The EPA Is Targeting Aftermarket Car Modifications

[Car-Addicted]

The EPA Is Targeting Aftermarket Car Modifications
March 3, 2024
The EPA has provided some clarification about certain items it considers defeat devices. In a memo issued on November 3, 2020 it says “tuners” which “change the ECU… might be an illegal aftermarket defeat device, the use or installation of which might constitute illegal tampering.”
In that same memo, the EPA does let everyone know that there’s no point during the life of a car when tampering with the many emissions-related devices as defined by the agency is okay. Even if you pull the engine or other equipment from a vehicle that’s been wrecked, you still have to play by the rules as defined by the EPA or else.
The agency proudly trots out recent examples of its and the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts. One involves fining Borla $1,022,500 in 2022 for the sin of manufacturing and selling aftermarket exhausts designed for the removal of catalytic converters.



Big names in the aftermarket world have been caught in this squeeze, like Summit Racing, which settled for $600,000 last summer. Parts iD was hit for $500,000 while Keystone Automotive, the owner of Warn and other off-road brands, incurred a $2.5 million penalty.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Mobile Sources & Air Compliance & Enforcement is combing through Facebook Marketplace for illegally modified vehicles for sale. Agents reportedly have contacted the owners and threated them with fines, even jail time. So if you think your modified car sitting in your garage can fly under the radar, the noose is tightening and it might only be a matter of time before you’re targeted in some sting.
https://theautowire.com/2024/03/03/t...modifications/

[Car-Addicted]

Inside a Tuning Shop When the EPA Comes Knocking
Back in December 2020, Leivestad was on a trip to California to help finalize a tune for fellow YouTuber Emilia Hartford’s K-24-swapped Toyota Prius. While trying to get the turbocharged hatch to run correctly, Leivestad received a worrying call from the shop back in Colorado. PFI Speed had been issued a letter from the EPA, which requested information about all of the builds PFI Speed had done, as well as details related to every part sold by the team. The agency made it clear there were no alternatives to complying with this request should PFI Speed wish to remain in legal operation.
As part of the request, the EPA required PFI Speed to turn over an extensive list of documents. Photos and contact information related to each of the builds and their respective owners, lists of every part installed on said builds, names of distributors and retailers utilized to purchase those parts, as well as lists of parts sold with client information attached were all requested.
“Just before Race Week 2021, I was hit with the fine, which totaled $18,000 for selling the Hondata S300 product through our shop,” Leivestad said. “The notice informed us that we were to pay the fine within 30 days, or the figure would jump to $180,000. If I agreed to pay the fine right away, I had to sign a letter that clearly stated that I would no longer modify cars beyond that date. I physically couldn’t do it anymore.
The Hondata S300 is a popular plug-in OBD1 ECU for Honda products that features a ton of aftermarket friendly features, like support for forced induction, ethanol sensor capabilities, and CAN output.

In order to prove to the EPA that the vehicles in question were exclusively for competition use, Leivestad told R&T that the cars needed to be immediately identifiable as racing vehicles. That included the presence of a full roll-cage, non-DOT compliant rubber, an absence of road registration, and a dedicated trailer for transportation. Once this information was provided by the shop and respective owners

“The Clean Air Act does not contain any exemption from the tampering and defeat device prohibitions for motor vehicles used in competition,” an EPA spokesperson told R&T.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...omes-knocking/

You best stop bragging about your ECU remapping, or the next compliment you get may come with a legal summons from the EPA.

[GolfCoyote]

The EPA and the ATF both are products of waaaay too much government overreach. Neither has the power to enact law, yet they create and enforce rules that carry jail time or serious monetary fines. Odd.

[M-technik-3]

Your not even supposed to be doing this to vehicle that are no longer registered on the road anymore aka 24hrs of lemons and so forth. We seem to be ever creeping up on a socialism country.

Sad but by hiding within our own little circle we no longer get involved in what our gov't is doing and the laws they are passing secretly buried. The changes I have seen in 40 years and and can only imagine in another 40 years.

[cooolone2]

And when the SCOTUS knocks down the Chevron Standard this will all be over... Acronym agencies won't have any power not specifically granted to it by Congress & Law! No more setting ridiculous standards, outside a LAW, no more creating arbitrary fine schedules outside LAW... Pick any acronym agency that has run amok and rejoice that it'll be put in Check Soon!

[Redd]

Government sanctioned Eco terrorism.

[G MONEY]

FUCK THEM!! Mod away boys.

[TR930]

These EPA approved GESI race cats looking better everyday.....

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Weather Man

I was amazed when I joined here and saw open posting about no cats and tuning. Those topics have been off limits in the online Mustang world for years. The EPA's view is that touching any part connected to the motor is illegal tampering of emissions device. Real world talking to localish shop owners is that as long as you leave the cats and PCV on you're a low priority. Those shop owners also report what are clearly EPA fishing calls asking if you will remove cats or tune a car that they gutted the cats on. The local diesel shops won't touch tampering with a 10 foot pole, the Feds don't play one bit on that.

In every LS focused forum I've been on cat deletes were super common. It wasn't hushed or anything, it was more like standard that you'd go catless on LT headers and adding cats was the exception.

