I bought a second FC last month. It's a '90 GXL. It has a streetported engine done by Stan at SDJ and midpipe. I'm running it on a 1oz of 2cycle mobil1 synthetic to 1gallon of premium gasoline mixture. This past weekend I removed the midpipe and put on a custom convertor (the guy gave it to me when i bought the car). When I went to get emissions done today, I drove the car on the highway for the first time. It seems as though I can't accelerate past 3000-4000ish rpm in 5th gear, leaving me @ around 100mph. I did a search on the '3800rpm stumble" or whatever, and I couldnt pinpoint specific trouble shooting. Other than 5th gear, in all other gears I can accel to redline just fine. Is this the same problem as the 3800 stumbles?

Well, I end up at the emmissions booth kind of frustrated. The car didn't pass ;/. The emmissions officer suggested I get a full/major tune-up and maybe replace the O2 sensor. He said he knew it probably wouldn't pass since the engine was shaking alot?
Here's the results:

12/07/2004

25/25 Test
Reading --- Allowable --- Result
HC-ppm --- 519 --- 168 --- FAIL
CO-% --- 3.66 --- 1.08 --- FAIL
NO-ppm --- 0125 --- 1208 --- PASS
RPM --- 2060 --- 1500-3000 --- PASS
CO+CO2% --- 16.4 --- 6.0min --- PASS

50/15 Test
Reading --- Allowable --- Result
HC-ppm --- 533 --- 173 --- FAIL
CO-% --- 3.42 --- .98 --- FAIL
NO-ppm --- 0104 --- 1323 --- PASS
RPM --- 1778 --- 1500-3000 --- PASS
CO+CO2% --- 16.3 --- 6.0min --- PASS

It seems I'm a shitload over the allowable in terms of HC and CO. My close and more knowledgable friend says it's probably useless, and that I won't be able to pass. Also...here is the emmissions paper the previous owner gave me:

8/06/2003

25/25 Test
Reading --- Allowable --- Result
HC-ppm --- 89 --- 168 --- PASS
CO-% --- .07 --- 1.08 --- PASS
NO-ppm --- 113 --- 1208 --- PASS
RPM --- 1795 --- 3000 max --- (blank)
CO+CO2% --- 11.5 --- 6.0min --- (blank)

50/15 Test
Reading --- Allowable --- Result
HC-ppm --- 98 --- 173 --- PASS
CO-% --- .20 --- .98 --- PASS
NO-ppm --- 114 --- 1323 --- PASS
RPM --- 1796 --- 3000 max --- (blank)
CO+CO2% --- 11.8 --- 6.0min --- (blank)

looks kind of fishy to me ;/.

Btw, the previous owner was a really nice guy, and I doubt he was trying to cheat me. He said the car used to belong to a guy named Sean. Anyone know him? I heard he knows his stuff ;p. Any evaluation and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

I know a few guys named Sean....

 

"useless" is a very broad term. useless in the sense that if you keep trying expecting it to pass and it won't, then maybe. useless in the sense that nothing outside the engine can be fixed to make it pass. useless as in the engine will never run well enough, even after rebuild, to pass. or maybe useless as in that car will never pass no matter what is done. "useless" would be incorrect, it all depends on what you're willing to go through.

nothing about his really looks fishy. in fact, his numbers aren't even staggeringly low. did anything on his car change between his emissions test and yours??

something sounds wrong with the car. if its not running smoothly, then yea, good chance its gonna fail. you're gonna have to find the problem. does your check engine light work?

 

Yes, I'm pretty sure my engine light works. When the key is in the ignition and in the position right before starting the engine, all the lights come on, as they also do when I stall ;/. I'm pretty sure that nothing in the engine has changed. My friend also says that the car was "mickey moused." Wiring job in the engine looks halfassed and the midpipe bolts weren't on very tight in the first place. However, I think it was still like that when the previous owver got the emissions done. The previous owner said he did nothing to the car except replace those broken vents that always break and other minor parts.

anymore advice or help locating the problem would help.


-Sorry, a guy named Sean who lives in GA, who used to drive a black FC (I thought it would be obvious seeing my profile says GA).



Thanks