Okay so I will make this as short as I can.

95 del sol, completely stock. Its failing for hydrocarbons(running rich). Passed everything else.

First test, passed everything except hydrocarbons, limit is 185, My score: 285

2nd test: new MAP sensor, and O2 sensor, now my score is 337.

WTH? I was thinking cat, but Cat converter passed on both "tests"....car has a full tuneup, as the engine was just recently put in.(It was a junkyard motor). No exhaust leaks, Doesn't burn oil, or coolant. Ive driven on the engine for about 5k and it seems to run fine. I'm not even noticing that huge of a drop in gas mileage to be honest.

What do you guys think? Help me out!!! I really dont want to end up taking it to a shop. thanks.

 

To me, it sounds like a leaky injector or possibly a burnt exhaust valve. My car failed for the same thing as yours. I changed my injectors and the exhaust valve that was burnt and i passed.

 

I really hope its not a burnt exhaust valve, as I changed the headgasket on the engine just a few months ago. The motor I put in ended up having a bad headgasket. I really dont want to go back into it.

 

Wouldnt the car run REALLY crappy with a burnt valve though? The car idles fine, and drives fine.

 

Do you have the proper ECU?

Proper thermostat with right temp range.

Have you tested the ECT sensor?

Do you have both o2 sensors installed?

 

/\/\/\Check this too/\/\/\ A simple way to check for a burnt valve that I do is take a tissue and put it near your tailpipe while the car is ideling. If the tissue is sucked in than spit back out, than you have a burnt valve.

 

Give more details about the "tune up".

Any CEL codes? Does the CEL work?

 

I only know of one 02 sensor for the D15B7, and thats the one in the exhaust manifold, and that is new.

 

are you serious? lol wow.

 

Plugs, wires, waterpump, timing belt, rotor, cap, oil change, fuel filter, New coolant, I also ran some seafoam in the gastank, and lucas injector cleaner....thats about all I can think of.

No CEL, and Yes CEL does work. When the engine was installed a stupid code came on, and it turned out it was just a wire to the ECU that become disconnected.(was something to do about transmission solenoid)

The car's engine really seems to be ok. I mean its a 17 year old car, not going to drive the greatest, but no sputtering, doesnt bog, acceleration seems ok. From what I have been told if it was a burnt valve, the car would run really bad.

I ended up driving the car to Boston about a month ago. I averaged around 32mpg on the highway the entire trip, full highway. So I am getting between 300-380 city/highway, which is really normal based on the 2 other civics I have driven with the same D15B7 engine.

 

Is the ignition timing set to spec using a timing gun?

Are the correct and properly gapped NGK plugs installed?

 

Yeah, timing was set with a timing gun, and pretty sure the plugs were gapped correctly, and they were NGK's

 

Do you have access to a laser heat thermometer? You can usually pick them up at harbor freight for cheap or rent one from a local parts store. The outlet temp should be around 100 degrees more than the inlet. I know you said it passed but this is a cheap test to check.

 

Also can you post your total results so we can see your CO numbers as well?

 

CO passed with flying colors. I had the car looked at today, and they are telling me it has to be the cat, everything else checked out fine. I didnt think it was the cat, because it passed on the emissions test all 4-5 times over the 6 months. Was tired of dealing with the damn thing, worth the $40. So damn frustrating.

 

Guy is telling me it only cost $40 to diagnose it was the cat, and then he is telling me its going to be $550 parts and labor to change the cat. He said reason being there is a sticker on the car that says something about california......................................th e car has been in maryland for many years, and is going through maryland emissions,

I am so confused. I can get a cat for like $100 and get it put on for $50, $550 is insane. regardless if it passed the car or not, $550 would put me over the $450 requirement to just pass it anyways, but thats still a waste of money.

 

buy a universal cat from advanced auto or pep boys for 70 dollars

take it to an exhaust shop a SMALL exhaust shop not a chain and have them weld it on for you

you should spend 130 bucks when all said and done

the shop is trying to bs u about the cali thing the car was probably from cali and everything there needs to be carb legal and pass smog

i have been runing a universal cat for over 2 years

 

Yeah, pretty much. I know I can get this done for under $150.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250848824287...2649#vi-ilComp

I found this. Is there anything I should be looking for in a cat? I just need something basic, and will work. Not looking to spend a ton of money, and weld.

 

Ok so I bought a new cat, and when I looked at the old one the lining inside was completely gone. This has to be my issue, if I fail again I will be severely discouraged.

 

Um. How then, did the old cat pass those "tests" you mentioned in the first post?

 

I came to the realization that the "cat test" maryland emission centers do is a visual test, not a performance test. I have taken the test 4 times, and all 4 times it "passed"....when I took the old cat off, over time is basically turned into a high flow cat, as all of the internals were gone. No lining at all, nothing.

Pretty annoying, as I changed out my Map sensor and O2 sensor, and didnt even need to.