Stock Stereo and Smog?

[Urq]

I am on another forum for Euro Cars and this just popped up and I find it very interesting!Someone went to smog there 2000 VW and the smog tech said he could not perform the smog on the car do to the stereo being replaced with a after market unit???So here is why....VW's diagnostic computer runs through the radio. So you need to have the original factory radio in for emissions testing and any other trouble shooting that is performed by your service station (or dealer).So here is the big question does Nissan do the same thing and or are all manufactures going to do this in the future??

[darkwind25]

I Work here in a dealership and I haven't seen anything like that in any of the nissans yet.I have lots of customers with newer cars with after market stereos. No one has complained about it when they take it through the Air Care( Gov't cash grab)...So It sounds like its just a Euro Vw thing.

Hope this helps out some.

[msb0b]

The root cause of the 2000 VW problem is not that diagnostics unit is in the radio. It is the wiring harness adapter available for those cars terminates the k-wire incorrectly and causes the OBD scanners to short. Mechanics don't want to blow their OBD scanners so they refuse to scan VW with aftermarket radio.

See http://ross-tech.com/vag-com/a....html

VW change their design to CAN-BUS in 2001/2002 so k-wire is no longer a problem.

In comparison, Nissan's electrical system is straightforward.

[Dereek]

i know that this is a pretty old post. but my gf had this problem, but the guys working at the smog place just ripped out all of the aftermarket equipment and told her to have the place she just bought it from reinstall it. is that legal?

[BBISHOPPCM]

Let's put it this way; if a customer takes a vehicle in for emissions testing, and the car is returned with all his aftermarket equipment removed (but not stolen), than I do believe that would be illegal. If the shop manager asks the customer if they can remove the equipment, but re-install it at his own expense, just to pass the test, that is legal if the customer consents to it. But it's still wrong on many levels. Get a lawyer!!

[Knightro2]

Yea, that is just wrong. Kinda like getting your car detailed and they took out all the seats but then were going to charge you to put them back in.