After many years of failing smog check(s) - and the hazzle to find the culprit + a shop that made it 'pass' every 2 years - my 86 really passed yesterday - with flying colors. History: lambda was ok but CO at / above limit at idle + fast idle. Last weekend I bit the bullet + replaced the cat converter - incl. grinding off virtually every bolt + replacing them with stainless bolts + nuts. There was no evidence that the cat was bad - looked ok when looking thru (last weekend as well as some years ago), no rattle or mechanical damage. Lessons learned: 1. Cats can go bad - possibly due to sea climate / salt when I shipped the van from CA to Germany. In contrast: my 86 Quantum, 220kmi - 1st cat, emissions like new. 2. lambda ok + CO too high is a necessary + sufficient condition for a bad cat (lambda ok means mixture and, therefore, FI ok). 3. Every problem with these vans got a solution. Happy Michael, Germany 80 Westy 86 GL 120kmi 86 Quantum |
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