Hopefully the next administration guys these unelected bureaucrats and rolls back all their overreaches. Whenever that comes (won't be soon enough).

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

And when the SCOTUS knocks down the Chevron Standard this will all be over... Acronym agencies won't have any power not specifically granted to it by Congress & Law! No more setting ridiculous standards, outside a LAW, no more creating arbitrary fine schedules outside LAW... Pick any acronym agency that has run amok and rejoice that it'll be put in Check Soon!

I hope you're right.

[christianb5s4]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

And when the SCOTUS knocks down the Chevron Standard this will all be over... Acronym agencies won't have any power not specifically granted to it by Congress & Law! No more setting ridiculous standards, outside a LAW, no more creating arbitrary fine schedules outside LAW... Pick any acronym agency that has run amok and rejoice that it'll be put in Check Soon!

This. The Chevron ruling will be massive. These beaurocratic organizations are not a fourth branch, full stop.

[Davil]

What a weird world we live in.

Isn’t it lovely that Aston Martin had secondary cat deletes as an approved factory option during the glory days of fun cars for enthusiasts. Weirdly enough only 6 years ago. Seems like an eternity now.

The world has now changed. Fast soulless appliances.

There are so much more worthwhile things to police.

What a weird world we live in.

[AmuroRay]

This is crazy - this forum needs to start blocking certain words so these vendors and people don't become targets.

[Car-Addicted]

My guess it that the way this will go is that the governments/EPA will pressure the auto manufactures to ensure that their approved emission and safety specifications are kept in tact. If a manufacturer gets fined for having their cars modified you can see them having update capabilities to the ECU or other in car computers. You can do your boot mod to the ECU but the manufacturer will spot that and over ride it to factory spec to stay in compliance with emission standards. We are headed to a time of automotive fascism. My 2020 M4CS in the garage gets more beautiful everyday.

This speed limiting is not the end of the story. You think the ASS (Auto Start Stop) pisses you off wait for the "Kill Switch"
Kill-Switch Rule Under Consideration
Section 24220 of the 2021 infrastructure law directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require that automakers include a device in new cars that will passively detect whether the driver is drunk and keep them from operating the car. NHTSA has until November of this year to write the rule and then new cars made beginning two years after that must comply. The law specifically states that if NHTSA can’t find a device that will accomplish this, then it doesn’t have to require one.
https://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=21940

[ASAP]

trying to figure out my best how in the world would the epa tell if someone's car is tuned lmao

[Car-Addicted]

Originally Posted by ASAP

trying to figure out my best how in the world would the epa tell if someone's car is tuned lmao

If your coding on your CPU doesn't match the OEM manufacturer, it's modified. This could including ASS (Auto Start Stop) being codded out.
It could also take oxygen sensor readings?

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

If your coding on your CPU doesn't match the OEM manufacturer, it's modified. This could including ASS (Auto Start Stop) being codded out.
It could also take oxygen sensor readings?

how would they collect that data?
fl for example has no emissions testing

[Car-Addicted]

Originally Posted by ASAP

how would they collect that data?
fl for example has no emissions testing

Your car has a internet connection. Easy Peasy. Most cars now have optional updates now but in the future you may well have "maintenance updates"

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Your car has a internet connection. Easy Peasy. Most cars now have optional updates now but in the future you may well have "maintenance updates"

well the future is supposedly mostly electric cars with V8s entirely out of the picture and even m4, m5 cars will be hybrids... so its almost like this is some completely useless debate w things that would apply to older cars that won't even have this tech... so i am wildly confused by what the epa is even making up here

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Weather Man

Hybrids are considered ICE under EU and USA states imposing bans. Many people don't understand that fact. Even the new RAM pickup with a generator that only charges the battery will not meet EV criteria.

right so who is tuning hybrids?

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by Weather Man

No evil Co2 emissions allowed. Net zero emissions

Stop breathing.
So dumb we’ll allowed them to consider us breathing and living a harm to the planet.

[Car-Addicted]

Trucking companies ordered to pay $1M fine for illegal modifications to big rigs: 'This case is one of the largest of its kind'
March 8, 2024
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced in October that two Grand Rapids-based trucking companies and several individuals were sentenced for deactivating the emissions control systems on semi trucks.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the process of "deletion" can "improve performance and fuel economy and save maintenance costs" but increases tailpipe pollution, which can have detrimental health and environmental effects.

"Tampering with or removing emissions controls can drastically increase the emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and non-methane hydrocarbons found in vehicle exhaust," the release stated. "Exposure to and inhalation of these chemicals at greater levels is associated with serious health risks."
U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney ordered the two businesses to pay fines of $500,000 each and serve a year of probation as part of their felony convictions. Judge Maloney also sentenced all four men to a year of probation, with Scholten and Bos serving four months in home detention and Larsen serving two months. Additionally, Scholten and Bos each received a fine of $6,000, while Larsen was fined $7,500, and DeKock $10,000.

"The sentencings in this case show that EPA and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable individuals who disregard health and environmental laws designed to protect our communities from dangerous air pollution," Matovic added. 

It's another example of the Clean Air Act in action, as the U.S. Justice Department levied a $1.7 billion penalty last year against a company that installed software that could bypass emission controls.

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-bu...ies-sentenced/

Get ready folks this is just the beginning.