1st thing 1st... Emission failed

[Bruno]

Here are the readings
Driving:
HC ppm: 168 (limit: 55)
CO%: 1.88(limit: 0.31)

Idle:
Driving:
HC ppm: 263 (limit: 200)
CO%: 2.46 (limit: 1.00)

Ok, changed the O2 sensor and both cats nd drove 1 hour

Here are the readings
Driving:
HC ppm: 158 (limit: 55)
CO%: 0.91 (limit: 0.31)

Idle:
Driving:
HC ppm: 357 (limit: 200)
CO%: 5.58 (limit: 1.00)

I am guessing that something is wrong with the engine... I will try a compression test and maybe cap and rotor, there is a missfire somewhere.
Worse case... I will have to pull the engine.

[Tiger]

No cats are expensive if you bought Magnaflow universal equivalent and weld them in.

Sounds like your timing may be a bit off... AFM... I don't think O2 will bring it down that much... then again, maybe it can. Check the O2 reading... 0.5V is what you are looking for or lower.

[attack eagle]

you need to find a "special" inspection station. my cats are now gone since I was having to pay for a special inspection anyway.The tint, headlights, smoked turns,etc are illegal and it was borderline smoggable (passed by 1ppm last year) anyway.

[Bruno]

you need to find a "special" inspection station. my cats are now gone since I was having to pay for a special inspection anyway.The tint, headlights, smoked turns,etc are illegal and it was borderline smoggable (passed by 1ppm last year) anyway.


It is different in Canada. I will start with O2 and check for vacuum leaks then if it still fails I will get the cats replaced with ... ARG Aftermarket. I do not think that it is timing related.

[attack eagle]

Government stations then I take it? Best of luck to you.

[Martin in Bellevue]

Canada doesn't test for NOx? Lean that thing out, after checking the spark plugs for a fouled 'en or fuel saturation from bad gap.

Love the 6er.

[Qube]

Mine was on the dot for CO2% this year. We'll see what happens in two years!

[Bruno]

Getting somewhere, the engine light came on, on the drive back home. And the car started idling like crap... Odd
So I changed the cap and rotor and a vacuum hose, cleaned the ICV reset the DME, engine light came back on.

I will now check the O2 circuit, spray the engine to locate vacuum leaks, swap the AFM and drive the car...

To be continued.

[Ross]

An injector not closing perhaps. This was a big part of some recent trouble for me.

[Bruno]

An injector not closing perhaps. This was a big part of some recent trouble for me.

Could be.... in that case one cylinder should have a black spark plug???
I have a set of 21lb... maybe I should do a complete swap instead of the 19lb.

[Ross]

I only gave mine a casual looking over before the injector was dicovered(shop said it just pissed continuously), later examination confirmed the rich running. It was only visible on one side of the plug and not as pronounced as you would expect.
I sent mine for ultrasonic cleaning and testing, $100 well spent. Plus another hondo for the new one.

[Bruno]

Problem was an exhaust leak.

As per some members, the exhaust leak around the O2 sensor was drawing air and the O2 was sending a lean signal to the DME. DME was sending too much fuel and I was failing the e-test.

No garage would have found this problem, they said " the engine is probably bad and sending oil inside the cats" Riiiiight.
Car passed with flying color once the leak was fixed.

Now, time to gather the parts for a turbo kit.

I love this board and my new 635csi.

[Tiger]

That's interesting... would have never thought of that. Thanks for sharing the answer.

[Ross]

Where exactly was it drawing air in at?