You know the basic story at this point - the emission control system was programmed to detect when emissions were being checked (brakes, steering, gear, etc.), and then, and only then , have the system work properly . Why do this? Well, costs, most likely (or , "costs, of course! "). By minimizing the operating time and conditions, you can save gobs of money per car, and money is good. <sarcasm> Besides, its only emissions y'know? I mean, what difference does that make? Its not like it actually hurts anybody, not to mention "clean air" is just one of those liberal things that nobody except a bunch of tree huggers actually cares about </sarcasm> Which, to my mind, is exactly what Big Pharma does. Y'know how Pfizer / Merck / J&J / Glaxo / ... have paid over $13 Billion over the last few years in fines ? Its almost always over them actively promoting "off-label" uses of their drugs - which basically consisted of the