswappable route. I guess you could have someone weld a fake cat bulge around your downpipes if you really wanted to pass visual but remain catless.

V-Band style clamps make it easier to swap, but can be slightly annoying to line everything up (especially lying on your back with not much clearance). As long as no bolts or o2 sensors are stuck it’s like a 30 minute job once the car is up on ramps or whatever.

You should really at least have piggies with the tune.

Says so on their website too

#5

Yeah piggies are basically a bottle cap put in place to heat the motor up faster on cold starts. Unfortunately once you get to temp it’s still there. Imagine trying to drink a corona with the cap still on? The cap is great for keeping the beer fresh but once it’s go time, it’s very much in the way. Well now you know how precats are for performance.

Gut precats, get jhm tuned, pass emissions, profit.

#6

one additional thing to consider is if the tune forces readiness or readjusts the required range to pass. some states in the US are using testing procedures that check for forced readiness (basically check readiness for 7/8 passes, if good then clear codes/reset readiness, recheck that there are now 8/8 unreadys since it hasnt run the test).

the s4 tunes adjusted the range for a passed test, not sure about the rs4 tune. also not sure if this is applicable for you or not, just something that could be on the horizon

#7

Sakis right, the new emission standards are actually easy to fool. For myself, I’m stage 3 with no cats. I brought it to a friend with a vagcom and we cleared the codes, drove around for a while and waited for my readiness to be passed. All your parameters won’t be passed if you have no cats but you are allowed only one parameter to be failed in order to pass emissions. Apparently you have a short window of time after that to get your emissions done.

Hope that helps or makes sense.

#8

I’d think it adjusts the range, not forces readiness. If there’s something wrong with the readings on the secondary O2’s or you take them out, you’ll get a CEL still.

#9

Yes, the tune doesn’t ‘turn off’ the o2 sensors. It adjust parameters to reduce likelihood of a CEL (specifically a catalyst efficiency code) , but if an o2 sensor fails, the car will let you know promptly.

Many tuners just turn a bunch of shit off. I was reading about someone having trouble with their EGT sensors and their tuner’s solution was to turn them off. Sounded like a bad idea.

#10

Listen to sakimano he knows. The jhm tune is constantly evolving to help meet the emissions standards and tests. We are testing new code that still runs all the tests so the forced readiness isn’t caught. When you know how the system works you don’t need to turn off things you just adjust what the system sees as a pass fail.

That should help answer your question? This was my first day back at work lunch question for the day.

#11

I figured CV had it set that way, just wanted to point out the potential for an issue that other tunes may approach differently (and may not solve)

#12

you guys are awesome, I knew this was the place to ask… thanks. Not ready to pull the trigger yet but I’ll let you folks know when I do.

#13

Even with all the electronic wizardry and tune tomfoolery the ol’ human stiff test might do you in if the guy running the test is half as astute as my left shoelace. If he thinks your exhaust smells funny it may prompt him to investigate further. I’d have a backup plan in place but that’s just me.

#14

There’s a guy in ottawa with an rs4 and a jhm cable I think. Find him so you can save the core exchange hassle.

#15

This is the stuff that I find weird

[quote=udcc11]With the exception of my first revision he has been great. The first contact was during SOWO so imagine he had back log. Since then I’ve had 2 revisions and now an EGT code out without a hitch. Contact withing 24 hrs and usually by the end of the day.
[/quote]

[quote=Mellowdo.ob]JFonz ftw!! ^^ Didn’t bother doing much research as JFonz was highly recommended by Dave & Raz from AU Tuning (EGT’s went out & was stuck in limp mode - went from Vast tune to JFonz to override that crap + O2 delete & meth)…any input about GIAC vs. JFonz? Thanks in advance~!!
[/quote]

#16

A little bit different, but I passed with my Magnaflo high flo cats on my 2000 A6 4.2. I think it was before my JHM tune. Anyway, I would recommend replacing the cats with the Magnaflo’s over going catless. You can pickup a pair for about $200. They are metallic 200 cell. I got the 2.5 in/out. Not sure what size the RS4 is.

#17

coding out EGTs…seems fucking brilliant.

#18

Lol coding out the EGT’s. Great idea. Don’t need those.

#19

Esoeciallona Tur o car being pushed to the max. No big deal.

Can’t seem to make power without the car pinging like crazy. Better code out some knock sensitivity while we are at it.