did not pass smog 95 GSX, too high hydrocarbons

[ApexVIII]

does any one have any suggestions on what to fix? the car only has 3" TBE with a cat, and a k&N air filter.

all suggestions are welcome!


thanks!

Edit: when i sea foamed the car, at idle, as soon as smoke came out of the tail pipe it started smoking from the turbo also. i didn't hear any exhaust leaks though



Edit: 1/31/08 fail smog again... the hydro carbons were 163 this time so a little higher. the guy said to try a new o2 snesor.

 

[ApexVIII]

... faild smog again... it was a little worse this time... the guy said to try a new o2 sensor

 

[bbray]

I have a logger and my car was professionally tunned. What were the number results this time? Did you use that guaranteed 2 pass stuff?

Also I have to go to a smog ref because I got pulled over for my exhaust. They made me pop my hood and they wrote me a ticket for my intake even though it is legal but I didnt have the smog sticker. Now I do but I still have to go through a smog ref and I have to pass within a couple of days because I have court for the ticket.

 

[layzie12g]

Dont turn your car off while you wait in line and a tune up should help you pass.

 

[ApexVIII]

i didn't turn it off, the car has a high flow cat, im guessing thats my problem... would that be?

 

[MountainDew]

Hmmm thats funny.. I run open downpipe and am deleting my EGR and charcoal canister.

Hehe

Missouri has emissions though. All the people just pay a shop to pass them though. I take it you can't do that in California?

 

[ApexVIII]

nope

 

[02HtownSubie]

I used guarantee to pass fuel additive and I pass without any problem here in Houston with catless system. Make sure your oil is fresh as well.

 

[Avionixx]

i didn't turn it off, the car has a high flow cat, im guessing thats my problem... would that be?

What brand is it? I have a 3" high flow cat too and the car tested cleaner than my 98 Accord. I would definitely try the new O2 sensor, especially if you don't remember ever replacing it.

I hear they're really tough around the Sacramento area for aftermarket stuff and I'm hoping it doesn't filter out to the Bay Area. A buddy of mine was cited in his WRX wagon for a exhaust noise violation (while cold idling, no less!) and the cop did a full inspection of the car. Now he has to see the ref to have the noise level tested. I'm starting to get worried now too, even though my exhaust is pretty darn mellow it can still set off alarms when just cruising by. Of course if I get busted for something like that, it could cost me my smog license.

 

[ApexVIII]

i just bought the car, thats why i need to smog it, i have 120k miles, i guess ill try the o2

i dont know what brand the cat is. :/

Thanks
Derek

What brand is it? I have a 3" high flow cat too and the car tested cleaner than my 98 Accord. I would definitely try the new O2 sensor, especially if you don't remember ever replacing it.

I hear they're really tough around the Sacramento area for aftermarket stuff and I'm hoping it doesn't filter out to the Bay Area. A buddy of mine was cited in his WRX wagon for a exhaust noise violation (while cold idling, no less!) and the cop did a full inspection of the car. Now he has to see the ref to have the noise level tested. I'm starting to get worried now too, even though my exhaust is pretty darn mellow it can still set off alarms when just cruising by. Of course if I get busted for something like that, it could cost me my smog license.

 

[meliketoball]

I ####ing hate the California Smog refs. You would ask for their help then they'd give you an answer they pull out of their ass.

 

[Twistaye]

You could always move to North Carolina then you won't have any problems passing on your 95! Try the o2 sensor, if that doesn't work you might have to swap in a different cat

 

[slow4g6392tsi]

What about making safc adjustments?

Never mind. Read the wrong persons mod list... my bad

 

[bbray]

What should be a good o2 reading at idle on a logger? I know at idle it jumps around but is there any way to tell if it is good by the idle readings?

 

[Artago]

i didn't turn it off, the car has a high flow cat, im guessing thats my problem... would that be?

I hope so. I had a OBX high flow cat and it failed twice. Now I have a Magnaflow cat. I'm going to retest on Saturday (2nd). If it passes it'll post before and after numbers.

Tom

 

[Avionixx]

What should be a good o2 reading at idle on a logger? I know at idle it jumps around but is there any way to tell if it is good by the idle readings?

If you have a logger that graphs, you want to see a smooth and visible transition from low to high; it should look very much like a wave.

If the graph is flat or pretty darn close to flat, then you've found your problem. If you don't have a logger that graphs, just make sure it cycles between .1 and .9 regularly.

