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Help!!! Failed Emmission Test

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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 01:07 PM
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Unhappy Help!!! Failed Emmission Test

I have done the test twice and failed and I onley have one more chance.

The car passes on a shop emmission tester but, fails at the EPA due to the lack of fuel burnoff when under loading. Normally it is running rich after reaching operation temp. As a result I changed the O2 sensor with no change.

I have 30 days to solve this problem.....HELP!

Teggo
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 01:21 PM
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I had the same problem, after the fourth fail (even after purging the evap catch tank) I took it to a guy that owns a four gas analyzer. He is tweaking the PFC maps below 3K to pass MA dyno emissions test.

He is supposed to have it finished tomorrow. The cool thing is that he has to tune with no cats (MP) and has gotten FDs to pass the test that way. If it is borderline when he is done I'll just put the hiflow cat back on.

I won't be suprised to have to pay $1K ($75@hr.) but at least I won't have to take the mods off to pass the test.
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 08:53 PM
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The bad thing is that I have no mods done. It's bone stock.
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 09:09 PM
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Whenever doing getting your car smogged, do the normal procedures, and always, ALWAYS do a pretest. I would put brand new BUR7EQP's in the leading, (the 7's help emmisions over the 9's). Next purge the small black plastic tank below the throttle body elbow. Make sure your car is idling as close to perfect as you can. Check your Airpump and the rubber hoses that lead to the Cat. for leaks. Keep ALL of the accessories off, that means fans, interior fans, lights, stereo, etc. Finally keep your car running until the test, make sure the Cat. is hot (it works best when hot). I'd take it to a small shop, and have it pre-tested after these mods, to make sure you'll pass. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

eric
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 09:11 PM
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Don't forget to warm her up for like 10 min before the test. Don't just let her sit there and then bone (stick her under the gun) her when it's time. You gotta pre-heat the oven .
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 09:12 PM
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I've also heard of people running with de-natured alcohol or those smog pass treatments, in their gas tanks. I don't know the value/dangers of these, but they are worth mentioning. Also go for a long highway drive to burn out some of the carbon in the motor. Once again good luck.

eric
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Old Jul 12, 2002 | 06:13 PM
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Don't mean to sound stupid but, what do you mean by purging the catch tank?
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Old Jul 14, 2002 | 01:36 AM
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Get a downpipe, Replacing the pre-cat is what passed emissions for me.
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Old Jul 14, 2002 | 02:19 AM
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The Catch tank is a small black plastic vapor tank below the intake elbow. It can sometimes fill with petrol. Make sure you remove it and blow compressed air through it to remove any gasoline in there. I've never heard of a precat causing you to fail emissions, if anything it should help a little bit. But every car is different I suppose. Always, always keep your car warm, and running. Leave it running in the parking lot, and keep the fans on, until you begin the test. Leaving the fans on turns on the ELD in computer, this can cause your car to fail. So make sure your fans/all electrics are off during the test.

eric
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Old Sep 12, 2002 | 01:49 PM
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PASS! PASS! PASS! Finally by adding 1 gallon of denatured alcohol (methanol) to a 1/2 tank of 93 octane did it. When I added a gallon to a full tank it made a significant difference so I did the before metioned. This additive really cleans up the hydro-carbons (HC). Just be carefull, the car may sputter at idle, and be sure to dilute the mixture right after the test.

Thanks for all of your help.
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Old Sep 12, 2002 | 02:33 PM
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Congratulations, good to see you finally passed. I often wonder what happened to the people with emissions problems. Most of the time we never hear back from them to see what their problem was, or if they even fixed it.

eric
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Old Sep 12, 2002 | 04:47 PM
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Congrats. Maybe there should be a smog forum for just this sort of issue. It's obvious that there are several techniques that'll help out with passing smog...everything from replacing plugs to adding alcohol. Just a thought. That or someone should write up a FAQ on passing smog.
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Old Sep 12, 2002 | 11:35 PM
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I have failed 4 times in Illinois! The EPA is threatening to revoke my license. Even the MAZDA tech could not get it to pass. I have tried everything you guys have listed and $459.00 later it still fails. The only thing I have not tried is the Ethanol trick. Where do you buy the stuff?
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Old Sep 13, 2002 | 08:36 AM
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I have a page for smog issues on my site. Go to How-to --> Engine (Other) --> Passing Emissions.

Cheers,

Steve
http://www.ScuderiaCiriani.com/rx7
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Old Sep 13, 2002 | 11:28 AM
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Originally posted by mecman
I have failed 4 times in Illinois! The EPA is threatening to revoke my license. Even the MAZDA tech could not get it to pass. I have tried everything you guys have listed and $459.00 later it still fails. The only thing I have not tried is the Ethanol trick. Where do you buy the stuff?
Where are you located?
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Old Sep 13, 2002 | 05:17 PM
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I'm taking my car to Lincolnshire and Liberty Mazda in Libertyville. They said they were talking to Mazda and that I am the 5th RX-7 they had this summer that they failed emmissions and they could get a waiver.
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Old Sep 13, 2002 | 07:27 PM
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Wouldn't it would be great if if everyone in the US could get a waiver that made the rx-7 exempt from all smog tests! Would kick ***!
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Old Sep 16, 2002 | 05:55 PM
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If you need good prices on parts ask for bill in parts and when he gives you the cost just ask if he can do anything with the price. Just make sure you do this in person.
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Old Sep 17, 2002 | 10:24 PM
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I had trouble passing emissions until it was explained to me that the airpump shuts off at about 3400RPM (mine was shutting around 3000RPM). So you should not let the emissions statio take a reading above 3000RPM. In Arizona they take an idle reading and a loaded reading (30mph or something like that while your on a dyno). SO I used third gearand kept it below 2500 RPM. The other reason I failed the first time, I sat in line for 15-20 minutes idling. It kept the CAT warm, but the CAT needs to be run at 2500+RPMs or driven hard right before testing (within a few minutes of testing). Without the fuel, air and hot temperature, the CAT will shut down. I failed miserably the first time, but then Rotary Response and Racing in Tucson explained this to me. I went in the second time with no adjustments, just did what he told me and passed with flying colors. Well below limits.
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