So I've been reading around the forums trying to figure out why my car doesn't pass smog. So far I'm still completely lost, here's my numbers:

HC=1600ppm(under 100ppm to pass)
CO=6.8(under .5 to pass)

so I decided to add 1gal of Denatured Alcohol and it lowered the HC down to half. I've changed spark plugs, and oil. Still need to change the o2 sensor and get a new air filter. Also my intake box is broken so it don't close all the way and I have a slight vacuum leak and exhaust leak. Would fixing any of the above help me pass smog? Btw this is all done at idle...my cars a 93' FD touring model.

 

You are running way too rich. Leaky injectors, maybe?

 

ya, youre running monsterously rich, hence the 1600ppm hc and the 6.8co. check fuel first.
what is your o2 and nox?

 

Sounds like he is doing a TSI thus no NoX readings.

What is done to your car? Are you cats and airpump on/working?

 

+1 to both post's above

Is your car stock? Stock ECU, piggyback? etc..

Anything aftermarket installed into the fuel system? Fuel pump, pressure regulator, etc..?

I would vote leaking injector's as well if the car is all stock.

I have yet to tinker with an FD so I don't really know what you can and cannot adjust on it that could cause it to run so rich. If I remember correctly the timing is non-adjustable but I might be wrong about that...I know my old damn '83 944 Porsche was not adjustable at all.

 

hmmm..well u could always get ur Carr Really really Hot before you smog it..make sure the Catalytic Converter is Burning all that bad stuff..(make sure its a Good Cat also)....

 

That won't help at all with how rich his car is running...

Also, if he takes his car to a good smog tech he will have to shut the car off and wait for them to setup the machine before they can run it, which by that time the Cat has already cooled way down thus the hot Cat is useless to try.

I'm don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure that it's against the law to idle the car infront of the smog shop while it's waiting to be ran. At least that's what I was told the last time I tried to do it at a smog place for my FC haha.

He need's to fix his car, not do everything he can to bandaid the problem to get it to pass smog and then still have a crappy running car.

With how rich it is running though I wouldn't be surprised if the Cat/Cat's are dead or near death.

 

What's SMOG???

 

Having the car idle is not illegal. However, it doesn't help in anyway to clean it up as because at idle emissions actually end up congesting the cat.

Now what is illegal is super heating the cat by running the car at 3500 rpm for 15 mins. However, it is actually per inspection procedure to pre-heat the cat at 2500 rpm for 2 mins before doing the inspection.

I agree with everything else you have said though... any car running that rich drastically needs to be fixed properly, and yes the cats are probably dead by now.

 

A Myth of checking if your car is "clean"

 

Hey guys thanks for all the replies...unfortunately I don't have the number for the other two only just for the HC and CO because that's what I was mainly concentrating on when they stuck the probe into the exhaust because they were so damn freakin high. Anyways how would I go about checking if the injectors are leaking? Wouldn't the ecu throw a code if they were? My car is all stock with 111***miles on it, no mods except for a exhaust. I'm sure the air pump is working because the clutch on the pump is working but i will double check by going under the car to see if it's blowing air. Maybe my cat took a dump since it's been running so rich all this time how would I know if my cat is bad or not?

 

okay nvm about the leaky injectors i know how to check for that...how about a bad catalytic?

 

I guess you could take it off, shake it and see if crap poors out of it.

 

yeah,, forgot about the richness of the Rotary....lol...... GL

 

You can hit it with a hammer or mallet and listen for any broken pieces fumbling around.

 

If your doing a Two speed idle test and it fails the first time you HAVE to rev the car to 2500rpm for 3 minutes as part of the test so. Funk knows what Im talking about. Now your clearly running way to rich but hey honestly.... 6% CO% is probably stock

 

Yeah i just switched out the air filter, and o2 sensor today. The car doesn't smell as bad as it did before and I also found a cracked hose on the air pump but I already fixed that and there's still a vacuum leak somewhere that I cant pinpoint. But I'm gonna go and get a pre-test done again to check on the numbers went down...

 

I swear TSIs were invented to keep Rx7s off the road.

 

Good luck

 

yeah if I can't get it pass then I'm gonna take it to Sacramento to smog it going two speed test instead of just a two speed idle test. Anyone knows any good place to smog rx7 or knows how to smog rx7 in Sac?

 

Well if the car is registered in a basic area no matter where you go it will automatically force you to do a two speed idle test.

 

have you tried applying for the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP)? The state will pay up to 500$ to get your car to pass? Its worth a shot... then even pay for the diagnostic

 

I'm sweating my smog prep right now, too... carb's on the workbench, the vent/check valve next to it, checking my vent lines... Brand new set of plugs...

Just did the damn thing back in Jan of 09, too. "Every two years," my ***.

 

really? i didn't know that, i've always thought that smog differ from county to county...well I guess if it don't pass then, it'll have to go on non-op. And I'll look into that CAP thing.

 

if you go non op you will more then likely lose interest in the car... just get it repaired and drive it!