i did big tune up and parts spurk pligs, wirers, oil change filter, water pump , timing bell. did not past i see the timing was set to 17 and 2 years ago was at 15 can this be a factor for not passing smog???

 

Most likely, the cat is bad.

 

Try putting in some seafoam, and maybe running with some alcohol based fuel additives to increase the octane of your fuel. Change spark plugs, cap and rotor, and spark plug wires if you need to, but if the spark plug wires are just dirty and still within spec resistance and not broken anywhere, don't replace them. Its a waste of money to replace a good part. Take it back, and make sure your car is running at temperature and completely warmed up before they test it. If all of this fails, take of the cat and shake it. If it rattles like there is sand in it, it's bad.

 

i failed once to similar issues with my cat. Before i took it to smog i had just drove 1.5 hours home and kept the car at 2500-3k rpm till the smog tech put it on the machine and i passed. Had the cat nice and hot!

 

a mecanic told me it my be the timing but it looks like is set to 17 and the correct timing is 16 so im guessing i will have to change the cat????

 

Retarding the timing (fewer degrees BTDC) will likely cut the NO some. If you keep failing HC and it's not misfiring, probably the cat.

 

with levels that high, alcohol is the only option aside from a new cat.

 

i keep hearing this what do alcohol will do to my car and how much do i put in

 

Putting alcohol in your car is a cheap way of raising your octane and effectively also lowering hydrocarbons. If your car let too many hydrocarbons through the system unburned, lowering the initial amount will also lower the amount that escapes your car, allowing you to hopefully pass smog. Putting in a bottle or two of "octane booster", which usually come in small red bottles and are sold just about everywhere, in your gas tank will probably help you pass smog. Try to make sure that they are alcohol based. Using seafoam first can help because it can clean out your cat and engine slightly, making them more likely to make your emissions more clean. There are videos all over YouTube about how to use sea foam. Don't use water, if inexperienced you can hydrolock your engine, then you have no car.

 

 

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