Bought a FD that passed emissions 2 years ago in GA but doesnt pass now. Readings were as follows:

25/25 Test reading allowed

HC ppm 627 132
CO% 6.36 0.73
NOx ppm 87 945
RPM 2773 3000 (max)
CO+CO2 17.0 6.0 (min)

50/15 test reading allowed

HC ppm 562 136
CO % 5.45 0.76
NOx ppm 111 1045
RPM 2970 3000 (max)
CO+CO2 16.6 6.0 (min)

Honestly, I am still trying to figure out everything on the car as i purchased it a few days ago and the previous owner didnt know all the mods that had been made to the car. It has a greddy exhaust on it, with a cat (i suspect a high flow one). I know there is an air/smog pump, but google hasnt helped me to find good pictures/location to see if it exists/is hooked up and working. The emissions tester suggested to change the o2 sensors and go from there. I am also thinking I might want to change the spark plugs, since I just got it and dont know how old those are (or anything else for that matter). Thoughts on what direction I should go? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Upon a second glance and lots of pictures that dont point out where the air pump is supposed to be, I suspect that mine is missing.

 

Yes it is missing. It should be where the intake tube is in the pic. Good used ones are not expensive in the 3rd gen for sale section, maybe $30 + shipping. I would put it on reroute or get another intake if necessary and if there is any kind of main cat on the car try again. Some are able to pass with high flow cats.

There is plenty of emission info on here if you search.

 

Thank you for confirming that for me. I will get a pump and hook it back up and see what i can do about the intake. The exhaust does have a cat (i think), so after i get the pump put back in i will try again. I have spent hours looking through emissions threads but there is just so much that it can be hard to filter through. And all the information on air pumps is on removal. Oh well, i will get it all sorted through. Thanks again.

 

If you don't pass this time the thread info could be useful in comparing your readings to some of those in the posts and see what is recommended for the readings in question. With the air pump and a main cat s/b a good chance of passing though.

On the airpump just make sure you have the lower adjustment bracket and that the air valve (ACV) is there under the UIM and the tubes from the air valve are there near the right side of the UIM and that there is piping going to the main cat. If you don't have all that stuff I have heard of some hooking up electric corvette air pumps but I'm not familiar with it myself. You would still need piping to the main cat for the air.

 

So, acv was also missing and the air tube on the cat had been crimped off. I cut it back a little to open it again. And it looks like i will try an electric air pump and hope for the best. Thanks again for the help

 

What part of GA? I'm in the midland area and we don't have emissions testing done here. Have you ever thought to come out this way?

 

Northwest Atlanta area. I dont think i could really register it elsewhere just to pass emissions. Worst case scenario, the car will sit for 3 years while being driven to keep it running until it doesnt need to pass emissions anymore. But i think that during that time, i would likely try to reinstall the acv and air pump and get it to pass.

 

You might be able to pass without re attaching to the high flow cat for the airpump. Mazcare is actually fairly near you and they are the local rotary shop there. Charlie is a great guy and very straight forward. He might even have an extra airpump and stuff to be able to get your emissions back on.

Mazcare
1962 Airport Industrial Park Dr SE, Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 859-9643

 

I know that Mazcare is near, but they are also a little pricy. And i have all ready ordered the electric pump, so i will give that a shot and see how it goes. If it still fails, i will look into options like Mazcare or installing a full stock air pump/acv myself.

 

Yeah, they are a little pricey, but they do do great work if you need the help. Good luck with it!

 

"Electric pump"?? It's controlled to an extent by the ECU, but is mechanically driven.
FWIW...you indicated earlier in the thread a picture might help. Best I could find from several years ago....

 

Thank you for the picture. I realized that a previous owner removed the mechanical air pump, the acv (rats nest), and all the tubing associated with it all. So instead of trying to force it all back in, i looked around and found some have had success with wiring up an electric air pump off a corvette or something similiar, with a switch to turn it on. It doesnt last very long, but it seems that several have had success with just running it during the emissions test, which allowed them to pass. So i am trying that first. I am not terribly excited about having to install an acv and getting everything tubed right and running properly. I know that would be the right way to do it, but the car runs well right now. Anyway, i will get the cheat one chance. If it works, great. If not, then on to acv and air pump.

 

Also, your pipe coming from the turbo into your intercooler is cracked at the center mounting location. Common for the original silver pipes. Once they are cracked at that junction, they can leak. Not expensive to replace. Can replace with the upgraded black version from Mazda, or splurge on stainless.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I will get to replacing that.

And in an update, changed the spark plugs, exhaust gaskets around the cat, and added my electric air pump. It just barely failed this time. We are going to try replacing the spark plug wires and cleaning the k&n filters and retest again, I think.

 

I don't have any personal experience with emissions, but understand that running an ethanol blend will help. Something about the oxygen content and better combustion. Not suggesting you need to run it continually, but it might be something to consider for testing since your close.