Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 08:48:31 -0700
Reply-To: RICHARD KOERNER <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: RICHARD KOERNER <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Smog test failed - here is my plan
In-Reply-To: <38e334640908050830n16d7c06eo396c0c1cf5d0ca6b@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Roland,
You wrote: The Van-Cafe cat for only $135.00 is not California legal.
Hmm-mm....I bought a Van Cafe catalytic converter (item 025.131.701A) for $145 in November 2008. Had it installed by a local shop, along with a new muffler ($109, item 025.251.053E). Now, these are for a 1.9 engine. Also installed a new oxygen sensor at the same time. Anyway, a couple days later, went for my bi-annual smog inspection at the local Test Only station, and passed with flying colors, well below the requirements, and better than the results 2 years earlier when I still had the original factory cat.
So just a point of reference for you.
Rich
85 GL Vanagon
San Diego
--- On Wed, 8/5/09, Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Smog test failed - here is my plan
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 8:30 AM
Ok,
The saga continues ('89 2.1). I had the shop try to tune it up so it would
pass smog, but not yet. They put in a new oxygen sensor, cap/rotor, and did
some tune up things like the adjust the timing and AFM meter adjustment (I
guess). They have a pretest capability, but then bring it down the road to
a certified smog test station and then that failed. So the next recommended
step is a new catalytic converter. So I am for about $450.00 already for
all the various things and still no pass.
I admit I don't fully understand all the new California CARB issues after
reading through the archives for the last year or so. But there are
"special" cats that are needed for California. The shop stated around
$400.00 for a new cat, with about an hour to install. This makes sense. I
found at least one California legal cat here:
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/shopdisplayproducts.asp (after you select
some drop down lists) with an MSRP of $390.00. The Van-Cafe cat for only
$135.00 is not California legal.
A couple of weeks ago I applied for the California CAP program and the the
qualification letter came through -- yes looks like our vanagons qualify.
http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov. It means that I pay the first $100.00 of
repairs, and then the state pays the next $500.00 of repairs. So I am going
to bring it to a "CAP certified" test/repair place and try to cut my
losses. It is always a difficult choice: when the Vanagon needs this kind
of thing, do I bring it to the VW expert or to the smog expert? So I
started with the VW expert, and now will move it to the smog expert, clearly
because I want to use the state help $ to get this done now.
We'll see how it goes, I've learned to do more and more repairs on my own,
but when it comes to smog testing I just can't see how to do it in the
backyard. Thanks for all your previous suggestions and comments.
Roland
On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Roland <syncronicity1@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, one of our favorite subjects: good old CA smog test, '89 2.1. It has
> passed twice before without needing help, but not this time.
>
> It has high hydrocarbons at idle, which means it is running rich.
>
> So, I plan to change cap, rotor, plugs which is the advice I gathered from
> the archives. Also will use a bottle of injector cleaner for the next few
> days.
>
> Actually, I am going to let the shop do it, since they have a pre-test
> capability and work with the local official smog check station to get it
> passed. VW Paradise (http://www.vwparadise.com), north San Diego County,
> have had some work done there before, seem like pretty good guys. Seems
> there are always 4- 6 vanagons there in various state of repairs.
>
> I would do those "tune-up" items myself, but by the time I get it done, and
> maybe adjust the AFM (which I've never done), I'd be guessing, and then go
> back to get it checked again, and if it fails, then guess again, and go
> back. The process stinks, given all the governmental stuff in CA, I am
> getting sick of this state anyway (sorry for the editorial). Recent reports
> show the smog test system as useless: now there are so many newer cars on
> the road which don't go bad, that this whole smog test junk is just a tax on
> older car owners.
>
> Things I learned from the Smog Test station (who is a really good guy):
> - don't use premium fuel - it will increases the probability of failure.
> - don't ever buy ARCO gas, he was adamant about this!
> - California has a CAP program which my Van qualfies. I have to mail in an
> application, then if approved I go to a CAP qualified repair facility, and I
> pay the first $100.00 of smog repairs, then the state pays the next
> $500.00. But many of these "certified" CAP stations refuse to touch
> vanagons. Takes about 2 weeks to hear back from the state after you send
> the application.
>
> Any comments appreciated.
>
> Roland
>
>
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