Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:19:10 -0700
Reply-To: Steven P Smith <kewsps@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven P Smith <kewsps@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: CA Smog Failed - 1985 1.9L
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2008062619275165@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Walter,
I think high NOx is due to running too lean, which raises combustion temps.
CO% = 0.04 could be an indication of too lean as well.
Perhaps you need to clean your fuel injectors. Both injectors on each bank
are needed to supply the proper fuel mix to each cylinder. One weak fuel
injector will cause the engine to run lean on that side w/o much symptom in
my experience.
Take out the the plugs and see if they are a toasty brown color or white on
the insulator. If white => too lean. You can get rebuilt injectors from the
online suppliers list. I tried a local machine shop for a good cleaning and
was not happy. You need someone who really understands injectors to get a
satisfactory result.
The new catalytic converter also needs to be approved for CA as well,
specifically to achieve lower NOx.
My last SMOG check on my '84 1.9 yielded a 15 mph CO% of .12 and NOx of 116
and a 25 mph CO% of .2 and NOx of 81. I was once a gross polluter.
BTW: once you are labeled a gross polluter in CA, you can get the state to
pay for some or all of the repairs. You just need to talk to an approved
repair shop, no other requirement.
Not an expert,
good luck
Steven
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Walter Houle" <whoule@ECSCONTROLS.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 4:19 PM
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: CA Smog Failed - 1985 1.9L
> My van failed the NO part of the CA Smog Test twice.
> I had the van worked on in between so I'm wondering what is causing the
> high NO. The 15 MPH 2200 RPM readings were as follows:
>
> Test 1: %CO2=14.5 %O2=0.6 HC PPM Max=131 Measured=131 CO% Max=0.87
> Measured = 0.37 NO PPM Max=1085 Measured = 1492
>
> I installed a new O2 sensor and a new catalytic converter. Also, a good
> local mechanic found that the vacuum retard port on the distributer had
> been disconnected and that the timing was set at 19 degrees too far
> advanced. They reconnected a vacuum hose to the retard side of the
> distributer and set the timing back to spec. However, it failer NO again,
> this time even worse.
>
> Test 2: %CO2=14.9 %O2=0.4 HC PPM Max=131 Measured=40 CO% Max=0.87
> Measured = 0.04 NO PPM Max=1085 Measured = 2131
>
> The reduced HC & CO readings show me that the new cat and O2 sensor are
> doing their jobs.
>
> What is causing the higher NO reading? Did retarding the timing make it
> worse? Does anyone have any suggestions?
>
> Otherwise, my next move is to remove the vacuum retard hose again, advance
> the timing 19 degrees, and return for Test #3. Since I now have made
> the "Gross Polluter" class, my Max NO limit got bumped to 2050.
>
> Thanks,
> Walter
> 1985 Vanagon 1.9
>
