Well went to the smog test center today...wasn't too happy with it myself.
Thought i would pass, i had on a AEM CAI, and skunk2 IM and a high flow cat.
I passed everything except emissions. Going to put back my stock intake back on since I finally found one. But I don't think it was the CAI or IM. Could it be my high flow cat?
Any thoughts would be appreciated it....thanks

 

i doubt the intake and IM were the reason. trying putting origianll cat back on

 

its prob your cat. put an OEM one on drive for atleast one hour before you go smog your car. also a tune up wouldnt hurt.

 

what one did you goto in sj?
the test only center i went to said he said there is no such thing as a high flow cat...even if there is it will not pass
iuno
thats what he told me

 

I went to the one down in Bascom and Camden. The one where right next to 76 gas station and across of KFC chicken. Doctor Smog or something it was called.
Its probably my cat then, but damn...my old one was rattling like hell and I went to get myself a high flow cat for $80. What a waste....and failed that smog test.

 

try checing if your timing is on target, and make sure all your maintenance is done

 

Everything is fine. I'm going to do a tune up after I put back stock intake back on. And if i can find another stock cat. This is killing me...

 

just glad i'm not in CA!

 

CA is a pain in the ***, especially for tuners. Emissions, exhaust noise, whatever you want, there will always be a rule against it, but never the less, I still have love for it.

 

I passed smog with intake, headers, im, ehxaust.

The ref. said, the things that wouldnt pass emissions usually are catylic, or a cam gear cut, fpr. thats what my november smog went

i passed

 

yeah, CA is very picky.

I passed the emission test, but failed the check engine light test.

(removing the light bulb trick doesnt work).


they got computers that says, "Code red alert, this guy took the light bulb out. He is having issues with his Purge Control Valve. Please fail him. And tell him that we aren't that stupid".

 

Did you failed miserably or barely?

 

I failed MISERABLE on the emission test. Result killed me.

 

a little trick i learned from a smog tech. he said to put on an oem cat. on and go get it tested imediately. supposedly garauntee pass. i never never had a chance to try it, but thats what he said. doesn't hurt to try

 

The paper says the caterlatic coverter passed and functions properly as the rest of the car. But if it isn't the cat then what is it? I just put my stock intake back on today.
Was thinking if i should do the skunk2 intake manifold as well.

 

I am a student of CIAT (california institution of automotive technology) and work at my dads smog shop. I am trying to get my Smog license and am also finished in doing so.. just need two more classes. anyway, ive learned that there are virtually no aftermarket catalytic converters that are more reliable and more efficient than the factory ones. also, in regards to someone asking if his timing is correct the answer to that is it obviously is because if it weren't he would've failed the functional part of the test. if you failed for <U>all three</U> emissions (HC-hydrocarbons, CO-carbon monoxide, and NOx-nitrogen oxide) then it is VERY likely it is your cat because the purpose of the cat is to reduce these three emissions/pollutants. If you fail for one of these gases though, then it is obviously not your cat. if HC is high it could be a lot of things.. HC is UNBURNED gas.. so think about it.. if it fails HC then that means your car is not burning as much gas it should be.. if you are failing CO then you are running rich.. meaning either too much gas is TRYING to be burnt or not enough air to compliment the burning of the gas is happening.. if you are failing for NOx then it could be a bad EGR.. a too LEAN mixture (opposite of Rich) generally.. NOx is formed when the combustion temperature is too high (2500 F) or too much pressure or a combination of both in the combustion chamber.. hope this helps a lil.

oh, and one more thing. if you need repair work done go to a LICENSED SMOG AND REPAIR.. not just a regular auto mechanic that is not obligated to or EDUCATED TO HELP YOU PASS.. unless he really knows what hes doing.. a lot of shops around ours will condemn the cat about 75% of the time and they are wrong and end up ripping the customer off by selling him a cat he never needed. GO TO LICENSED SMOG N REPAIR

 

Hmm....the paper says I failed the HC and CO. And I don't think its my cat because it functions properly and it passed. Its probably one of the things you said, the not burning gas or not enough air.

 

Just replace your cat and you'll pass guaranteed. Trust me, I went through three separate instances of smogging my car before I successfully passed, and this was finally after I switched out my carsound hi flow cat for the OEM unit. If your car is running properly, has had its oil changed fairly recently, just switch the cat, drive the car around for about 50-100 miles or so, re-test, and you should pass.

 

i smogged my car last monday, did pretty good too. What made me really comfortable is that the place i went to offered a free retest. Pretty sure that it is the high flow cat tho, they have been known to fail emissions. If you are getting an oem cat borrow a friends or something they are expensive as hell to buy

 

ITS NOT THE CAT. NOx would be high if it was. If it just so happens to be the cat then that would mean that the reduction bed of the cat has gone bad but the NOx oxidization bed of the cat hasn't. i dont think that happens.. like i said, " a lot of shops around ours will condemn the cat about 75% of the time and they are wrong and end up ripping the customer off by selling him a cat he never needed." My point being it's no surprise everyone is saying it is the cat.. when it's likely not even the cat.. but yes, it is VERY true that stock cats are VERY MUCH MORE efficient than aftermarket ones.

 

Thanks for all the help and thoughts. Car passed smogged. Merry Christmas

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by confucius &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, CA is very picky.

I passed the emission test, but failed the check engine light test.

(removing the light bulb trick doesnt work).


</TD></TR></TABLE>

No it doesn't b/c when they turn the ignition to 'acc or on' the CEL it should come up.

Thats why I got the hook up.

 

so what did u have to do to pass?

 

yes... please tell us what you did to pass

 

didn't you read his last post? He had a friend pass it illegally.

thanks for killing the environment dick.