99 3.8 california-my latest project fixer upper to re-sell

The motor in this car was bad so I got a junkyard motor.

Replaced:

plugs, wires, pcv, fuel filter, oil change, cleaned up all the ports on the intake manifold of any crusties.


First, it is not yet throwing a P0147 code but is at a "pre-code" level which is the last O2 sensor after the cat not heating properly.

It did not pass Hydrocarbons HC's were 55 at 15 mph limit is 51
and then HC's were 62 at 25 mph and highest is 31.


It passed everything else and the NO's were VERY low like less than 10 when the allowable is 400 and something.

I drove it 100 miles in 85 degree heat before the test. No stops.


I am wondering if the jackass I bought it from hollowed out the cats. There is no reason it shouldn't have passed.

Any thoughts?

 

found a small exhaust leak from the egr to the left manifold. The tube is cracked at the base where it inserts into the manifold. JB welded that, it may have been messing the a/f ratio up. Also seafomed it through the brake vacuum line and put some in the oil and a bottle in the tank. Hopefully this will help get it going.

 

So after all of that, still failed...Passed HC's at 15 mph 52 PPM HC out of a possible 52 so just barely and then hit 47 at 25 mph and passing is 36. Soo I am down to the CAT or maybe weak coil(s)?

I guess no one has gone through this yet

Smog sucks. You try to do it right and you get your wallet punished. Cali sucks.

 

Wow, it seems like they should pay YOU to pass after that! I would inspect the cats and go from there, we don't have emissions in Orlando although they have been talking about it for years. Check the cats though, i'm interested to see what it is.

 

Coils are ok at least from an OHMs perspective, checked those and they are fine...

But here is my new theory:

It has a jet chip and 180 thermostat....I pulled the chip and the thermostat, and put in a 195 thermo. I think the combustion chamber temperature is too low-and that is what is causing at least part of it.

 

You may have found your problem right there... They designed these cars to run hotter than most of us like. The higher temps do lower emissions from the CC heat. I've seen several people with that problem, I've never had to mess with it, living in non-emissions states. If the 195 seems a little too warm for ya, try a 180 if the 195 makes your car pass the sniffer.
If the 195 has little to no effect on your testing, start looking at your cat, or maybe different spark plugs... (have you pulled them and checked??)
edit-- nevermind, seen you already did plugs

 

I live in a non emmisions state so I don't have to mess with thost, but I would check the cats for sure.

 

And cat it was....
F!##$@k piece of crap.

I got it down to within 5 parts per million from passing, but a $200 cat later, it passed. Cleanest vehicle I have ever personally seen.

HC's at 15 mph 1
HC's at 25 mph 1

NOx at 15 mph 0
NOx at 25 mph 0

Virtually no C0's either.

I guess everything else I did to get it to pass made it so clean.

California sucks. Just eats into my profit later, but I figure I can sell the chip it had in it, anyone know what a Jet chip is worth?

 

How many miles were on your cat? They are meant to be replaced periodically so...yours was just due. My last CA smog was pretty close (stock cat) but now that I have a brand newCARB-approved hi-flow cat, I'm hoping the HCs will come down.

Those are pretty low #s...my girlfriend's '01 Mustang had similar #s. Makes my Camaro look like a ozone killer.

 

Its amazing what fresh cats will do to smog readings.....

The next question should be.....What killed the cat???? Cats dont die on their own....they are murdered Overly rich mixture or a major misfire for an extended period or leaded racing fuel (yeah, I've seen idiots to that too before).

Good to hear you got it fixed up!