Just took off my exhaust and borrowed my friend's complete stock exhaust. As well as the intake, carb, airbox, and airpump.

Going to try and pass smog today, pretty nervous.

 

good luck! I have heard many say that with stock gear, it's not too tough to pass, even in CA.

 

With fully functioning stock gear, in proper tune, it will pass quite cleanly.

If the stock stuff isn't working right (particularly the ACV), not so much.

 

does anyone have a picture with the order the solenoids connect to the rats nest

 

Should be one pasted to the inside of your hood by the factory...?

 

what is a smog test

 

^ don't even start wacky, we all know you're exempt

 

i failed. he said my timing is at 12 degrees instead of 20. do I need to a timing light to change it?

 

...that's why California sucks. Were the numbers clean or did they just check your timing then fail you?

 

I failed emissions

 

since its too late for clunker special, just junk it. I have a free towing service. ROFL

 

Only if you want to change it to what it should be.

 

lol.. I'm getting one from Harbor Freight Tomorrow. I'm a little confused on how to actually set it though. I looked at the FSM, but on the forum it said something about unplugging vacuum line to set the advance??

Do you guys think advancing my timing from 12 degrees to 20 will allow me to pass smog?


HC (PPM) CO(%) NO (PPM)
MAX Meas. MAX Meas. Max Meas.
15mph 141 181 .86 1.02 1161 352
25mph 116 203 .66 1.08 991 1.08

The smog guy said the NO numbers mean that my catalytic converter is in working condition. I also failed the visual for the TAC (Heat shield tube to airbox) and Fuel Evaporitive Controls (Another tube to the airbox)

Does this look passable by changing my timing?

 

Yes it looks like its already passing emissions just make it "look" good.

 

You're maybe running a hair rich, but that could be the result of incomplete combustion due to the timing.

I've always used the FSM procedure at idle.

 

ive noticed timing has an effect on NOX, but doesnt really change HC or CO much

unplugging the lines and the FSM procedure on the stock car have the same result; at ZERO throttle (there is a TPS) the vacuum advances are OFF. if you wanna be on the safe side you can disconnect em

also mazda's timing number is in degrees AFTER TDC, so going from 12 to 20, on the trailing i hope, is RETARDING.

BTW your smog guy is a tool for checking the timing, nobody does that anymore...

 

**** cali...blow it out real good, drive it hard for at least 35 mins. check the plugs and if not move to idaho

 

So how exactly am I supposed to set the timing? I put the inductive lead wire on the my trailing coil wire to the distributor and when I fire the red mark is perfectly lined up.


i was failing the first time and failed worse the second time. the timing adjustment I made raised my idle is that right?

 

The 2nd smog shop failed me for timing and said he doesnt even know what its set at.

 

they will give you a special stamp: gross polluter

 

I've already been a gross pollutor for years. But I'm trying to pass.

Should my idle have increased when I changed the timing or did I do it the wrong way?

 

How in the hell can he fail you for something he can't even measure?

Last smog shop I went to had a horrid time getting a tach signal off my car, for no apparent reason (I never have trouble.) they ended up using an inductive loop over the whole engine.

 

put timing light on L1 and it should line up with the yellow/1st mark at idle, putting the light on T1 should have the mark on the 2nd/red mark.

if he didnt check where the timing was how on earth can he fail you for having it wrong?

 

he says the mark isn't clearly visible, i tried to argue but i still failed for emissions. i cleaned up the pulley so its clear-er. and i just put on another cat, bout to get re-test it

 

i think i'd left that shop and went and got a 2nd opinion.