I went to do the smog today and I passed NOX but I didnt pass the Hydrocarbons. Here in Vegas they measure in ppm. The legal allowable limit is 220 ppm. My car had 2100 ppm!!!!!! Car is running rough in the low rpms and sometimes has a hiccup in acceleration when @ low rpm for the given gear, ie: 1500-2000 rpms in 5th while cruising and then push to accelerate.

2100 ppm ACTUAL
220 ppm LEGAL LIMIT

thats almost 10X the legal limit, which I can also assume is the cause for my rough idle.
Searching makes me look at
1) EGR (i cleaned this out 3 weeks ago)
2) spark plugs (just changed these 3 weeks ago)
3) Ignition - wires/dist cap/rotor ( I haven't changed these but how can they account for 10x the limit...doesn't make sense)
4) Fuel Filter (changed 2 weeks ago)
5) PCV valve (changed this 3 weeks ago)
6) injectors ( ran some seafoam in the tank a few weeks ago but this is not a guarantee of anything)

I am getting no CEL. I tried to test for stored codes and I got no flashing light. This is the port I used which I hope is the correct one:


I used the 2 wire plug that is blue (right side in the pic)...there are 2 connectors in that as you can see.

I'm confused as to why my idle sucks so bad.

HELP PLEASE!

 

Have you clean out the EGR passage and ports inside the intake mani besides the EGR valve?

 

tollboothwilley can you post all the readings from your test.
CO, O2 and the other gases will help us help you in diagnosing.

 

yes, give me a sec and I'll go get the paperwork and put down all the info.

and yes, I cleaned out all 4 ports into the intake at the same time as I cleaned out the EGR.

 

The papers that they gave me have no other information regarding test results aside from the hydrocarbons being at 2100 ppm.

I pulled the spark plug wires off the plugs to test -
#1 - car almost stalled out
#2 - very little change
#3 - car almost stalled out
#4 - car almost stalled out

It leads me to believe that maybe the spark plug wire itself is bad??

**EDIT
i swapped wires from cyl #1 and #2 to test the wires - still no change - it shows no real change when pulling plug wire off #2 cyl only.

 

BAH! I hate that, bastards. Too bad as the other gases really show whats going on in there.
At best, a loose or faulty spark plug.
If loose tighten it and recheck do see if it works.
If not loose pull it and inspect for damage or oil/fuel contamination. If it creates a nice spark when its grounded out against the valve/cam cover then it may be a mechanical or excess fuel issue. If its not fuel or oil soaked, your next step will be to do a compression or leak down test of that cylinder.

I do not know how long you have had this car. Possibly a damaged valve or cylinder. Do you know if the timing belt ever broke on this car?

 

Just got the car a month ago... Previous owner did not care for it like he could/should have

All things are possible...

Compression test showed low pressure in two. Gotta do a leak down