So my 93 manual CA car is having trouble with smogging...not the output of hydrocarbons or other gases, but it keeps hesitating and losing power at some points.

For example, while running the 15 or 25mph test in 2nd gear, say 1800 to 2500 rpm, while the smog guy holds a steady throttle, it suddenly loses power and kicks back up again. I don't notice this while driving around town because I'm usually above that RPM, but I did notice on the freeway holding a steady throttle the car will hesitate and immediately get it's power back.

I thought it was because of a non-CA pettit ECU I installed, but it does the same thing with the stock ECU.

My car also throws a code 16 for EGR, which I have not taken a look at yet.

The smog guy is a past FD and FC owner and so he hooked the car up correctly and did everything he could to try to help me pass. Still...I can't pass if this hesitation aborts the testing process every try.

Any ideas or past experience with this issue?

 

Well, did you check the basic stuff like the plugs? Is the TPS in spec? Are you sure the cat isn't clogged?

 

Sounds like my car when my O2 sensor went bad. I'd get a new one and see if that fixes things.

My car would hesitate whenever it was cruising around that range, if I gave it throttle or was out of that range it'd be fine. but right when I got into that cruise territory it would stumble.