Smog check...here we go again.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,376
Likes: 28
From: Chino Hills, CA
Keep in mind that you can pay the full fee, before you get the smog check done. You can't drive the car like that, but you buy time to work on the smog. Once you get the cert, you get your tag.
If you're gonna fix it soon, that's the easiest way.
If you're gonna fix it soon, that's the easiest way.
i've paid the fees for the car at dmv already, I just need to get it smog so I can get the title finalized and sent out to me. Anyways I fixed all my exhaust leaks, I might still have a slight vacuum leak but it's not idling rough no more...also the engine don't smell like fuel no more too. Just gotta cross my fingers and hope for it to pass. If it doesn't I'm gonna buy a HKS Twinpower to help burn the fuel...
All Go No Show
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: portsmouth nh
This is why i like living in New hampshire no smog check if the car was made before 96 =P when i lived in the boston area we had the same smog test as cali and a buddy of mine that ran the inspection station would put the exhaust sniffer on his car and that would pass me but i guess you gotta know some 1 plus that was like 10 years ago and im sure they figured that out.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,376
Likes: 28
From: Chino Hills, CA
I've got my carb apart again, looking for the cause of a post-shutdown flood that has eluded me for the last year. I've got til the 20th.
Good luck with yours, and mine.
Good luck with yours, and mine.
Check your timing and make sure it is right on point and that cracked air box definitely needs to be fixed because that is part of the PCV system and that causes CO to go high it may not bring it down all the way but it will help a lot.
i'm trying to find another intake box(anyone has one?)...or figure a way to close it shut. And I don't think timing was ever messed with as the motor is completely stock...and I thought you can't adjust the timing unless you did it with a piggy back system?
On the fasttrack!
iTrader: (22)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 2
From: virginia beach, virginia
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.
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.
Lloyd
okay so went for another pre-test and failed...CO was still too high and HC barely passed. I'm gonna switch out the catalytic converter to a Bonez high flow cat and a hks high power ignition to help the rich condition at idle.
how rich? if the car is running excessively rich a cat will not do it... you can put 10 cats and if its 10% CO going in it will be the same going out. a cat will only do so much, when the car is rich the cat is less efficient
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
The very high HC emissions suggest the car is not going into closed loop; i.e. it is running in a default rich mode, which is what it does if it cannot see the O2 sensor. If you pull codes, you may find a code 5 for the O2 sensor. More importantly, do the closed loop (green lamp) test (top and bottom center connectors on the test connector). If the lamp is flashing at steady cruise rpm, it is seeing and playing with the O2 sensor. I suspect you will fail the closed loop test, which can be a bad O2 sensor, disconnected sensor, bad wire, or bad ECU.
The high HC values will cause your cat to overheat; depending on how long that has been going on, it will trash and or clog the cat.
I suspect your car is not going into closed loop, *and* the cat is bad. Fix the closed loop problem first, and then have the cat changed. I bet after that you will pass smog on all numbers.
The high HC values will cause your cat to overheat; depending on how long that has been going on, it will trash and or clog the cat.
I suspect your car is not going into closed loop, *and* the cat is bad. Fix the closed loop problem first, and then have the cat changed. I bet after that you will pass smog on all numbers.
HC's cause to overheat? not in nor cal buddy... maybe that's only your car. If i remember correctly he already replaced the 02 sensor... it may also be a temp switch which is off and the cpu thinks the car is cold so it richens it... Ricks Rotary will diagnose it
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 4
From: San Jose, CA (NorCal/S.F. Bay Area)
If you are in the area you can bring it to my shop if you want.
www.smogmaster.net
I'll be glad to help you out. I lost faith in Rick's after the last FD that came from him lol.
www.smogmaster.net
I'll be glad to help you out. I lost faith in Rick's after the last FD that came from him lol.
yes...I've already replaced the o2 sensor, which is probably what helped lower the HC...funkjaw, I'll bring my car over to you if Rick doesn't fix my problem.
One thing I forgot to mention is that the last owner never did any tune up on the car(he claimed he did) but when I changed the oil and oil filter it was pitch black and the oil filter looked like it was the one that came out from the manufacturer, air filter was super black and kinda oily, and the o2 sensor was absolute crap...some people should just never own a rx7. But the good thing is that the compression is still good at 97psi front and 100psi rear.
One thing I forgot to mention is that the last owner never did any tune up on the car(he claimed he did) but when I changed the oil and oil filter it was pitch black and the oil filter looked like it was the one that came out from the manufacturer, air filter was super black and kinda oily, and the o2 sensor was absolute crap...some people should just never own a rx7. But the good thing is that the compression is still good at 97psi front and 100psi rear.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
There are a number of reasons why your car maybe failing on high HCs. Most will trip up the closed loop test, which you can do with some wire, two spade connectors, an LED and a 510 ohm resistor.
Replacing the O2 sensor may or may not correct the problem (in your case it didn't). If the ECU is not seeing the sensor, a new one will not help. If the ECU is getting an invalid cold temp signal, it also will not go into closed loop, and the engine will run rich all the time--which will also show up as a failed closed-loop test.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 4
From: San Jose, CA (NorCal/S.F. Bay Area)
PM Rx7Doctor for the smog hook up. $100 and your Doneski! 
Follow the link
https://www.rx7club.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=52883
Follow the link
https://www.rx7club.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=52883
orange county huh? that'll be one heck of a drive for smog check but i'll pm him if I can't smog the car by june...I just picked up a bonez cat, and a downpipe with a random technology cat welded on. I'm gonna put those on first and re-try...also rick fixed my crappy idle, found no vacuum leaks, but a whole bunch of worn out bushings and links, and it turns out my clutch switch is bad. $65 for a diagnostic that lets me knows whats wrong on the car isn't too bad...
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