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Date:         Tue, 20 Aug 2002 22:02:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Matthew Libby <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matthew Libby <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
Subject:      Re: Not passing smog, still... Need help!
Comments: To: Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Try a can of the guaranteed to pass emissions crap, they used to sell it at the NAPA I worked at, sketchy, but they guartanteed you'd pass or they'd pay you the testing fee and purchase price. From what people said it worked OK...

Matt

----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Dodson" <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 10:03 PM Subject: Re: Not passing smog, still... Need help!

> Here are the readings from today's smog test: > > 2662 RPM > HC = 38 > CO = .06 > CO2 = 13.6 > O2 = 2.1 > > Idle > 900 RPM > HC = 202 > CO = .08 > CO2 = 12.7 > O2 = 3.3 > > Readings from the previous test. (different smog station) > > 2461 RPM > HC = 39 > CO = .10 > CO2 = 15.0 > O2 = .4 > > Idle > 880 RPM > HC = 199 > CO = .08 > CO2 = 14.4 > O2 = 1.8 > > I have run 2 bottles of injector/valve cleaner through the tank. > I have not checked the compression yet, assumed it was OK, until now. > I will get a compression tester tomorrow. Timing is right on target. > > Hope this info sheds light on the problem. Thanks guys! > > -Steven Dodson > Kneeland, CA > "Inga" the 87 Syncro > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf > Of G. Matthew Bulley > Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 5:48 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Not passing smog, still... Need help! > > > Steven-- > > Could you post the other numbers; (NOx, CO, CO2). The HC on its own is > inconclusive. With the very limited evidence, here are a couple of > possible leads to check. > > 1.. Bad O2 sensor > 2.. low compression *(run MMO for a tank, then add Motor Honey for the > test) > 3.. crusty valves or injectors (run a bottle of Techron through the > tank) > 4.. timing off > 5.. ruined cat due to expired O2 sensor for extended period > (weeks/months) > > Send the full numbers, and lets go from there. > > Developing business and guiding change since 1996, > > G. Matthew Bulley > Bulley-Hewlett > Marketing & Communications > Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com > AIM = IExplain4u > Phone: +1.919.658.1278 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf > Of Steven Dodson > Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 7:59 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Not passing smog, still... Need help! > > I'm still trying to smog Inga. I'm planning a diesel conversion for late > spring / early summer 2003, so I don't want to dump a bunch more money > into > her. > > Here's some history: (skip to "problem" below if necessary, kind of > long) > My ex-mechanic had done a pre-purchase inspection on her, said she was > solid, had good compression and was in great condition. One given was > she > wouldn't pass smog, he put a new cat and muffler on her tested it with > his > smog machine, it passed, so it appeared. A second smog check proved > otherwise. He claimed that the smog facilities machine must be wrong. > They > did some checking and said they found some loose wires, blah, blah, > spent > lots of time and my money and finally claimed it was fixed and would > pass > smog, again according to their smog machine. Took it back for a smog > check > and of coarse it failed again. I took Inga to a second smog facility to > rule > out the claim of the mechanic, it failed. It was at this point that I > started noticing the tacho problem, which turned out to be the ECU, when > replaced that problem immediately stopped. I have since checked and > cleaned > out the idle stabilizer valve and controller, replaced the fuel filter, > cleaned out the fuel injectors (#2 had a questionable spray pattern) and > replaced plugs and wires (plugs were 100% out of spec). A third smog > test > this morning netted "FAILED". > My ex-mechanic claimed to have done a lot of stuff, like checking > compression. When I removed a plug, I found that the plug was dirty and > gap > was about .070", turned out all of them were like that. Also, the plug > wires > were in pour condition. You'd think that if they took the plugs out to > check > the compression, they would have seen or noted the plug and/or wire > condition. This leads me to believe that they may not have done all they > said they did during the 2.5 weeks they had Inga. > > The problem/s?: > The smog is failing the idle test with HC running between 220-280 (150 > max). > If I adjust the CO screw, it corrects the problem, temporarily. It seems > to > me that the ECU is seeing a rich or lean mix and is adjusting > accordingly. > Just replaced the ECU, so I doubt it could be the cause. Could it be the > Ox > sensor? I will test that out tomorrow. When the throttle is released, > the > rpms go down to about 1100-1200 for a bit (10-30 sec) and then finally > drops > to 850-900. Would the idle stabilizer cause this? I checked it, cleaned > it > out really good and checked contacts on the controller, not that it > makes a > difference. I found a very small exhaust leak near #3 header (tiny > bubbles), > don't think this will effect the outcome much, I will fix it anyway. > > I'm a bit puzzled. Any thoughts? Thanks! > > -Steven Dodson > Kneeland, CA > "Inga" the 87 Syncro


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