jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

I bought this 90 vert in March. I need to get it on the road and emission testing was the last step. The car drives and runs great. Gets 24 MPG on the highway, so I decided to smog it as is.

So Aug 22, I go in and the test is SO close! FAILED! The test tech asks me all the questions, did I warm it up on the highway, is it new gas, did I have a fresh oil change.

yeah, yeah, huh? Oil change? Emissions?

He assured me it made a difference and that I was so close that it would probably pass with just an oil change.

88rx7gxl

$40 for an emission test??? Damn, im glad there are no emission laws here in Kansas!!

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

So... I researched and decided I needed more than an oil change, but not much more. I decided to change the oil and also bypass the ACV by hooking the airpump directly to the cat. Heh heh, I have the hot ticket to passing emissions.

Sept 3: I took the car back to the station. FAILED! Even worse! Every single tested pollutant is higher, and you can see the greatly increased oxygen, so we know the pump is putting extra air in the system.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

I went back to the drawing board. I researched and decided to check out the entire emmission system. I went through the FSM and Haynes and tested pretty much everything on the car. Everything under the hood worked as Mazda intended.

Checked out the cat with my muffler shop; they were pretty sure it worked and so was I. The exhaust had a distinct smell of unburned HC's at startup that went away after a couple of minutes. The exhaust then smelled clean. So I did aot of research on alcohol and gasohol and decided that was what I need to use.

Home Depot sold me a Gallon of Denatured Ethanol for $12.97. I mixed it into about 1/8 of a tank and headed back to the testing station. The gasohol mix helped, I passed the high speed but failed the low speed by 10 ppm. So close!

t-von

iTrader: (8)

Well I wouldn't expect a 16 year old cat to be too effective. Have you replaced the plugs? Also how many miles on the engine? Have you done a recent compression check?

SmogSUX

iTrader: (12)

A new high flow cat works wonders....trust me.

doridori-rx7

iTrader: (3)

I would have done a plug/wire change/upgrade first before the goofing around with the air pump. check your timing.. also use methyl hydrate instead, it's no where near as corrosive as what your using.. .. also try a table spoon of acetone in a tank.. it will reduce the surface tension of gasoline allowing it to aerosol better in the chamber.. but you'll need to use the Methyhydrate or a higher octane gas to cmpensate for the lowered octane effect of better A/F mix..

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

When I mentioned that I did not change the oil before the emission test, that did not mean that I had not changed the oil. It was changed when I got the car. I also did a complete tune up, plugs, wires, filters, all fluids, tranny and rear diff, hoses, belts, brake flush and bleed, pads, turned the rotors, new tires.

Haven't done a compression check.



Me neither! Read on!

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

So, being in the Dallas area, I took my tests to Rotary Performance for advice. They advised that the cat was probably cooked and that any cat is only good for a couple of years on a rotary. Even the RP Bönez Superflo System is only good for maybe 4 years, tops. They eventually cook even on a properly running car. And mine is properly running, freshly tuned up.

So they showed me one of the Bönez Superflo Systems. Damn! That is exactly the setup on my car! Now they want $315 for the system and I only paid $1300 for the car. Bad math. So I bought a 2 1/2 high flow AND high capacity cat from Autozone. I rented the muffler cutoff tool, bought some clamps and a little bit of pipe. I borrowed my Porsche buddies lift to install the new cat.

First thing I noticed was the chunks of the ceramic brick that fell out of the unit when I removed it. The converter had no sign of any impact and I did not drop or bang on it. The entire front brick, which is the part that reduces nOX was complete rubble. The rear brick was intact, but since that is the part that oxidizes the HC's, it was obviously toast.

I passed with flying colors!

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

The car runs much better now that the old cat is replaced. It has much better power in the high rpm band and better torque at lower rpms. I bet my miles per gallon will increase significantly, especially around town.

I may remove the new cat and store it for later smogging purposes.

Hope my story helps anyone trying to smog the 7.

Step 1. Fix your car, make it run right and it will pass smog.
Step 2. If it doesn't pass, see step 1.

SureShot

It's amazing you got that close the first time with a bad cat.

BklynRX7

Its same here in NYC but I usually pay $60 to pass with no cats, airpump ect. Hell half the time i dont even bring my car in, I just Pick up the tag.

I luv shady brooklyn mechanics <3

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Yes. After seeing the inside of the old cat, it really is amazing. I think the old cat was still working on the back brick a little.

WonkoTheSane

iTrader: (2)

I need to find a shady PA mechanic.. can't be that hard, right?


I'm seriously surprised you were that close to spec with a clogged/decayed CAT.. .that's impressive..

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

In Texas, the local dyno and sniffer is connected to the main computer in Austin. The tester logs in to Austin, shoots the bar code on the door of your car or punches in the VIN, shoots the bar code on his ID card. You pretty much have to be present. The test is then administered by computer from Austin and the tech merely follows the instructions on the screen. The system also checks for dilution, so the sniffer has to be all the way in the tailpipe.

When you pass, he then logs your new inspection sticker ID number into the system. The whole thing is designed to prevent motorists from working things out with the test tech. It can be done, but not easily.

At one point, I suggested that he put my rx7 on the dyno and put the sniffer in the tailpipe of my 2003 Accord. He told me to be gratetful that he let me by with no highbeams. I was.

t-von

iTrader: (8)

How how much did the cat run you?

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

About $115 or 120 bucks. Part number is 38734. 2-1/2" inlet and outlet. I would have preferred to use a magnaflow bought from an ebay shop for about $60 shipped, but I couldn't wait for the shipping. Had to make a court date to prove to the judge that the car had been inspected.

I had lots of recommendations of Magnaflow as a quality unit with above average duability. If you have time to wait for the shipping, get the magnaflow.



ALSO, forgot to mention that I replaced the O2 sensor after my second test. So for reference, the test with the alcohol had a new 02 sensor as well...

daten

Sounds familiar. I got my FC last spring (~april 05) and the biggest thing inspection (not emissions) complained about was my cat was bad. I got the Bonez cat from Rotary Performance, went to swap them, took my old one off and chunks of the old cat came falling out of the pipe.

I haven't had it emissions tested yet.. wasn't necessary to get MD tags. For now I'm just reading all the relavent threads here, hope to pass on the first try.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Here is the 2006 test.

2713ddddavid

iTrader: (1)

Hey is there an age at which a vehicle is exempt from testing in Texas?

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Houston-Galveston and Dallas-Fort Worth Program Areas

* Subject Vehicles: All 2-24 year old gasoline vehicles are subject to emissions testing.
* Test Method: Model Year 1996 and newer vehicles will be subject to On-board Diagnostic (OBD) testing, and Model Year 1995 and older vehicles will be subject to Acceleration Simulation Mode (ASM) testing.
* Test Fee: In the Houston-Galveston and DFW areas, not to exceed $27.00 for an ASM or an OBD emissions test plus $12.50 for the safety test, total of $39.50.

Apex-it

Hey Jackhild,

Nice to hear yea passed!! I've got an 88' N/A and at standing idle it hit 1602 on the HC's!! Not quit sure what the problem is yet but lookin' into it!!!

APEX-IT

Tyblat

Very interesting read. Makes me glad FL has no Emissions testing Lol.

Maffic

Yup. California emissions suck.

mikaz

oh god, reading this makes me so happy there is no emissions testing in canada!!! having no cat and all.......