 

[Artago]

My latest attempt to pass "Air Care" emissions driving test.
Maximum allowable readings are:

HC < 0.5 g/km
CO < 9.32 g/km
NOx < 1.24 g/km

<table border='1'>
<tr bgcolor='lightblue'>
<td>Date</td>
<td>Hydrocarbons</td>
<td>Carbon Monoxide</td>
<td>Oxides of Nitrogen</td>
<td width='200px'>Notes / Comments
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dec 03, 07</td>
<td bgcolor='red'>1.1357 g/km</td>
<td bgcolor='red'>13.3552 g/km</td>
<td bgcolor='green'>0.7107 g/km</td>
<td width='200px'>OBX Cat used, 94 Octane</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jan 05, 08</td>
<td bgcolor='red'>1.1406 g/km</td>
<td bgcolor='red'>11.6687 g/km</td>
<td bgcolor='red'>1.3597 g/km</td>
<td width='200px'>OBX Cat used, 94 Octane</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Feb 02, 08</td>
<td bgcolor='red'>1.2314 g/km</td>
<td bgcolor='green'>6.6430 g/km</td>
<td bgcolor='green'>0.1568 g/km</td>
<td width='200px'>Magnaflow Cat used, Garunteed to Pass used, 94 Octane (10% methanol blend from "Mohawk" gas station)</td>
</tr>
</table>

Anyone have any suggestions to lower the HC count? Maybe a SAFC and lean it out? I'm open to all (knowledge based) suggestions.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Avionixx]

Was this an idle/rev or a dyno test?

 

[Artago]

Was this an idle/rev or a dyno test?

Dyno test. All 5 gears from 0 KM/h to 90-95 km/h.

They call it simulated city driving test.

I've tried 3 times and still failed... Car is running pig rich for some reason. What should I do?

 

[ApexVIII]

Dyno test. All 5 gears from 0 KM/h to 90-95 km/h.

They call it simulated city driving test.

you guys dyno test an AWD???!!

we get a idle test and a 2500RPM test for AWD

 

[meliketoball]

Dyno test. All 5 gears from 0 KM/h to 90-95 km/h.

They call it simulated city driving test.

I've tried 3 times and still failed... Car is running pig rich for some reason. What should I do?

Put in pump gas. CFC's are from the high octane fuels and you sir have 94 octane. Try using the G2P again with 91 octane.

 

[Avionixx]

Dyno test. All 5 gears from 0 KM/h to 90-95 km/h.

They call it simulated city driving test.

I've tried 3 times and still failed... Car is running pig rich for some reason. What should I do?

Normally I'd recommend that you have the test done at a lower gear to raise your RPMs, but if all 5 gears are to be used, then it isn't going to help you any.

I'm not sure if I asked you this earlier, but are you certain that the car is getting into closed loop?

 

[Artago]

Put in pump gas. CFC's are from the high octane fuels and you sir have 94 octane. Try using the G2P again with 91 octane.

Really? Lower Octane helps? Why not just use 87 Octane then?

Thanks,


Tom

Normally I'd recommend that you have the test done at a lower gear to raise your RPMs, but if all 5 gears are to be used, then it isn't going to help you any.

I'm not sure if I asked you this earlier, but are you certain that the car is getting into closed loop?

You mean, is it switch between closed loop and open loop? I don't know because I don't have a logger (I know, I know... getting one soon). All I have are a few gauges and that's not enough to diagnose it.

 

[Avionixx]

If the car isn't getting into closed loop / feedback mode, then you'd see very similar emissions readings without any real noticeable driveability issues. How is your gas mileage then?

 

[hopwoodp]

I would check out the mass airflow sensor. If your hydrocarbons are really high at idle, then you are running too rich. If I were you, I would swap yours out for a good one and try again. I have had some serious issues with mine before and it was because it got wet and I noticed that it started to run like crap. But, then again it got pretty wet. I changed my O2 sensor and spark plugs. There was no improvement.
After I got a good used one, the car ran better than ever.

What happens is the mass will age over time and become "lazy", it will not respond as fast as before to the change in temperature or airflow for example. If it gets wet, it may also fry a circuit or
cause an internal short. In turn this will cause the ecu to get a signal that will cause the engine to run poorly. This may not be the case for everyone but, it is something to look at.

 

[Artago]

If the car isn't getting into closed loop / feedback mode, then you'd see very similar emissions readings without any real noticeable driveability issues. How is your gas mileage then?

My gas millage is pretty bad. Around 16 MPG. I have a gauge that hook up to my narrow band front O2. It cycles at idle but its erratic. When I cruise it also cycles and is erratic. At WOT the needle just maxes out on the rich side.

How can I check whether it's switching between open and closed loop properly? Pocketlogger?

I would check out the mass airflow sensor. If your hydrocarbons are really high at idle, then you are running too rich. If I were you, I would swap yours out for a good one and try again. I have had some serious issues with mine before and it was because it got wet and I noticed that it started to run like crap. But, then again it got pretty wet. I changed my O2 sensor and spark plugs. There was no improvement.
After I got a good used one, the car ran better than ever.

What happens is the mass will age over time and become "lazy", it will not respond as fast as before to the change in temperature or airflow for example. If it gets wet, it may also fry a circuit or
cause an internal short. In turn this will cause the ecu to get a signal that will cause the engine to run poorly. This may not be the case for everyone but, it is something to look at.

This is a driving (dyno) test, my hydrocarbons are high under acceleration. I was thinking of swapping out my MAS with someone else's but I don't know anyone with a DSM. I guess I could order one from the dealer, swap it out to test and then return it.