Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

CA Smog FAIL - HELP!

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    CA Smog FAIL - HELP!

    Failed AGAIN. Hoping you guys could tell by the numbers where I should begin with getting the car to pass. ANY info is greatly appreciated.




    Thanks!

    Len
    Last edited by Lensolo; 03-07-2011, 07:37 PM.

    #2
    Scan of the actual smog results would be helpful. What failed?
    "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj

    85 323i M TECH 1 S52 - ALPINEWEISS/SCHWARZE
    88 M3 - LACHSSILBER/SCHWARZE
    89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II/M TECH CLOTH-ALCANTARA
    91 M TECHNIC CABRIO TURBO - MACAOBLAU/M TECH CLOTH-LEATHER

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by reelizmpro View Post
      Scan of the actual smog results would be helpful. What failed?
      Great idea. Thanks, Barry.

      Comment


        #4
        That combination suggests that the catalytic converters are bad. But before replacing them you should make sure that there are no intake leaks and the everything in the engine management system is working like it is supposed to.
        The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
        Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

        Comment


          #5
          i used to have a LeBaron with a blown head gasket, the guy hooked all the shit up then started to warm up car, obviously it was blowing smoke all over, i played dumb and said "so you think it will pass?", he said, "*laugh* uhhh NO!"
          so i looked at him and..."DUDE, if that shit doesn't pass i'm not fucking paying you"
          him-"what?!?!?!"
          me-"why the fuck would i pay if it didn't pass?"
          him-"ok ok ok"

          he made it pass :D.
          just bribe someone. cough cough

          Comment


            #6
            Jim,

            NO is really low at 25mph though, which suggests the cats are good and perhaps not hot enough. HC are both high though. The car is running rich and he has some room with the CO. So he needs to lean it out a bit and get the cats nice and hot. What car is this? 325i?
            "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj

            85 323i M TECH 1 S52 - ALPINEWEISS/SCHWARZE
            88 M3 - LACHSSILBER/SCHWARZE
            89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II/M TECH CLOTH-ALCANTARA
            91 M TECHNIC CABRIO TURBO - MACAOBLAU/M TECH CLOTH-LEATHER

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by reelizmpro View Post
              Jim,

              NO is really low at 25mph though, which suggests the cats are good and perhaps not hot enough. HC are both high though. The car is running rich and he has some room with the CO. So he needs to lean it out a bit and get the cats nice and hot. What car is this? 325i?

              How would you suggest leaning the car out? It is a 325i.

              Comment


                #8
                drive the car hard before running the smog test again
                get a tank of 91

                oil change oil filter
                throw a new air filter on there.

                and maybe some ecu temp sensors
                and an o2 sensor


                temp sensor is around 20
                o2 is around 90
                air filter 20
                oil around 20
                oil filter around 10
                full tank of 91 around 55

                rmeuropean.com
                pelicanparts.com

                has all of those goodies. too.

                i would do that if you have some cash to get it running right
                maybe have a shop do a smoke test and see if you have any vacuum leaks.


                -
                Project
                Parts for Sale
                Feedback
                YouTube Channel

                Comment


                  #9
                  my smog results post 232


                  -
                  Project
                  Parts for Sale
                  Feedback
                  YouTube Channel

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by reelizmpro View Post
                    Jim,

                    NO is really low at 25mph though, which suggests the cats are good and perhaps not hot enough. HC are both high though. The car is running rich and he has some room with the CO. So he needs to lean it out a bit and get the cats nice and hot. What car is this? 325i?
                    I would agree, except that the NOx is high at idle. The engine may be running rich, but the high HC could as easily be from misfires on a lean engine. The high NOx says that the engine is lean or that the catalytic converters aren't working properly. If the engine had run long enough to reach normal temperature and the catalytic converters were good and the mixture was normal with no misfires the NOx level would be much lower.

                    HC & NOx are higher than normal at 25mph, though within limits. The high HC could be from the DME increasing fuel trim to compensate for intake leaks, which have a greater affect at idle, and/or an aged O2 sensor. But the high NOx points to the catalytic converters. The catalytic converters aren't completely dead, but they may be damaged and not functioning as they should.
                    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Which is why he should definitely do a tune up, check for vac leaks and other maintenance to try an rule out these factors. It's cheaper/easier than changing the cats. Plugs, universal O2 sensor, filters are all pretty cheap if he hasn't changed them already.
                      "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj

                      85 323i M TECH 1 S52 - ALPINEWEISS/SCHWARZE
                      88 M3 - LACHSSILBER/SCHWARZE
                      89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II/M TECH CLOTH-ALCANTARA
                      91 M TECHNIC CABRIO TURBO - MACAOBLAU/M TECH CLOTH-LEATHER

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by reelizmpro View Post
                        Which is why he should definitely do a tune up, check for vac leaks and other maintenance to try an rule out these factors. It's cheaper/easier than changing the cats. Plugs, universal O2 sensor, filters are all pretty cheap if he hasn't changed them already.
                        Absolutely. As I said in my first post before replacing the cats make sure that everything else is right. At the minimum I would:

                        Have a smoke test run on the intake and fix any leaks found.
                        Run the fuel system test suite in the Bentley and repair as indicated
                        Replace the ignition wires, rotor, cap,and plugs (with NGK or OE)
                        Replace the O2 sensor
                        Adjust the valves
                        Verify or replace the ECT sensor

                        If the car has 150k (or more) on it I'd also have the injectors cleaned and flow tested.
                        The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                        Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by jlevie View Post
                          Absolutely. As I said in my first post before replacing the cats make sure that everything else is right. At the minimum I would:

                          Have a smoke test run on the intake and fix any leaks found.
                          Run the fuel system test suite in the Bentley and repair as indicated
                          Replace the ignition wires, rotor, cap,and plugs (with NGK or OE)
                          Replace the O2 sensor
                          Adjust the valves
                          Verify or replace the ECT sensor

                          If the car has 150k (or more) on it I'd also have the injectors cleaned and flow tested.
                          Thanks so much guys for all your input! All great suggestions. I'll start with the basic tune up procedures and report back. The car has 2xx,xxx miles on it. ODO stopped at 256,000 a year ago.

                          Comment

                          Working...
                          X