Pass emissions with a swapped car with an automatic car ECU on a stick trans? Found a klze protege.

So the first car search continues. I decided smaller econobox is better than larger BMW. Initially went after a mazda2, but a protege seemed like the coolest suggestion and I decided to just see if there was one nearby before moving to a fit or mazda2. I also decided something cheaper is probably a better option so I can put more $$ into karting days and track time. 

I found the only protege within 300 miles that isn't completely made of rust - good god are they berkeleying rare. A non rusty protege has to be one of the rarest cars I know of haha. Anyway here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1589066278282041/

It's actually super cool - KL v6 swap (de had 170hp, ze had 200, and i think they both revved to 7), LSD, exhaust, some speedy goodies, etc. 

HOWEVER

I live in illinois which requires emissions tests on post '95 cars. This protege has a KLZE from an auto car, on a manual.

According to the seller:

"I will be honest, you'd probably be hard pressed to get it to pass emissions in IL. If they plug into OBDII diag, they'll see cat inefficiency codes. Since it's an automatic transmission ECU, the ECU won't prepare readiness monitors unless it sees the car is moving, which, due to the fact that it's an automatic ECU in a manual car, it likely won't do. It's a bummer, and something I was justifiably worried about as I know that this swap limits the states it's able to "easily" be transferred to."

"To actually answer your question, I de-pinned the rear O2 sensors from the car, as I have a set of headers on the car, and so didn't "need" the rear O2 sensors because they'd always throw cat inefficiency codes."

"There were posts on the Probe forums about getting the Milly ECU (KLP2) to pass emissions, but it really seems like a hard ask because the ECU looks for the automatic transmission, so it won't "behave" unless it sees that. I'll find a link here shortly as I'm an hour behind you right now (in TN for work) If it was a matter of throwing high-flow cats on the exhaust manifolds, I'd say "I'm sure you could get it to pass emissions," but I think it's more in depth than that. A friend in TN with a KL swapped Pro5 moved from IL I think partially due to registration cost and also due to his KL Pro5 being a hassle to register."

"You could wire up a different ECU and drop "down" to OBD1 but again, I'm not certain that would fly for IL testing."

Is it possible to get it to pass? Is it just not worth the hassle? 

If not, one of you non-illinois people should try to buy it lol. It's super duper cool. Seller says "I'm motivated to sell, so throw me a number if it does seem feasible for you to get it to pass inspection." Maybe get it for much cheaper?

Thanks in advance!

There are no transmission monitors per se, although the engine computer may still show 700 series codes.

More likely the lack of passing converter monitors will be the real dealbreaker.

There may also be issues if the VIN in the engine computer does not match the car.

Cool swap but you're kinda buying someone's Frankenstein. Not something I'd want to troubleshoot myself and mechanics probably wouldn't touch it. So not really a good daily or long distance cruiser 
 

Seems like you can get a cool Mazda 3 for that price. 

In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :

Need an MX3 if you want small V6 noises in your Mazda strut chassis, though.

Probably most of them have KLZE engines by now.  Which, I get, because easy big power, but I really liked the K8 engine.  It's a wee little V6 that makes the most amusing wee little noises!

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

There are no transmission monitors per se, although the engine computer may still show 700 series codes.

More likely the lack of passing converter monitors will be the real dealbreaker.

There may also be issues if the VIN in the engine computer does not match the car.

I know that in the Miatas, sometimes the sensors are different and that can cause codes. For example, autos view idle differently. It might be possible to hook up the various sensors in such a way that the automatic ECU is happy enough to hit readiness. 

Then, of course, you have the problem that the rear O2 sensors and some cats have been removed, which is going to be a guaranteed fail. That will definitely have to be sorted out, which means new exhaust manifolds and new cats.

Or, I mean, one could get a computer from a manual trans Probe.  They did make those with OBD-II.

A larger issue is that swaps are generally a pain in the ass because, to do it right, you need everything from the swapped-from car.  And it has to be a newer model year than the chassis.  And then you have to prove that you did it right.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Converter monitors are the downstream O2 sensors right? Presumably they could be repinned and reinstalled (though that does sound tedious). 

This is gonna sound stupid but why would an emissions tester check the VIN?

In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :

Definitely no planning on going to a mechanic lol, hope to do it all myself.

Yeah I got really excited but with the emissions issue and having to reinstall AC (cant live without it), I think this might be more hassle than it's worth.

Can definitely get a decent 3 for that price, but I can also get a decent fit or mazda2 for that price which i prefer

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

I always loved the MX-3 - cute, small, and I have a massive soft spot for engines with low displacement for their cylinder count.

Still, from what I can tell it doesn't offer much over other cars i'm looking at besides that sweet engine. Heavier than an EK civic, mazda2, and fit. less power than a celica GT-S, svt focus, or 8th gen SI. Minimal aftermarket support

Though looking at it again, a 130hp high revving V6 in a 2500 lb car isn't as bad as I remember from the last time I looked into it. Might test drive one if I can even find one.

Edit: they are IMPOSSIBLE to find in decent condition. Found 3 within 500 miles. Only decent one was auto. The rest were absolute total heaps.

Did find this:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/360131533347175/

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Damn, new manifold seems like a pain. Seller did offer to give me high flow cat he has with it, but if I can't get it to pass a code check that seems kind of pointless. It's a cool swap but I'm not sure if it's right for me and my current skill level. Which sucks

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

They did, and I found an ECU or two on ebay. Probably would need to be reprogrammed though right? 

I don't want to end up knee deep in someones possibly poorly done swap, although the build thread on it seems decently done. But the emissions issue is such a downer

Never mind......just go look at this Marketplace - 2012 Mazda Mazda2 · Touring Hatchback 4D | Facebook.....listed four hours ago....

You'd definitely be buying someone else's problem. The hard parts of a swap are keeping the ECU happy, implementing AC, getting all the accessories working, etc. Getting the wheels to turn is the easy part.

According to the build thread (https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/kl-swappin-protege5.123871539/) the engine is sick with poor leakdown results. The thing barely seems to have been driven since the swap, just one autocross that resulted in a broken transmission housing.

EGR and associated valves have been removed. The coolant gauge doesn't read correctly (probably a mismatch between the donor sensor and the Protege cluster). AC was stripped from the wiring harness, as was the wiring for the rear O2 sensors. The headers didn't fit without modification, which means it's pretty unlikely a set of exhaust manifolds for the donor car will also fit - and cast iron isn't as easy to reshape.

The big red flag from an emissions standpoint is the deleted EGR system - even if you get cats and sensors into it (and the cats are good enough not to trigger an efficiency code, which is not always the case with high-flow units), you'll have to get that back online. Then we find out if the "Milly" (Millenia?) ECU is happy with the other evap-related sensors.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Protege5 and one with the little V6 would be a hoot. But it's not going to be a problem-free vehicle.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Thanks! I didn't get past the first page and a half of the thread lol, figured I'd figured out the emissions thing before looking any further.

Looks like this isn't the one - that's alright, there's tons more cars out there.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Well that's a brand new listing. Contacted seller. Seems like a lot for a mazda2, but the miles are very low.