E30 Failed Smog

[Stephen]

Received a high NO at cruise and at idle in CA


The guy said it could be a bat cat, and recently there have been some rattling noises from the cat area

Tips& ideas? i do think it might be the cat... and i do think my dad got the cat warm beforehand

Mods: i meant this to go in general discussion.. Although on second though it might be better in the engine section

[Uber E30]

If you want a quick fix you could try seafoam.

[Stephen]

My car was seafoamed only 2 or 3 months ago... i suppose i could do it agian

I think the cat couldve been hotter though

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

I've never used seafoam and my 172k mile old car smogged fine. The cat is original.

Run the cat SUPER hot. I knocked my water temp past the half point before I got it on the rollers, I sat in the parking lot at 3k rpm until it got nice and toasty before quickly getting it on.

I was told last ditch effort would be to run race gas, since it burns so clean.

[Fel]

Try one of those "guaranteed pass" canisters you put in the gas tank, maybe?

[jlevie]

High NOx will be the result of an engine running too lean or bad catalytic converters. A quick peak at the plugs should reveal if a lean condition is the cause. If the plugs look normal, replace the catalytic converters.

[Stephen]

High NOx will be the result of an engine running too lean or bad catalytic converters. A quick peak at the plugs should reveal if a lean condition is the cause. If the plugs look normal, replace the catalytic converters.

Thats roughly what the smog guy said... Has anyone tried running a high flow cat in CA... i know the legality of it is sorta shaky

[einstein57]

I'm running a Magnaflow 2 in 2 out unit. I passed with flying colors with my 300k+ miles.

[Stephen]

I'm running a Magnaflow 2 in 2 out unit. I passed with flying colors with my 300k+ miles.

Exactly what i wanted to hear, thanks

[Bob87]

cat

I'm running a Magnaflow 2 in 2 out unit. I passed with flying colors with my 300k+ miles.

me too !!! pass with flying colors:D

[E30_fiend]

Do what Jon said, its exactly what I did and it passed with single digit emissions. I have had a few friends run their cars for smog and they failed simply because the cats didnt get hot enough. Your dad may have gotten them warm but that mother effer needs to be hot as shit. Mid level on your temp gauge is a perfect time to jump on the machine. My smog tech let me run the car on the rollers in second at 3k for like 10 minutes to get the cat nice and hot and after that I passed with flying colors. And at that time I had a chipped ECU along with 19lb injectors and an M30 AFM.

Like I said, have your dad bring the car by and I'll see what I can do at my smog guy. If I cant pass it, then you know its your cat.







Taylor

[Stephen]

Do what Jon said, its exactly what I did and it passed with single digit emissions. I have had a few friends run their cars for smog and they failed simply because the cats didnt get hot enough. Your dad may have gotten them warm but that mother effer needs to be hot as shit. Mid level on your temp gauge is a perfect time to jump on the machine. My smog tech let me run the car on the rollers in second at 3k for like 10 minutes to get the cat nice and hot and after that I passed with flying colors. And at that time I had a chipped ECU along with 19lb injectors and an M30 AFM.

Like I said, have your dad bring the car by and I'll see what I can do at my smog guy. If I cant pass it, then you know its your cat.







Taylor

Yeah, I'll let him know... What does your guy charge? 40?

[E30_fiend]

Yeah, I'll let him know... What does your guy charge? 40?

Last I checked I think its 48 bucks with a free retest if needed.

[BlUe E30]

change your oil right before you take the test also that will always help. check your o2 sensor is it the original and how many miles do you have on it? and you may have a vacuum leak which would make your emissions run weird too.

[THATDONFC]

I failed with no o2 sensor. Installed one and passed a week later. Inspect your o2 wires. or you can bring it by my shop and I can check your afr.