UPDATE: I PASSED the second time around.


Ok Im currently trying to get my 96 civic w/ B18c swap BAR'ed. I have not taken it to the ref yet but I have been chipping away at this problem using the smog test mechine at work.

THE PROBLEM: Car won't pass smog at idle because of HC(numbers below). Its ever so close to passing but just not quite. I did have to mess with the throttle body at one point while installing my skunk2 manifold because I changed the throttle hat and had to adjust that little screw because the throttle was sticking. problem? Also I checked the O2 sensor and it doesnt cross count very fast at idle. could this be a problem?

Emission numbers - IDLE: HC 120-140, NOx 5, CO .03%, CO2 14.5% 2500 RPM HC 20-45, NOx 25, CO .05%, CO 15%

So yeah thats whats going on. The car is going to the ref with everything stock except the skunk2 manifold. Its got a stock GSR cat manifold and eveything USDM and p72 ecu. The swap is super clean and should pass visual in an instant but just the high HC at idle worries me.


Modified by JeffBro at 9:53 AM 7/19/2006

 

i had the same problem when i was getting ref'd, high hc's. Turned out to be a bad cat. Switched em out and finally passed. hope that helps you out, and hopefully you have a carb number for that intake manifold of yours.

 

bump

 

Hey man you can beat the bar!. I just passed my del sol with a b18c in it. I had to change the cat. SHouldnt cost more than 150 installed. PCV Valve, change that. Will cost about $15.00. Next since HC is basically unburnt fuel (too rich) in your exhaust, make sure your spark plugs are good and clean. Or change em. Are you running premium? Do it. Also you can check if your air intake system has any oil in it from the valve cover breather. Wipe that out. Clean the throttle plate inside the throttle body. ANd last but not least. HEAT YOUR CAR UP. Make sure you have a long drive to the REF, or drive your car harder (lower gear) on the way there to make sure its hot. A colder car will run dirtier. ANyways thats what worked for me.
Just so you know. 1st time I failed on visual (vacuum lines), 2nd time i had already replaced the cat and I was just failed on HC. So I did what I outlined here and I passed. I know have a sticker in my eng compartment. Which I polish everyday for my friends at the California Highway Patrol.

GOOD LUCK!

 

he could also be too lean, but his NOx and his co are too low to be lean...so probably rich...

 

what? thats all i did to pass the third time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by heavyaxle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey man you can beat the bar!. I just passed my del sol with a b18c in it. I had to change the cat. SHouldnt cost more than 150 installed. PCV Valve, change that. Will cost about $15.00. Next since HC is basically unburnt fuel (too rich) in your exhaust, make sure your spark plugs are good and clean. Or change em. Are you running premium? Do it. Also you can check if your air intake system has any oil in it from the valve cover breather. Wipe that out. Clean the throttle plate inside the throttle body. ANd last but not least. HEAT YOUR CAR UP. Make sure you have a long drive to the REF, or drive your car harder (lower gear) on the way there to make sure its hot. A colder car will run dirtier. ANyways thats what worked for me.
Just so you know. 1st time I failed on visual (vacuum lines), 2nd time i had already replaced the cat and I was just failed on HC. So I did what I outlined here and I passed. I know have a sticker in my eng compartment. Which I polish everyday for my friends at the California Highway Patrol.
GOOD LUCK!</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah I thought I might need to replace the cat but I was trying to get around it cause thats the costlest thing to replace. Oh and you said I can get a cat for 150 but where? Cause I went to the dealer and they quoted me 700 for a new gsr cat. And the smog tech at my work said I have to use a stock cat because its a 96 and obd2. bump if anyone knows any other cat I can use?

 

Check to see if you have a muffler tech in your area. The one in sacramento that I gone to did 3 of my catalatic converters.

They charged me 60 including parts out the door. Also, we have a BAR thread somewhere on this board which many people replied to.

Good luck

 

I think im gonna go ahead and take the car to the ref and see what he says. I sorta know him and he knows the shop I work for so im sure he will be cool and give some suggestions. I will let you guys know what happens...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffBro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think im gonna go ahead and take the car to the ref and see what he says. I sorta know him and he knows the shop I work for so im sure he will be cool and give some suggestions. I will let you guys know what happens...</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

how many miles since an oil change? good oil will help lower your HC...and also buy those "guaratneed to pass smog" crap bottles from Wal-Mart or something...they actually work. Also, any missfire will cause your car to have high HC at idle.

 

Im gonna try the stuff in the fuel tank, prob wont work but it cant hurt. Theres no misfire the engine runs perfictly smooth all of the time. Also my car is in need of an oil change so I will change it before I go to the ref.

 

Wipe out that throttle body plate, and intake tube.
ANd good luck!

 

guarenteed to pass has been know to yield good results, also if you want to run really clean, put a few ounces of isopropyl alcohol in like a 1/4 tank, but dont run it like that too long, fill the tank back up immediately after.

 

Im doing the guarenteed to pass thing in my tank right now and made some final tweeks. My check engine light came on today and its throwing a low cat efficency code so im gonna have to clear it and hope it doesnt come back. Kinda looking like im gonna need a cat but maybe I will get lucky and pass. Just so damn close.

 

NOx on Idle test(TSI)?? I though it was for dyno test(ASM), maybe in your area. Your reading with be a bit different when it's running on a dyno. Get it tested, see what u get on the actually test. You get one free retest anyways.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EvilPhu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">NOx on Idle test(TSI)?? I though it was for dyno test(ASM), maybe in your area. Your reading with be a bit different when it's running on a dyno. Get it tested, see what u get on the actually test. You get one free retest anyways.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah thats what im about to do in a hour. We will see how it goes. I dont think its gonna pass but we will see. I have heard from others this ref is cool so he should give some words of advice if I don't pass.

 

bump good info for me!

 

This looks like im writing a book here but its all usefull information that I think people might want to know about. Oh and his assitant was a super hot chick . next im gonna have to go on a wednesday again so I can ask her out .

I didnt expect to fail so bad but heres what happened. First off his name was frank and he is a very sharp ref. I think he pretty much knew all of the short cuts people try to make. I tried to hide the fact that I didnt have the ckf sensor but he knew right off. Then I failed for not having the gsr evap soleniod(I had the civic one). Then failed for having a jdm throttle body( he noticed the broken neck). On the upside of things he did the extra research and confirmed my ecu as being a 1998 GSR ecu(which I didnt know) instead of making me go to the dealer. He could have said I had the wrong air box but let that slide. And technically I fail on emissions high HC at idle but he thinks because they had the car off for so long while doing the visual( an hour and a half!!) it could pass emissions next time and he will let me warm it up extra and he will manually test it beforehand next time to make sure it will passes.

 

pcv, evap, and cat controls hc so just change out those parts

 

Oh and here are the emission results...

So I guess I dont even have to worrie about NOx and my CO is well within spec.

 

Bump

 

Your fuel cap was missing?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Otherguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your fuel cap was missing?</TD></TR></TABLE>
No it was the other line over Wiring to sensors Missing for the crank fluc sensor.

 

I was about to say... damn lol