failed smog

LikeNew92

Registered User
Damm I failed my smog!


This is the first time that my SC has failed a smog.


My car failed for NO(PPM). The testers called it "nox" and hinted that it was a problem with the EGR system.

my failing results:

NO (PPM) at 15 MPH

max 757
ave 237
meas 1534


NO (PPM) at 25 MPH
max 696
ave 199
meas 912

My passed HC(PPM) and CO(%)

My question. Is it worth my time to try and trouble shoot this? I will not know it I corrected problem because I don't have a smog tester.


thanks in advance,

Alex
 
I'd check for codes. You might need O2 sensors and or catalytic converters. That's what got mine to pass last year. My readings weren't quite as high as yours, though.
 
Mike Puckett said:
I'd check for codes. You might need O2 sensors and or catalytic converters. That's what got mine to pass last year. My readings weren't quite as high as yours, though.

Nitrogen Oxides (NO) are a byproduct of high combustion temperatures. The EGR system reduces (NO) emissions by re-introducing exhaust gases back to the intake which reduces combustion temperatures and therefore reduces (NO) emissions. A faulty EGR valve would be the most likely culprit, although the EGR passages may be clogged also. O2 sensors and catalytic converters would not cause high (NO) emissions.
 
thanks for the quick feed back

I had to get tested at a "smog test only station" as required by California DMV. The station told me that by law they can not work on the car or give any advice. However, they did give my some clues.

clues:

-the mechanic was looking hard at the back of throttle body area. This is the EGR area?

-the mechanic said that it was the egr system and that it was getting too hot

-at the end of the visit, the desk guy asked the mechanic if it could be the cat, and the mechanic said "something else".

I will change EGR value and get it retested. Now my car has a red flag on dmv :eek:

thanks again guys!
 
There are other things you can do. I did my first "test only" this year and failed with numbers almost like yours. I have a 90 that was an auto. It did not come with EGR. I ran half a can of Seafoam through a vacuum line (after the blower) to clean the combustion chambers. Put a can of NOS octane boost in the tank and pulled the octane plug. I retested and passed. NOX was less than half of what it was.
 
need details

minbe said:
I ran half a can of Seafoam through a vacuum line (after the blower) to clean the combustion chambers. Put a can of NOS octane boost in the tank and pulled the octane plug.

Can you be more specific about where to disconect and spray the seafoam? Is it the spaghetti type vac line? I don't want to spray the seafoam in the wrong place and damage sensors.

With NOS octane boost, do I need to drive the entire tank before retesting?

Alex
 
Just put the Seafoam in the most convenient place after the blower. I doubt it would hurt the 89-93 blowers but might damage the coating on the 94-95. There is a vac fitting right past where the lower IC tube returns to the engine. I used that one. As long as the vac port you use is on the manifold past any sensors you should be OK. Run the throttle by hand while you let the vacuum draw the stuff in a little at a time. The engine will stumble and smoke while you do this. I just dipped the end of the hose into the Seafoam and pulled it out when it came close to stalling. I only used half the can.
As for the octane boost. I just added it to a full tank of super. Ran the car on the freeway to heat up the cats then pulled the octane plug and took the test.
 
if your car has an EGR valve it will be bolted to the intake plenum a few inches back fromt eh throttle body, it looks like a 4" diameter space ship :eek:, if it has one remove the vacuum line from it and apply vacuum to the nipple ont eh EGR valve (suck on it if you want using a hose), if the car stumbles and shuts off while its idling when you do this the valve works, maybe the line to it is broken or the solenoid that control the engine vacuum to it is defective, beats me :confused: SPACE SHIPS SCARE ME
 
don't think that i have egr

I don't think that I have egr. I don't see any space ship near the throttle body. I remember that my turbo coupe had the egr, and I dont see any thing like that.

If I don't have egr, what do I change a soloniod?

Alex
 
yea good chance you didnt have one, 92 auto?(you can check in a repair manual to make sure). Means your exahaust temp is too hot(running lean, overheating etc etc if all the emissions equipment is ok), its usually the catalytic convertor after the EGR, since you dont have an EGR, see if a repair center can drill a hole before the cats and probe at the tail-pipe to check the efficiency of the cats, if you cant be bothered borrow a good known pipe if its free and try it. Have your NOx readings or any other getting progressively worse over the years
 
can you see an egr?

