My 1989 4Runner (3VZE, MT) is a California Smog vehicle. I'm trying to find out if I MUST use a California ECM when I do the 3.4 swap. I've seen references that note you must meet the emissions standard of whatever ECM you are using. I'd prefer to use a FED emissions ECM as that opens up donor options a lot. As far as I can tell, CA specific ECMs began with the 1999 model year, so as long as I go with a 96-98 4Runner ECM am I good for CA Smog? I've read dozens of threads and still haven't found the answer. Thanks in advance.

 

Are you in California? Or is the receiving vehicle just a CA model?

The answer will be very specific to whatever emissions testing you have to pass. Probably best to find a local enthusiast group that might know the local rules. That will be more important than the Toyota-specific info.

I don't live in an area with any emissions testing, so take it with a grain of salt, but in all my years of engine swap discussion, generally it's most important what your donor engine is. So if your engine came out of a '97 4Runner, and there isn't such thing as a CA emission '97 4Runner, then you shouldn't have to worry about it.

 

Typically if you're asking this type of question you're in California and you need to establish a relationship with your smog referee. They can answer your question and tell you exactly what they are and are not willing to sign off on.

This isn't entirely a Cali issue, if you need an inspection consult your inspector they are ultimately who you need to satisfy.

 

Thanks for the responses. I don't live in CA but plan to move back in a few years and want to make sure I have no surprises when I go to smog my 89 4Runner. I called the smog ref who provided me their 2018 engine change guide. It states that a Federal engine may not be installed in a California vehicle (my 4Runner is a California vehicle). Of course a California engine can be installed in a Federal vehicle. I still need to ask the Ref about the case for a 96-98 4Runner where there is no CA specific ECU (that didn't happen until 99). The safe choice is to get a CA 96-98 donor, but those are pretty hard to find where i live.

 

I talked to a Smog Ref this morning. Here's what he told me.

Being I have a California Smog vehicle, the ECM that I use in the swap must also have the software calibration from a California vehicle. The Smog ref requires you to take the vehicle to a Toyota dealer to confirm. The Toyota dealer connects to your OBD2 port and confirms / deny's that you have the correct software calibration for a California 4Runner for the year of the ECM you're using.

As far as I can tell, there's no specific CA ECM for the 4Runner until 1999. Before that the ECM only varies by MT or AT, 4x2 or 4x4 and 4cyl or 6cyl.

The Smog Ref said the he believes even thought he ECM is may not be specific to Federal or CA before 1999, that the CA vehicles have specific software that identifies them as such. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'll also ask the Toyota dealer if there is a software difference. I suspect that if this were the case, then Toyota would have a specific part # to differentiate between CA and Federal vehicles, like they do for 1999 and later.

 

Did you ever find an answer to this? I'm looking to do a similar swap in CA and trying to get as much information as possible beforehand.

 

I've got no definitive answer. I'm still gathering info as well. I did a lot of research on ECMs and am certain there's nothing California specific until the 99 model year in the ECM. The only California specific parts have to do with additional emissions components, such as the Evap canister, not sure what else. Here's the ECM info I found:

https://toyota-usa.epc-data.com/4run...ne/8404/89661/

It shows what ECM goes for each model year including Federal Vs. CA.

In addition I found that the engine wiring harness is the same for manual vs automatic starting in 1998, which makes using a 1998 4Runner 3.4 auto donor a good option. You can do that and just get a 3.4 Manual ECM for a 98 and it is plug and play, or you can use the 98 Auto ECM and figure out a way to trick the ECM into thinking there's an auto trans present. That's been done before as well, but I'm not sure if that would create emissions testing issues.

Prior to 98 the engine harness was different for manual and auto trucks. I've found 3.4L manual 4runners are extremely hard to find. 99% are autos.

I'd really like to find out what emissions differences there are between Federal and California 3.4L trucks for 97-98.

 

So is what you're saying that we don't need to do any wire harness conversions/adapters if we're using a 98 3.4L? I've built and swapped engines before but never on a Toyota and nothing as seemingly complicated as this so I'm still a little confused about the difference between the engine harness and the rest of the harnesses for the swap, to be honest.

I was told a smog referee would be calling me within 3 days so I'll report back whatever I hear from them and I'll bring up this issue about the software calibration as well. It appears that doing this swap in CA is a lot of back and forth between us and the referees in order to get a sticker. Obviously the trick is to know as much as possible to begin with and not spend too much money on stuff we don't need.

For what it's worth, I've been looking at eBay engines mostly from salvage/insurance yards in running condition (like when they post videos). Once I get a good dialogue with the smog referee going, I figure I'll run the eBay vehicle VIN and if it came from the factory with CA emissions gear, I'll cross my fingers and buy the engine.