2zr swap and e-test in Ontario

[tmontague]

I figured I'd post this under the performance mods section as opposed to the regional section.

I've spoken with a bunch of shops and e test techs so that I could have all of the info for the swap. Here is the info I have found out which pertains to those that live in a non rural area in Ontario.

First off, Ontario is not engine swap friendly like other areas. It may be different if you swap in a factory offered engine, but this is specifically pertaining to an engine that is not offered for the car in Canada from the factory.

The fully clear and legal way to do this would be to have receipts stating the type of engine as well as work receipts for the swap and then apply for hot rod status. If your car has all of the emissions gear on the engine then you'll pass as a hot rod. The catch here is your insurance will now be considered a "race car" and you'll be paying ridiculously high rates assuming you can even find a company to insure you.

The other option is to do a swap and not claim hot rod status. You have two avenues you can go doing this:

1. the ecu you have for the new engine has a different vin as the chassis vin of the car. This will be a red flag for the e tester and they will then ask you why this is the case. Easy and completely legal answer is that your ecu broke and the one you have is from a salvaged car that you installed yourself. Now some shops will then look in your engine bay and may notice the different engine (depending how well they know the stock engine and how different your new engine is) but most shops will accept your answer and move on to the e test.

Because the vin's are different the shop will have to set up cameras to cover their ass if the gov't decides to audit them, they need to have proof that they weren't testing a different car just to give your car a pass. Most shops will want to know ahead of time so tell them on the phone that your ecu vin doesn't match up due to you replacing the ecu and this will give them time to set up the camera - at least this is what my local e tester told me.

The more different your swapped engine looks the more likely you will have an issue. That said most shops don't care if it's swapped, they just want to get their cash and do the e test, so it you give them a valid reason for having a different vin and your car has cats on it and throws no CEL's then you shouldn't have an issue, or go elsewhere. However, showing up with a 2jz straight six or 8 banger will be very obvious and will probably cause a problem unless you are friendly with your shop.

Option 2:
Change the vin on your new ECU, I've heard that CTScott can do this and I'm waiting to figure out if the Techstream tool can do this. If this is done then there will be no red flag when you e test your car. Since the 2zr looks identical to the 1nz (unless your are a Yaris aficionado) even if the shop checks under your hood they will just see a transversely mounted 4 banger and not give a second thought to it. This is by far the most trouble free solution, but it does not mean you would have an issue if you choose option one.

e test shops care about 2 things:

1. that the car has no CEL's and therefore will pass the e test

2. That they have proof that they tested your car and did everything legally so that they are covered if and when they are audited.

They generally don't care what you've done to your car as long as it passes the first 2 issues above.

IMO, a 1.8L yaris that has that factory option available in other parts of the world (Tsport) is not a hot rod and definitely not a "race car". specially if you don't drive like a moron on city streets.

If there are any e test techs from Ontario or ever elsewhere feel free to chime in, but this is what I've found in Ontario after a lot of questioning.

fwiw, if you have a swap and you have passed an e test with the swap at a specific garage then your best bet would be to obviously go back to that garage every time.