I have a bunch of repairs to do to try and get my 1992 car to pass.

The big thing is my left front wheel came up as not shock support, so I'm suspecting that the strut mount may be done...

Hint is when I hit any decent bump, it rattles like crazy so I will get this fixed asap, along with an alignment...

The next was my front window needs a new plastic insert to guide the power windows up and down.... I never knew you could fail inspection for a front window not being able to work....

Also I have a mystery brake light that works sometimes, so I replaced the bulb with the (backing up light) Figuring this will buy me a few days to get some new bulbs, and its more important for someone to know that I'm stopping rather then backing up.... But either way these are very important lights and I will replace them tonight.

In addition to those, I also failed.... NOx and HC...

I'm suspecting that a tuneup is needed along with running some better gas with a engine cleaner to help burn out some deposits may do the trick. I replaced the cat, and o2 sensors last year.....

Faileing inspection for NOx and HC are some signs of a rich fuel mixture going out of the muffler, which means something with the engine firing isn't going right... I'm suspecting that my spark plugs may be a little tired and thats why I'm calling for the tune-up.

I'm also going to replace the air filter since this could also be holding back my mpg's which are around 24-26 per gallon, which is over the epa estimate of 20 mpg,s for my car not bad.... since I'm running in at over 210,400 miles to date...



Let me know if you feel I shold do anything else.... besides selling the car lol...

I’m not going to get to involved with this discussion because of all the variables , but your theory of a rich mixture is wrong.
If it were overly rich the CO would also be high from incomplete combustion.
HC is unburned raw fuel from lack of combustion or oil fumes; with 210.00 miles showing how much oil is the car burning, what’s the compression like.
Also an overly rich gasoline engine will cause the engine combustion chamber to run cool. I don’t mean cool as in coolant temperatures but combustion chamber temps.
NOX is a byproduct of heat and load; rich cold, lean hot.
I’m not saying I know what’s causing your high readings just what is not.
Some of the things you said you want to do (tune-up) sounds like you’re on the right track to get the car to pass.
Also check EGR function it’s responsible for about 70% of NOX reduction.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"

Thanks Dan,

I'll check the EGR as well, as with oil burning its very little...

I'm going to go with its partly my fault, my car cars for running 93 oct, but I have used 87 for the last few times, and after hearing your suggestion on

Quote

It reminds me of what my girlfriends father was telling me about gas and cars....

That you SHOULD ALWAYS USE WHAT THE MAN SUGGEST.... because the different levels of octane cause the engine to fire at different positions, this by me running 87 oct instead of 93 oct gasoline the engine could have been firing too soon, or too late (forget which was which) which would technically cause the firing chamber to run either too hot or too cold.... correct?

Today I put in BP 93 oct, and a half bottle of 104 oct, to help clean out the engine, And I already noticed that my cars power is back.... After remember what I was told and what you confirmed, I'm going to laugh if a simple spark plug change and new air filter do the trick.... because it will really mean that something as simple as gasoline was the problem.

I'll keep people updated on this.

Today I replaced the broken brake bulb and now I need to look into a strut mount.


(This post was edited by carminejg3 on Apr 27, 2006, 12:32 AM)

I expect cars to be safe. This emmission crap is for the birds! Massachusetts can fail you for not having washer fluid in the reservior!!

One of may own cars failed by a gram per year on NOx and you get 60 days here to fix it. I replaced all the junk that could cause that and the free re-test was worse!! It took a picture of a US president and left with a sticker!

Another time - same car a kid (anyone under 40) had my Lincoln on the dyno going about 110MPH - said he couldn't get the feel of the gas pedal. It took a couple trys but it passed no problem. Then a week later every seal in the rear differential had blown and the brakes ruined. Nice country America! I vote and when it's brought up again I'll vote out this madness. If your car was that bad it wouldn't be running well and that should be enough! I don't want cars to spew smog but there has to be a better way.

Hey - What do you think happens to asphalt roads, parking lots and your roof shingles. They emit crap into the air. Sorry but unless we go back to Walton's Mountain we are stuck with some pollution. Even then they used to complain about horse poop in the roads - it's always something, T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
http://www.acsource.com/

_________________________________________

http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

On some of your points I will agree Tom (The horse crap anyway LOL) but believe me a vehicle can be running like a million bucks and get what the owner thinks is decent fuel mileage and be a gross polluter.
If it weren’t for the emissions test a lot of these vehicles would be driving around for years, wasting fuel and polluting the environment; worse then any asphalt could ever emit. What’s the saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”
Here’s a good example: One of my customers that drove a VW Jetta for years went out and bought himself a used Toyota 4Runner. In passing he mentioned that this 4X4 sure did use more fuel then what his Jetta did and thought it was normal because of what the truck was and how well it ran.
A year later he gets his notice for an emissions test and sure enough it failed miserably for CO and HC.
He brings it into me I road test it, it run great, scan it, there’s no codes. Start doing a few pin checks and find that the O2 sensor is still producing a voltage but it was consistently giving out a lean indication. So the computer was dumping in fuel; trying to get the O2 to toggle. Witch it would ever so slightly and just enough not to trigger a code or set the light on.
Changed the O2, the customer takes it back for a retest and the thing flew through the test with flying colors.
The customer at this point is still pissed at the emissions program thinking it’s all just a scam and a complete waste for time and money because the truck didn’t run any differently afterwards.
Two or three weeks go by and in comes this customer with a big a$$ smile on his face, as he’s telling me that the trucks fuel mileage has more then doubled.
Now he doesn’t mind seeing the emissions notice show up in the mail.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"

I'm not complaining about the inspections.... it does help your cars still within reason and driving better...

I really want to complain about the states that have no emissions testing.....

The truth is I think the gov cares more about cars breaking down and stoppping traffic then the enviroment.... And the whole inspection deal is just another means of making more money......

Dan - always love your posts. I just have a problem with the gov't making and changing rules and can't even run itself on budget but give each other raises. I agree with lowering air pollution but it gets out of hand sometimes.

Trivia question and I think I have the right answer:

What city has the worst air pollution in the world? Clue about one in 3,000 people own a car there! Scroll down for the answer.




























Shanghai. -- No cars just too many people in too small a place.
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
http://www.acsource.com/

_________________________________________

http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/