My car failed CA smog test...

[Cha Ching]

Where's a good place to start fixing this old POS??? Just get a new cat? It failed nearly all the readings and is throwing code 1222 (which I'm sure is unrelated, but the car is running rich)....Any suggestions where to start? I have 1 free re-test....

[ThisGuy310]

The 1222 code is related to you failing smog as it's indicating the air/fuel is off, which would be a good reason why the car won't pass.
Post the actual numbers, easier to diagnose if we can see how far off it actually is.
And a new cat is going to be the last thing you'll want to fix as it will be the most expensive, however it may be necessary depending upon how rich and for how long the car has been running.

[Surtr]

Yeah, post the numbers.

I think I might have to replace my cat, but apparently it's not so easy in CA anymore. Pretty much nobody sells them for E30s as far as I can tell. And to be legit people have to sell to you based on your exact car model. Last time I replaced it it was only $60 though.

[ThisGuy310]

It's not that it's difficult to replace a cat in CA, but since 2009 it has become more expensive. There are tons of aftermarket options for e30s (magnaflow for instance) that are completely smog legal, the issue is that "legally" you can only purchase the 50 state legal cats in CA, which are quite a bit more expensive than the 49 state legal cats.

[IRON-E]

Last time I checked (3 weeks ago) there was a little mexican muffler shop close to my house charging like $180.00 for the CAT plus $40.00 installation depending on the labor time.

[einstein57]

I know this shady german guy who installs 49 state cats on his friends cars on the cheap.

[Cha Ching]

I know this shady german guy who installs 49 state cats on his friends cars on the cheap.

Why do you think I called this shady German guy & left him a message?!?!

[Cha Ching]

Last time I checked (3 weeks ago) there was a little mexican muffler shop close to my house charging like $180.00 for the CAT plus $40.00 installation depending on the labor time.

E, give me a ring, I'll PM you my #...Is there a little mexican taco shop near the little mexican muffler shop?

[Jean]

Magnaflow makes a CA legal cat and it's not expensive....do your homework.

[einstein57]

They are thicker then shit

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Magnaflow-CA-Catalytic-Converter-86-87-Ford-BRONCO-II-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5add507108QQitemZ390260093192QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Cha Ching]

The 1222 code is related to you failing smog as it's indicating the air/fuel is off, which would be a good reason why the car won't pass.
Post the actual numbers, easier to diagnose if we can see how far off it actually is.
And a new cat is going to be the last thing you'll want to fix as it will be the most expensive, however it may be necessary depending upon how rich and for how long the car has been running.

Yes, you are correct. What I meant to imply was that the code didn't pinpoint the issue for failing the test simply because there are too many other areas that need attention.

Since I don't have access to a scanner at the moment, here are the #'s...(bear with me):


15mph / 1531rpm / CO2%=13.3 / O2%=1.4 / HC (ppm)=209 (max-108, GP-283) / CO (%)=.71 (max-.50, GP-2.21) / NO (ppm)=2198 (max-767, GP-1957). Result: GROSS POLLUTER

25mph / 1555rpm / CO2%=13.8 / O2%=1.0 / HC (ppm)=134 (max-83, GP-233) / CO (%)=.38 (max-.40, GP-2.08) / NO (ppm)=1269 (max-706, GP-1757). Result: FAIL

:sad:

[Cha Ching]

Magnaflow makes a CA legal cat and it's not expensive....do your homework.

Thanks for the heads-up, Jean. I guess since I've never failed a smog before, I didn't know what my options were or where to start. The smog shop guy was not very helpful.

The car passed the visual Emission Control System Inspection/Functional Check Results, so I'm guessing that my catalytic converter is shot, or could it be something else?

ThisGuy said it best, the cat is the last thing I want to replace if I have to.

[einstein57]

Check the plugs, 02 sensor, injectors, and vacuum leaks.

[Cha Ching]

Check the plugs, 02 sensor, injectors, and vacuum leaks.

New Bosch plugs, O2 sensor could be part of the problem, will swap out tomorrow. The injectors work fine, but could use an overhaul, odom shows 276K miles! Sprayed starter fluid looking for leaks & couldn't find any, but did not do a smoke test to be sure. Motor idles pretty solid at 800 rpm.

[Surtr]

What kind of car do you have? I also just failed a smog pre-test, but my CO numbers are different than yours for max.

          
      HC 15MPH
MAX    AVE    MEAS
108      31     171

     CO 15MPH
MAX     AVE    MEAS
.71       0.10    0.71

    NO 15MPH
MAX    AVE    MEAS
776    237     1548



    HC 25MPH
MAX    AVE    MEAS
83       20      149

    CO 25MPH    
MAX    AVE    MEAS
.58      .09     .49

    NO 25MPH
MAX    AVE    MEAS
706     237     2201

I'm shocked that mine are so high. I've tried to eliminate every vacuum leak, replaced O2 sensor 2 years ago, replaced cat 2 years ago, new camshaft and rocker arms, cleaned the top of the engine, adjusted the valve timing, replaced coolant temperature sensor, fuel pressure regulator and fuel pump, tested AFM, replaced spark plugs, spark plug cables, distributor cap + rotor, tested compression and replaced the injectors. The only thing I can think of is that I put in 17lbs injectors. I wouldn't think it'd make the NO that high though. I don't even know what else to replace :(

Magnaflow makes a CA legal cat and it's not expensive....do your homework.

Yeah, a lot of the information in the internet is unclear. I had read multiple times that to be totally legal you HAVE to look up a cat for your exact model and universals are not allowed. I found later that this doesn't apply to pre-OBD II cars.