IM Test result: is my Prius ready for smog test?

What in the world is an I/M test result? Never seen it mentioned on here in more than a dozen years of being on here almost everyday.

And how do these tests relate to California smog law?

Also which battery did you replace? 12volt? Hybrid battery?

 

Do they actually 'sniff your pipe' in the PRC or just check the codes?
Do they still crawl underneath the car to determine if you have an OEM cat?
In some of the more horribly autocratic places behind the tinsel curtain they will fail you if you have an aftermarket CAT - so there's no way of telling if you will pass your test at all.
As mentioned above, I have no idea what the I/M readiness tester tests for, and I've seen cars that could be used for mosquito control - or even CROWD control that didn't throw OBD2 codes at all.

Not all code readers are the same!!!
The teenagers at C/D have recommendations and I can tell you that I have been more than pleased with the $100 bluetooth model for my 4 cars but I will ALSO hastily add that I live on free soil and do not have to worry about some semi-occasional shake-down by the government in addition to the licensing, registration, and taxes that I already have to pay to use public roads.

I did see that your model comes highly recommended from the Amazon and so you might be golden in the Golden state!

Good Luck!

 

Inspection / Monitors test. This is where you plug in a scantool to check that all of the OBD2 monitor tests have completed.

Then check that there are no active fault codes, and the MIL (check engine light) actually matches the ECM command.

Throw in a visual check of the cat and maybe a gas cap test, and that's what a typical state vehicle emissions inspection consists of.

Here in NJ we have CA emissions regs, so it should be the same. We are allowed to have 1 monitor "incomplete" (2001 or newer) and still pass (but I think the CAT monitor must complete).

CA might have more thorough "anti tampering" inspection.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The I am monitors especially on a real good state machine The testing machine for all this nonsense for automobile testing The IM monitors state that everything is ready for pre-starting the car. the 02 sensors are working etc . Google IM monitors functions. Generally they looking all green . But the Prius has some different IM monitor systems then other vehicles so on your handheld they may not all show exactly right on my handheld this cheap Inova thing they light up all green when everything's working right In my Corollas there's always been a yellow light on the scan tool and the IM monitors one or two of them are always flashing red they still are today but the car passes whatever it needs to pass so I think it's modeled dependent also whether your p h e v h e v etc they different IM's

 

Yes you are good to go.


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The main reason that the inspectors check I/M readiness is to make sure you drove the car a few miles after you reset all codes and the check engine light and no light came back. Otherwise you could cheat the system and reset the light just before you enter the inspection station and pass while the light comes back after a few minutes. Luckily here in Virginia the Prius is exempt from emissions testing. My other hybrid however is not exempt.