Smog check tomorrow: what to do?
08-12-03, 11:05 AM
#1
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Smog check tomorrow: what to do?
Well, I saved this red 83 from the crusher, banged out dents, bondoed, replaced rotten seats, retimed and tuned, etc., now I gotta clear out the CA Gross Polluter rap, so I'm going to the local Smog Chek station tomorrow to get a preliminary before driving this illegal car 10 miles to the Big Smog Check that clears the GP.
How should I prepare for the smog check? I know I gotta get it hot and rev it out a few times. What else? Any additive? Methanol?
B
How should I prepare for the smog check? I know I gotta get it hot and rev it out a few times. What else? Any additive? Methanol?
B
08-12-03, 01:18 PM
#4
Just find someone who'll pass it. They still have "don't pass, don't pay's" around, don't they? When I lived in SoCal, those joints ALWAYS passed my RX's. I even had one of the tech's put one of the readers in another car's tail pipe... 
08-12-03, 02:10 PM
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Apparently changing the oil befor the test helps also.
I took mine changed the oil the two days befor I took it for the test, drove it like I stole it for an hour and passed with flying colours
Mind you this is Ontario Canada. I don't know how the rules compare to CA
Here they sell this fuel treatment that garentees your money back for the product if you do not pass smog. I can't tell you what it is called, but I can tell you that Canadian tire sells it. if that helps...
Good Luck
anthrax
I took mine changed the oil the two days befor I took it for the test, drove it like I stole it for an hour and passed with flying colours
Mind you this is Ontario Canada. I don't know how the rules compare to CA
Here they sell this fuel treatment that garentees your money back for the product if you do not pass smog. I can't tell you what it is called, but I can tell you that Canadian tire sells it. if that helps...
Good Luck
anthrax
08-12-03, 05:11 PM
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That stuffs called "Guaranteed to pass" and all they offer is double your money for the product if you fail. It's $8. Bet it don't work. Even I could scam that. I suppose it's just methanol.
Changeing the oil sounds good: get rid of fumes. I've been burning 16 oz MMO in the one tank I've used.
There are two types of smog statoins in CA: an ordinary, and one for GPs.
B
Changeing the oil sounds good: get rid of fumes. I've been burning 16 oz MMO in the one tank I've used.
There are two types of smog statoins in CA: an ordinary, and one for GPs.
B
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08-12-03, 05:33 PM
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run your fuel close to empty, then before you fill up, put about a gallon of rubbing alcohol in there (then fill up). Cruise down to the e-check while keeping your revs up, and you should pass.
08-13-03, 10:03 AM
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Make sure your car is tuned up. New plugs and wires if they are old and a good oil change can help.
I was always told to drive it around the freeway for a good 10-20 minutes to warm up the cats as well.
I was always told to drive it around the freeway for a good 10-20 minutes to warm up the cats as well.
08-13-03, 11:09 AM
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Well, I just got back and it failed again. Everything off the scale. He thinks maybe a carb tuneup will do it, but I'm getting tired of messing with this car.
B
B
08-13-03, 12:01 PM
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Wow that is too bad man.
Don't give up on it yet there must be something you can do.
Do cars in california ever become immissions exempt? In Ontario it is 20 Years and then the car is exempt from having to pass an emissions test. You still need a cat tho.
Any way good luck
anthrax
Don't give up on it yet there must be something you can do.
Do cars in california ever become immissions exempt? In Ontario it is 20 Years and then the car is exempt from having to pass an emissions test. You still need a cat tho.
Any way good luck
anthrax
08-13-03, 02:46 PM
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I put the Bonerz on another car, but I saved the old cat since it only has 50k on it. But I'm tired of messing with this car.
Anybody in the Bay area want this car? It's got 120k, noisy trans bearing, oil leak, shocks are dead and it needs a smog check. Body is repaired but paint has to be sanded and rubbed out. PM me if you're interested.
B
Anybody in the Bay area want this car? It's got 120k, noisy trans bearing, oil leak, shocks are dead and it needs a smog check. Body is repaired but paint has to be sanded and rubbed out. PM me if you're interested.
