Date:         Wed, 14 Feb 2001 10:25:54 EST
Reply-To:     MikePabst@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Pabst <MikePabst@AOL.COM>
Subject:      86 smog check - payed + didn't pass
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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