I have a 5 speed

can you tell with pictures if I have EGR.

thanks for the input

Alex
 

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92 dont have egr and on mine the nox was sky high then i replaced the cats and passed all specs by leaps and bounds .

nox is is is is lowered by the cats on calif none egrs sc,s

all my measured readings went down massivly with the new cats ,

when you smog make sure engine is good and hot cats light up when hot when cold they hardly work.

i sat in my sc idleing while waiting for the mech to call me in for the test.

if you have after market cats or had them moved farther back they need more time to heat up remember we dont have air injection to heat em up.

no thermactor.

so things to do make sure you have warm engine .
make sure you have new air filter,
use a good high grade gas,
there is a smog passing additive for sale at most parts stores ,

it helps not much but it does lower emissions.

new plugs wires help and reset the computer pull bat cable start up let it relearn idle and other settings ,

aka ujn do batt cable wait then replace cable start but dont give gas let it rev and finally go back to normal idle it will run much cleaner.
 
failed retest

I failed on retest: : mad:

This is what I did before retest:

- 1/3 bottle sea foam through vac system, 2/3 bottle in gas tank

- one bottle NOS octane boster in tank

- made sure the cats were hot a drove 22 mile before test


readings

max 757
ave 237
failed 2 weeks ago meas 1534
failed retest meas 1220

This sucks because my car runs great. After the sea form it runs even better.



New plan of attack. I am going to change the plugs and wires. I thought that my plugs and wire had a lot more life. I changed them sept 2001 and 50k miles ago. Don't the plugs and wire last at least 70k miles?

I that it isn't the cats! I have the cats replaced 60k ago with some universal cats.

I just hope that I can get out of this with spending $$$$$


thanks for all of the advice


Alex
 
I have the same problem with my 93', the first time I tested I didn't have the octane plug disconnected, readings were in the 1200 area the second test I had the plug disconnected and turned the fan on, that brought the readings to about 800. Not bad but not good enough to pass. This time I have installed the third cat as the car was designed. I had gotten a cat system from a 90 SC which had an EGR and only two cats + a big resonator.
(one of my original cats were breaking up) I didn't put it together that Ford had to ad the third cat when they removed the EGR, It all makes sense to me now. :rolleyes: . I shall find out today "Third Times a Charm".
 
I will retest no saturday

matt59 said:
I have the same problem with my 93', the first time I tested I didn't have the octane plug disconnected, readings were in the 1200 area the second test I had the plug disconnected and turned the fan on, that brought the readings to about 800. Not bad but not good enough to pass. This time I have installed the third cat as the car was designed. I had gotten a cat system from a 90 SC which had an EGR and only two cats + a big resonator.
(one of my original cats were breaking up) I didn't put it together that Ford had to ad the third cat when they removed the EGR, It all makes sense to me now. :rolleyes: . I shall find out today "Third Times a Charm".

I am going back for my third test on Saturday.

Last weekend I did a complete tune up: plugs, wires, pvc valve, fuel filter, 02 sensors, oil change, added smog pass formula to gas.

I did some further reading on failing smog and found out that dirty oil with also cause a failed test. My oil was very dirty becuase the last oil change I didn't change the filter (I didn't have a filter and I was too lazy to go to store :eek: ). So there is a good chance that I caused my own problem.

I also applied for financial help through the dmv. If my tune up does not fix it, I will need the $ help.

good luck on your third smog.

Alex
 
WOW...What a Hassle!

LikeNew92 said:
I am going back for my third test on Saturday.

Last weekend I did a complete tune up: plugs, wires, pvc valve, fuel filter, 02 sensors, oil change, added smog pass formula to gas.

I did some further reading on failing smog and found out that dirty oil with also cause a failed test. My oil was very dirty becuase the last oil change I didn't change the filter (I didn't have a filter and I was too lazy to go to store :eek: ). So there is a good chance that I caused my own problem.

I also applied for financial help through the dmv. If my tune up does not fix it, I will need the $ help.

good luck on your third smog.

Alex

WOW! Reading all this makes me glad I don't live in the Socialist Republik of California! Vote the bums out...
 
I had the same thing double the NO reading allowed, I added two bottles of gas line antifreeze (methyl hydrate) and NO readings went down by 1/2 to a passing level. I did nothing else but add the methyl hydrate, and only drove the car too and from two different testing facilities. I went from 785 (first time)to 384 ppm(2nd try with methyl hydrate added) with a limit of 385ppm.

Good luck
 
txsc said:
WOW! Reading all this makes me glad I don't live in the Socialist Republik of California! Vote the bums out...
Yeah. But the bigger counties in Texas still have a dyno/smog test which is just as stringent. I passed easily until about 2 yrs ago and then the miles and age of the engine pushed me over the limit on Nox.. I cleaned the cylinders when I replaced the HGs, and it pulled the Nox down by 1/2 ;) well under the limit.
From what I hear, 90% of smog problems are Nox and its usually from carbon build up or worn EGR valves. :)
 
For you guys testing. Don't forget to pull the octane plug. It retards your timing and reduces combustion temps lowering NOX.
 
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