Modified by TyPE-RON at 7:57 PM 7/27/2004

 

If it has been running like this for very long your catalytic converter is most likely screwed. I recommend a full tune-up with new plugs, distributor cap, rotor, o2 sensor, PCV valve, oil and filter. You may want to consider new plug wires if they are the originals. With the NOX that high you may have alot of carbon buildup in the motor. After the tune-up put in a full tank of Premium and 2 cans of good fuel injector cleaner. Drive the **** out of it until the tank is near empty. You will need to get it hot a few times to remove some of the carbon. If you don't pass after this, you will need a new convertor.

 

Im in NY, but one thing I have noticed in Hondas, You have to sometimes run em thru atleast twice if they are not driven hard or have sat for awhile before the test.
Also check your ignition timing make sure it isnt retarded.Retarded timing will also give you a High HC & NOX reading due to the lack of fuel being burnt as stated above. But seeing as how you said your car is stock (assuming you maintain the vehicle, which Im sure you do since its a GSR) make sure the car is at normal operating temp. and maybe even get on it a little bit before the test

 

I really doubt your O2 isnt working since Hondas are pretty sensitive and will throw the light on almost instantly. But anything is possible. If there was ever a miss or any kind of rich condition it will damage your cat, but you should notice some kind of lack in performance if something is wrong with the cat.

 

high NOx levels means that your engine is running hotter than normal...these hot condition causes NOX levels to go up...On the HC side, you are boarder line...just make sure the motor is warmed up and don't shut off your car at the test only site. I say get an OEM or NGK o2 sensor. don't put on any other o2 ie bosch. Also i would recommend a new cat and make sure it is a three way cat...

 

i can't read your numbers because the pic is so bad, but i can tell you that i'm going thru the same thing right now with a '93 civic... the california b.a.r. will pay repair shop costs from $100 - $500... you pay that first $100, unless you are low-income, in which case you will only have to pay $20... it's a two-part deal... you must apply now!

high nox does indeed indicate cylinder combustion temps that are too high, and the thing that cools 'em off is the egr valve introducing much cooler exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber... so look for things like a bad egr valve, solenoid, or solenoid electrical control, leaking vacuum control for the egr valve, and restricted egr passages due to carbon buildup.

a bad three-way cat will also cause high nox, as will detonation due to carbon buildup in the combustion chamber.

wanna know a secret? my honda blew cleaner now that it did in 1999, but it failed the test this time... why? because the max limits to pass the test have been cut in half since 1999... i believe that is why the b.a.r. is willing to pay to have your car fixed for you... the state gets a whole bunch of federal money if they can lower the pollution levels in california.

 

Gsr's dont have an EGR, but thats a good point.

 

Check your ignition timing. Typically retarding your timing will reduce the HC level. Somebody probably advanced it a little for performance reasons and now it may be slightly "pinging". Also put premium fuel in it.....3gdude

 

Retarding your timing will increase HC levels, when your retarding your timing you are burning your fuel at a later time of the combustion process, anyone
who knows how and Engine works will tell you.. retarded timing results in a Higher amount of unburnt fuel being allowed into your exhaust.
People should becareful about the information that they post.

 

shows what i know about gsr's, lol! you are also right about retarded timing increasing hc's, and nox as well.

 

If you just have HIGH NOX count and everything else is low your either running lean or too much timing, but when HC and NOX is High, then your problem is elsewhere.

 

what i have seen with other car platforms is a stretched timing chain that raises hc, nox, and generally screws up everything across the board... so timing issues can cause all kinds of problems, it's a real good place to start troubleshooting.

type ron, we got our california bar certificate that sez they will pay that $100-$500 range of repairs, but we weren't gross polluters either... follow up on it and see if you can get the state to pay for some repairs!