Failed MA emissions inspection AGAIN!!!
 

What a bunch of maroons at the inspection station I went to. The dipshits had it in boost through most of the acceleration... This is the second time I failed. I'll have to pay $29 to have my car inspected again...

I did the following to my car subsequent to failing the first emissions test a month ago or so.

1. Changed the oil.
2. Started using Sunoco Ultra 94 exclusively.
3. Ran 1 full container of Redline SI-1 fuel injector cleaner with a full tank of gas until almost empty.
4. Changed the coolant (shouldn't have mattered, but I heard that WaterWetter was bad for the seals).
5. Changed the O2 sensor with a Bosch Universal (there was already one of these on the car so the prior owner must have changed it as well).
6. Cleaned and re-oiled the K&N drop in filter that I've got.

During the first test, I failed on HC and NOX readings. The results are below:
Pollutant Reading Limit
HC GPM 01.88 01.20
CO GPM 017.51 020.00
NOX GPM 02.77 02.50
CO2 GPM 666.04


On the second test, I failed on HC and CO readings. The results are below:
Pollutant Reading Limit
HC GPM 01.71 01.20
CO GPM 033.88 020.00
NOX GPM 01.40 02.50
CO2 GPM 336.68

My car is pretty stock, the only performance mods are a downpipe and a Racing Beat intake duct for the standard airbox. I believe that the increased CO suggests that they were boosting (plus I could hear it). The graphs more or less show it since they went from about 10 mph to 30 in 2-3 seconds all in second gear and CO spiked significantly. They didn't shift into 3rd until 30 and emissions dropped to nothing thereafter.

Anybody know a service station in eastern (Boston area) MA that won't put my car on a dyno when testing? I believe that it's too tempting for these dipshits to gun the car... Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Oops forgot to add I drove the car for at least 20 minutes prior to the test, and kept it on until they took the car (another 5-10 minutes). Plus it was pretty hot today (high 80s - low 90s).

I hate to tell you, but a lot of things you did won't have an effect on your emissions. You didn't mention spark plugs. How fresh are those?

Was the 02 sensor one specified for an FD? That's another place I'd double check.

I live in Mass. too, and unless they're violating the rules, emission tests are now every other year, and they're all done on that dyno
setup. I use 2 different inspection stations for my cars, and they both do a pretty fair job. One (not the Mazda one) has even done retests on the spot if I didn't pass the first time around, and they make sure the car is warmed up enough.

For the RX-7 I use Balise Mazda in West Springfield where I bought the car. They treat me like visiting royalty when I drive in
and they seem in awe of the 3rd gen RX-7. In five years I have never failed an inspection there. I wouldn't have them do any serious work on my car, but they're capable of installing an oxygen sensor or spark plugs.

I know it's a drive for you, but it's the only possible suggestion I have.
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It's just coming back to me now......were you the guy who suspected he had a problem with a used catalytic converter he put on his car? If it's your main cat that's bad, you're going
to have a hard time getting around that unless you find someone willling to take a bribe. The emission testing equipment is online,
so unless he's willing to just give you a sticker without a test, the only other alternative is to hook up another car to the equipment and have them say it's yours.

Don't know if requirements in Pennsylvania are different from MA but i pass fine w/ a lot more mods...anyways, find a corrupt station...i know of some in Worcester that'll slap a sticker on for $100.

they just dropped emissions in here in oklahoma
http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/otn/realhappy/jump.gifhttp://www.contrabandent.com/pez/otn/realhappy/jump.gifhttp://www.contrabandent.com/pez/otn/realhappy/jump.gif

The fuel injector cleaners that you used, are greatly in suspect.

The fuel injector cleaner stirs up, loose, all kind of carbon off your injectors as well as the engine, and may have caused the high carbon readings as you get rid of it through the exhaust.
I had used an engine cleaner before in my truck and that caused me to fail inspection. I ran a couple of gas tanks, and changed the oil and passed the inspection with a great margin.
Also worthwhile checking: is your Oxygen sensor. Make sure it's the correct one, and don't just go by what is already on your car, as the previous owner may have put the wrong one on!!

Try this and make sure you go to familiar inspection station, and let us know how you fair. Good Luck.

There was a TBS that i found for the FD not passing emission it was explaining on how to fix it..i have to find the site agian i cant remeber. W/ you new DP does it have a cat? if not then that might be your problem. Ive heard a trick to pass emission is to put Octane booster on a half tank and drive your car 70mph to 80mph till it gets really hot so all the fumes that runs thru your exchaust will burn because the cat is really hot. Ive heard sometimes it works.

Spark plugs have less that 2-3k miles on them. Wires are new Taylor Vertex 8.5mm as well. Plus the plugs that I pulled out of the car looked to be in great shape even though they were non Platinum and had approximately 8k on them.

When I had my last RX tested back in May, the service station I went to wouldn't put it up on the dyno. They were afraid that they would rip the nose off the car (which they probably would have if they tried to put it up on the dyno since the car had Eibachs installed). They did the sniff test sans dyno running the car at about 2-3k rpm for a couple of seconds. I passed with flying colors back then. My "new" RX actually runs a bunch better than my old one. Just can't seem to pass inspection...

mine expired a few days ago. to pass here in n.y i'm going to make my car n/a. i'm also going to put back the air pump in ,but i will connect it to a switch that switches power to engage the clutch. this way the pump will remain running tru out the test. i got a few other tricks too. my car is almost stock. mods are pettit downpipe , apexi gt spec and hks intake.:D

I also thought about this after the fact, but the Redline stuff is supposed to burn pretty "clean"... BMW recommends it on all their vehicles at every fillup (in much less concentration). I did refill two times prior to retesting with no SI-1. I do believe that my HC levels were high due to all the gunk that got cleaned off the injector, rotors and rotor housing getting mixed up with the oil which is injected to the rotors when its running. Before I spend yet another $29, I will definitely change the oil.