CA Smog failures...

[mikester]

I recently entered into the purchase of a car and of course, in CA to transfer title you have to have a passed smog.

The seller has the car at the mechanic right now trying to get it through smog, the CAT had been off the car since 2002 - the last inspection. We put the cat back on of course and tuned the car up, timing, mixture - etc. Now it passes everything except NO.

The Mechanic says that the cat isn't getting hot enough to blow clean O2 which I believe because the car runs very cool. In the lower quarter of the temp gauge.

So, since it runs so cool - what the heck do I do to get that cat hot enough to blow clean? He's been getting it to operating temp but this time he says he's going to put it on the highway longer than he did the last time.

Only suggestion I have is a new cat - but he's not making that suggestion. The mechanic is Alex at P-tech and I know he comes highly recommended around here so I do believe what he's saying. I'm just wondering what to do.

Thanks

[yelcab1]

Drive the hell out of it for 30 minutes before you take it in immediately for the smog test.

Or, get a new CAT.

[techweenie]

It's pretty much standard that the smog certificate is the seller's responsibility, so I hope he is the one losing sleep over this.

[cowtown]

If the CO is very very low (lean), richening slightly can reduce NO. But you've only got a very small margin to play with.

Like TechWeenie says, it's really the seller's problem. I'd just let him know that you'll be by with the check when it's all taken care of, and relax until then.

[midlife]

High NO can also be the result of carbon build up on the pistons and head. Running a tank of fuel with a de-carburizer (like Guaranteed to Pass) can help.

[eurocarrera]

I had the exact same problem on my car. I had to adjust the Fuel quality switch on car (which your car doesn't have) to get the CO2 high enough to lower the NO output. Strange, but if the CO2 is too high than NO fails, and if the CO2 is too low the NO fails. California really sucks now. Great place to live, great weather, but the smog laws now suck.

Anyway, maybe someone can provide advice on how to tune a CIS system to get your CO2 higher so you can maybe pass (funny, but I actually had to keep paying the smog guys $26.95 each time I changed the setting on the Fuel switch until it passed - but I finally did). Basically, your CAT is probably shot if it is original.

I did a little research on the web, and it looks like there are only a handful of Catalytic converter manufacturers out there. When I need one I will go to these guys - they offer a direct fit for a lot less than an OEM one.

http://discountconverter.com/

From Mark:
Our part number is PO2605 and sells for 270.95 plus shipping. It is made by a company called DEC and is EPA and CARB approved. Shipping is 15.00

Mark
888-651-0770


If you want to try and get it to pass, one "trick" is to get an open flamed torch, and actually apply direct heat to your CAT right before (and I do mean right before) you bring it in to have it smogged.

[stlrj]

Mark, I think you mean "CO."

Joe