Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

15-NA-010
January, 2020

INFORMATION
Subject:

Information for New Vehicles with Less than 1,000 Miles that May Not Pass California
Smog Inspection or Smog Inspection in Other States

Attention: Depending on the State, this testing is identified as Emissions Inspection, Smog
Check, Smog Inspection or Smog Testing.

Brand:
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet
GMC

Model:
GM
Passenger
Cars and
Trucks

Model Year:

VIN:

from

to

from

to

2015

2020

—

—

Involved Region or Country

United States

Catalyst Break-In Period Information
Notice:
• The catalyst break-in period has been approved
by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
but vehicles operating within the break-in
period may still be subject to an inspection
within California’s Smog Inspection Program.
• The catalyst break-in period concern has been
most prevalent in California because they have
a Smog Inspection I/M Readiness Policy that
allows only the Evaporative Monitor to not be
ready on newer model year vehicles. This
concern has occurred in other states and is
expected to occur more frequently as other
States adopt a similar Smog Inspection policy.

Copyright 2020 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Engine:

Transmission:

Gasoline

—

Page 2

January, 2020

•

When presenting a new vehicle for the California
Smog Inspection or for a Smog Inspection in
another State, some vehicles with less than
1,000 miles (1,609 km), may not report an
Inspection/Maintenance System Check Monitor
Complete Yes status as required to Pass the
Smog Inspection. This may be caused by the
engine control module (ECM) disabling some of
the post catalyst oxygen sensor diagnostics until a
preset catalyst break-in period (which varies by
model and vehicle) has been completed. The post
catalyst oxygen sensor diagnostics must report an
Inspection/Maintenance System Yes (O2S/HO2S
Monitor Complete — Yes) to the Smog Inspection
test equipment, but cannot do so until after the
preset calibrated catalyst break-in period has
been completed.
In order to complete this catalyst break-in period,
advise the Customer to operate their vehicle using
the New Vehicle Break-In procedure as outlined in
their Owner Manual.
• In some cases passing the Smog Inspection may
be required for vehicle registration of brand new
50 State vehicles. This can happen in the
following ways:
– Any time a vehicle is sold, delivered or
registered outside of the GM dealer network
(i.e., a vehicle sold through a broker, drop
shipped, or upfit and delivered through an
upfitter) are among some of the possible
examples meeting the California Registration
definition for new vehicles delivered outside of
the California Dealer network.
– A new vehicle is purchased in another state and
is temporarily registered in that state before
being brought into California.
⇒ If this occurs, a Smog Inspection is required in
California. However, the vehicle will not be
ready for the Smog Inspection until after the
catalyst break-in period has been completed.
Customer Options to Resolve the Case of a New
Vehicle Not Being Ready for the California Smog
Inspection
When the vehicle is not ready for the Smog Inspection,
the customer has a few options to resolve the situation
as follows:
1. Obtain a Temporary Operating Permit from the
California Department of Motor Vehicles, which will
allow the customer to drive the vehicle allowing in
many cases for the problem to resolve itself.
2. The customer can work with a GM Dealer to make
sure the catalyst break-in period has completed
and the O2S/HO2S Monitor Complete has been
set to Yes, which could take 700–1000 miles of
vehicle operation.
3. In California, the customer can call
1-800-622-7733 to make an appointment with the
California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-010

Referee Scheduling Center in order to get a waiver
from the Oxygen Sensor Monitor Complete
requirement.
In other states, for Smog Inspection/Emissions Testing
requirements, refer to the various websites contained
within this Bulletin in the section titled: Smog
Inspection, Emissions Inspection Website Information.

Service Procedure
Notice: This is not a warranty repair.
Verify that the vehicle owner has operated their vehicle
for a minimum of 400 miles (644 km) using the New
Vehicle Break-In procedure as outlined in the
appropriate Owner Manual. New vehicles may not be
able to complete the Inspection/Maintenance System
Check for certain HO2S 2 diagnostics prior to 700 miles
(1,127 km) and could require 1,000 miles (1,609 km) or
more of catalyst break-in depending on driving
conditions.
Observe the following O2S/HO2S Monitors on the scan
tool. They must set to Yes in order to Pass the Smog
Inspection:
• O2S/HO2S Monitor Complete
• O2S/HO2S Monitor Complete This Ignition Cycle
• O2S/HO2S Monitor Enabled
• O2S/HO2S Monitor Enabled This Ignition Cycle
Once the vehicle has reached 400 miles (644 km),
perform the following:
1. When it is safe to do so, perform several
deceleration maneuvers from a minimum speed of
45 mph (72 km/h) for at least 10 seconds. Repeat
this maneuver 3 to 4 times. Stop the vehicle and
turn the ignition OFF. Perform this complete Step
three additional times.
Note: Decelerate/coast with no or limited brake
input. Moderate to heavy braking can cause
downshifts and the Diagnostic test will abort.
Note: Decelerate/coast for at least 10 seconds at
0% Throttle Pedal.
2. Use a scan tool to verify the O2S/HO2S Monitors
have set to Yes.
⇒ If the O2S/HO2S Monitors have not set to Yes,
then continue mileage accumulation and if
possible repeat the verification every 100 miles
(160 km).
3. Once a scan tool indicates that all O2S/HO2S
Monitors are set to Yes, the vehicle is prepared for
the Smog Inspection.
Note: At the time this was written, the California
Smog Inspection only allows the EVAP Readiness
Monitor to not be set to Yes and still pass the Smog
Inspection.
⇒ If Readiness Monitors other than the O2S/
HO2S Monitors are not set to Yes, refer to the
Inspection/Maintenance Complete System Set
Procedure in SI.

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-010

January, 2020

Page 3

GDS 2 HO2S 2 Break-In Period Remaining Parameter

4535162

Typical view of the GDS 2 HO2S 2 Break-In Period
Remaining parameter. The parameter Range is from
100% to 0%, indicating a fully green catalyst to a
completely broken-in catalyst, respectively. This
parameter is not available on every vehicle/engine.

Smog Inspection and Emissions
Inspection Website Information
State laws regarding vehicle testing known as Smog
Inspection, Emissions Inspection, Smog Testing and/or
Smog Check vary by individual State. The following
websites are examples of readily available information,
but are not recommendations.
– http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/ This website
includes all information regarding the California
Smog Check Program.

– http://traffic.findlaw.com/drivers-license-vehicle-info/
state-emissions-standards-and-testing.html
Includes links to all 50 State emissions testing
regulations websites.
– http://www.dmv.org/ This is a privately owned
website and is not owned or operated by any State
Agency.
– http://www.mytime.com/guide/Smog-Check/Articles/
find-out-your-states-smog-check-requirements-withthis-quick-and-easy-reference-guide
– https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/
emissions-testing-changes-2015 General emissions
inspection requirements and information.
– https://dmv.ny.gov/inspection/
inspection-requirements New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles Inspection
Requirements.

Page 4

January, 2020

Bulletin No.: 15-NA-010

Version Information
Version

4

Modified

August 16, 2016 – Updated the Subject, added the 2017 Model year, added an Attention
statement. Added section: Catalyst Break-In Period Information. Added a Notice List.
Replaced GDS 2 Parameters “Oxygen Sensor Readiness Monitor” with O2S/HO2S
Monitor. Added section: GDS 2 HO2S 2 Break-In Period Remaining Parameter including
a graphic. Added Website Information.
June 05, 2018 – Added the 2018-2019 Model Years and clarified some of the text.
January 23, 2020 – Added the 2020 Model Year and a Involved Region or Country
section.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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