B
08-14-03, 03:58 PM
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Aha! Offer withdrawn!
I reviewed the history of this car with the previous owner and realized his previous carb tuneup was done with the engine timing 20 degrees off (how the heck it ran I don't know). Since I retimed it after painting the timing notches, it should tune right up at the carb now.
Hehehe.
B
I reviewed the history of this car with the previous owner and realized his previous carb tuneup was done with the engine timing 20 degrees off (how the heck it ran I don't know). Since I retimed it after painting the timing notches, it should tune right up at the carb now.
Hehehe.
B
08-14-03, 07:54 PM
#18
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ahhhh.calgary alberta...land of no emissions testing whatsoever......
my emissions crap is sitting in a pile on my garage floor along with the cats and every other bit of junk
my emissions crap is sitting in a pile on my garage floor along with the cats and every other bit of junk
08-26-03, 06:03 PM
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I had the carb tuned and it still fails on the "HC" test. Here's how the pre-tune and post-tune readings line up:
Looks Like he set the idle too high. He says it needs a cat, but I don't believe it because the numbers are good above idle. I think maybe it needs some idle adjustment or maybe vacuum line repairs.
I do have an extra cat with 49k from the 85 (I put in a Bonerz but it doesn't seem to change the power), but I don't know if it'll fit, or even if it willl make a difference.
Anyone have experience with this CA smog stuff?
B
Code:
Red 83 Mazda RX-7 smog check 8/26/03
-----------------------------------------------------
08/13/03 (after setting timing):
RPM | %CO2 | %O2 | HC (PPM) | %CO
----------------------------------------------------------------
max gp meas max gp meas RESULT
760 | 5.7 | 8.6 | 120 270 2000+ | 1.50 | 3.0 | 7.7 | GP
2569 | 10.3 | 6.0 | 150 300 91 | 1.50 | 3.0 | 0.26 | pass
08/26/03 (after tuning carb and checking timing):
1059 | 11.0 | 4.2 | 150 300 667 | 1.50 | 3.0 | 0.54 | GP
I do have an extra cat with 49k from the 85 (I put in a Bonerz but it doesn't seem to change the power), but I don't know if it'll fit, or even if it willl make a difference.
Anyone have experience with this CA smog stuff?
B
Last edited by bliffle; 08-26-03 at 06:07 PM.
08-26-03, 09:00 PM
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dude my car sucked *** on the hc's
i took it to some little po dunk mechanic shop, the guy all but guaranteed he could get it to pass legally.
he put some kind of solution in the carb(via some big machine) ran it for about 10 mins with this crap flowing through, then let it sit for a half hour.
he said once he started it back up and let it warm, he ran it up hard and it puffed like a freight train. after a few of these hard revs, it just kinda cleared up.
with a smile on his face, he said, 20 years of carbon beat by 3 or 4 good revs, works every time.
he was right passed with flying colors
maybe something to check into.
i took it to some little po dunk mechanic shop, the guy all but guaranteed he could get it to pass legally.
he put some kind of solution in the carb(via some big machine) ran it for about 10 mins with this crap flowing through, then let it sit for a half hour.
he said once he started it back up and let it warm, he ran it up hard and it puffed like a freight train. after a few of these hard revs, it just kinda cleared up.
with a smile on his face, he said, 20 years of carbon beat by 3 or 4 good revs, works every time.
he was right passed with flying colors
maybe something to check into.
08-27-03, 06:37 PM
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I guess that you can restrict one of the hoses to the carb and it lowers HC.
What I need is an HC test I can do at home, so I can see what works.
B
What I need is an HC test I can do at home, so I can see what works.
B
08-27-03, 08:26 PM
#23
On my 85 se, I had someone check the tailpipe before actually putting my info in the machine. I woulda been a Gross Polluter, HC's were like 2000, I put a new/used air control valve on and hc's dropped to like 120 I think and I passed no prob. I thought the acv might be bad because there was a slight missfire on decel.
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