the motor is a 99 B16a2, the ecu is the P2T

there is an exhaust leak in the header's #3 runner and between the header and catalytic convertor. no cel.

my numbers are as follows:

15 mph
hc max: 66
hc meas: 14
co% max: .57
co% meas: .02
no max: 487
no meas: 833

25 mph
hc max: 49
hc meas: 8
co% max: .55
co% meas: .02
no max: 774
no meas: 1293

everything else passed except for the nitrogen oxide numbers... any ideas on how to fix that? thanks in advance.

oh, by the way, this smog guy says i have to have the repairs done by a certified smog guy who will sign off on the work when i go for my retest... is this always the case?

 

Who What??? You can always fix it yourself. Sounds like he wants to charge you more. Damn smog guy's that ...... Please go to another smog place!

Your HC's are a little lower than normal and that would raise your NOx.

Have you de-carbonized? Raises compression and creates NOx
Have you replaced the O2 sensor? Can run lean,
What is your timing at? advanced can raise NOx
Did you see if he used a fan in front of your car? If he ran the test without one it would raise NOx because the car is over normal temp.

Give me some answers and I will steer you in the right direction
PS: I am a smog tech,

 

i had the car run again (off the record), and it looks like the coolant temp was slightly above normal by the end of the test... i guess i didn't get all of the air out of the system...

- by de-carbonized i assume you meant using a product such as seafoam or the like... i have not done that.
- the cat and o2 sensor have been sitting in my garage for some 3 years, have not changed those.
- timing is stock, as are the motors internals.
- there was no fan in front of the car, ambient temps are a cool 90+ degrees here in socal.

thanks for jumping in so quickly. i'd really appreciate the advice.

 

De-carbon = seafoam
3 years on the car? If they are three years old should be good.
Did the tech check the timing? what was it at?

No fan in front of the car....that SOB. Have him retest it again. Inform him that a certified fan is required above 72 degrees. Six feet from the car. I know for a fact it does make a difference. And if he refuses to do the test again tell him you are going to report him. I will get you the contact's to do this. I would tell him to take another $20 bucks off for wasting your time, and gas.

Your cooling system is OK. The rise in temp is because of no fan, Not your car.

It is a "cool" 95 here and in the shop it is 108 without a car running in there. It can get up to 130 with a car in there. A fan is necessary.

 

so i should seafoam it? will do tomorrow if you say so.

the cat and o2 have been sitting for 3 years in the garage, not on the car. they havent seen use in that time, just been collecting dust. also, when i initially dropped in the motor (last week) it was smoking a lot... is it possible this damaged or clogged or bothered the o2 sensor in any way?

he did not check timing, but i will when i seafoam the car.

and i'll keep the fan in mind for sure.

thanks again.

 

Do the Seafoam and the timing. Use the seafoam thru a small vacuum line, I use the dashpot vac line, and rev it up then add small amounts at a time. I use 5oz during the first application, turn the car off and let it sit for 10min. then apply 5oz. more.

New motors and old ones that haven't been started for a while will smoke a bit until everything seats, I doubt if it has harmed the O2 in any way unless it is pouring smoke of course.