Because I live in CA, I am forced to do a smog check every 2 years. Apparently my car passed the last couple times, but I was told I need to go to a test only station, so I doubt my car passed at all seeing as how its a 7. I have an 82 carbeurated gsl, and they did a pre-test on my car and it showed that I am a gross polluter. My timing is stock, and I put everything on the car that I modified back to stock. I am missing a solenoid, (the brown one) which is the leading vacuum control solenoid valve, but my question is would that make or break me? What other factors might contribute to my car not passing? I have a custom muffler system, with only 1 cat instead of the 3 monolith cats, but still if my car passed last time with the exhaust I have right now, I figure it should pass again... WHAT IS CAUSING ME NOT TO PASS? I have searched and came up with close to nothing, so if anyone could help this would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

-Renz

 

Did they tell you HOW you failed? Here in Ohio we get a little sheet that shows us exactly what the law says and what we tested at.

A high hydrocarbon means one thing, high CO means another, NOx means something different. I'll look the specifics up and get back to you.

 

too many factors, smog rules change all the time in CA, currently cars are tested on a Dyno under a load condition , plus the visual inspection that diagram on your hood has to have it's counterpart on the engine. Always tune it , change the oil ck the air filter before taking it in, and ask them ck the output before hooking to the computer. This will prevent you from getting tagged as a gross polluter and give you a chance to fix whatever was found.

 

Bad Air Control Valve

 

You sure you got it all hooked up right? Is the airpump air geting to the cat? Also just hook the vacuum advance back up. Dont worry about the solenoid, just hook it to the hose that was the input to the solenoid.

 

i am not sure all the vacuums are hooked up right. the only way i would be able to tell is if i took it to my mazda shop, but thats kind of far and i would have to leave it there for a couple days. i cannot afford to do this. i think i dont have a choice. what usually affects rotaries from not passing smog?

 

main factor would be air pump/acv/cat, IMHO. The cat has to be operational, it needs to get enough oxygen from the air pump to break down the nasty emissions.

 

my cat is operational. i am not sure about my air control valve. where is this located in the car?

 

On the side of the intake manifold. Look in the manual on checking its operation.

 

You do have the air hose going into the side of the cat correct. my 81 didn't pass until that was hooked up. it had rusted off

 

i'll check but im sure that is hooked up. i am getting new plugs, and doing an oil change, and cleaning my K&N to help. also i figure ill try the GUARANTEED TO PASS from kragen and see if that works. if not its double my money back! haha. sounds good to me. seems like easy money!