Failed smog in CA?!?!?

USMC YJ · 03-27-2009, 07:30 PM

After recently moving to CA I had to get my Jeep smog tested and it failed. My HC (PPM), CO and NO were all high. I did changed my air filter prior to the check, but nothing else, except driving the vehicle around to bring it up to operating temp. Does anyone have any advice???? The Jeep runs great and I don't understand why it failed and the place I got the inspection done was a test only place and the guy didn't have a clue either. HEELLLPPPP!!!!

**Fernando** · 03-27-2009, 07:37 PM

What model Jeep you have?

USMC YJ · 03-27-2009, 07:58 PM

It's a 2.5 liter '93 wrangler with a manual transmission.

**shaggyjim** · 03-27-2009, 08:07 PM

Hey bro take my advice... move back before Cal falls off into the Pacific. LOL! Other then that it looks like your cat is shot. Post up your #'s and the pass #'s so we can help you better. If your still in the Corps on active duty you can keep your registration in you home town unless you bought a house. If not then do the tuneup, cap, rotor, plugs, FI cleaner, things like that.

USMC YJ · 03-27-2009, 08:14 PM

It is registered in TN, but in order to get a base decal I have to get a smog check done here. The pass for the HC (PPM) is 93 the Jeep got 96, the pass for CO% is .72 I got .76 and the max for the NO is 539 and I got 2848. All of these are at 15 MPH. Also failed the NO at 25 MPH max is 792 i got 1993.

**dodger889** · 03-27-2009, 08:32 PM

How much Ca gas have you ran thourgh it?

**shaggyjim** · 03-27-2009, 08:44 PM

I think you got a bad cat bro. When I was on Camp Pendleton I rember they gave me crap about that and now that I think about it I had to run mine through smog aswell. Anyway if you retest without a new cat then do the tuneup and then run the gas tank down to 1/4 and put 2 gallons of E85 in before you test.

shatteredsoul · 03-27-2009, 09:15 PM

Buy a small thing of lucas fuel injection treatment,put it in at close to empty ,fill tank with 93 octane(not cheap but hey you need to pass),drive the heck out of it for half tank,get recheck.

w9kh_kevin · 03-27-2009, 09:18 PM

When you go back to retest, sit outside with the engine revving just before you go in. Get the cat white hot and that can sometimes do the trick

**shaggyjim** · 03-27-2009, 10:25 PM

I did some digging in my Chilton and this is what they said. Hydrocarbons (HC) are essentially fuel which was not burned during the combustion process. The main sources of incomplete combustion are rich air/fuel mixtures, low engine temps and improper spark timing.

Carbon monoxide is formed when not enough oxygen is present during the combustion process to convert carbon (C) to carbon dioxide (CO2). An increase in the carbon monoxide emmission is normally accompanied bya an increase in the hydrocarbon (HC) emission because of the lack of oxygen to completely burn all of the fuel mixture.

Normally, nitrogen is an inert gas. When heated to approximately 2500*F through the combustion process, this gas becomes active and causes an increase in the nitric oxide (NO) emission.

NOx (oxides of nitrogen) is a tailpipe emission caused by the oxidation of nitrogen in the combustion chamber. When the peak combustion temperatures go over 2500*F NOx is formed in excessive amounts. Exhaust gas is recirculated in order to dilute air/fuel mixtures entering the combustion chambe, thereby lowering the combustion temperatures.

NOTE: No EGR was used after 1990 in the Wrangler. After 1990 a three way cat was used to control NOx emissions.

I have been told that high NOx will cause your engine to ping. But your Jeep runs fine that is one reason I think the cat is bad as the cat now removes the NOx from the exhaust not an EGR.

So what can you take from this? Well it looks like your engine is running rich with high HC and CO this can be from a bad cat aswell or something like a oxygen senser, map sensor, or even a simple tuneup. However I just keep comming back to the cat because of the fact that all three were high and your NOx was off the chart.

K.I.S.S Keep it simple stupid!

1)Tuneup.
2)New thermostat and temp sending unit.
3)Oxygen sensor.
4)Cat.

That my

bro hope that helps!

OutbackBob · 03-28-2009, 12:04 PM

Had mine tested last year. It showed to be a gross polluter. Ouch! Took it to a reputable mechanic and had the exhaust manifold replaced along with the emissions garbaqe. It passed, however, I now have to have it checked yearly for the next three years. Again, Ouch. I just love the Democratic party along with the Environmental Foolios that are keeping California safe and sane for the productive members of society. My next hurdle is finding out just how much it will cost me to bring my Diesel Pusher into compliance with the new Air Resources Board Rules. Go out and have fun with your jeep, I do.

WellingtonPFunk · 03-28-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutbackBob

Had mine tested last year. It showed to be a gross polluter. Ouch! Took it to a reputable mechanic and had the exhaust manifold replaced along with the emissions garbaqe. It passed, however, I now have to have it checked yearly for the next three years. Again, Ouch. I just love the Democratic party along with the Environmental Foolios that are keeping California safe and sane for the productive members of society. My next hurdle is finding out just how much it will cost me to bring my Diesel Pusher into compliance with the new Air Resources Board Rules. Go out and have fun with your jeep, I do.

If you think emissions control is stupid, feel free to inhale deeply from your tailpipe next time you start up your Jeep.

USMC YJ · 03-28-2009, 05:29 PM

Thanks for the help... I guess I'll be doing a tune up this weekend and checking prices on a cat. converter. Again thanks for the help.

**lckdrgn** · 03-29-2009, 11:27 AM

To pass Cal smog you will need a Cal cat. Kragens for about 180.00 a 48 state cat will not work. Good luck

**moonshinefuel** · 03-29-2009, 01:14 PM

Alcohol is good fuel, gas is basically dirty fuel. That is the problem. Dirty fuel, in dirty out. Your jeep is not filtering their toxic waste properly. So you need to figure out why your 4 wheeled filter is not working up to their specs. I would follow shaggys advice. Plus i'll add this:
Emissions SMOG test coming up?

precautions i used to help a pass on my car ...

1. wrapped the cats with alum shields to keep them insulated and HOT ..
2. retarded ignition from spec by 3 degrees more...
3. ran a can of Prestone "Emissions reducer" per directions ...
3a. Cleaned the Throttle intake
4. inspected plugs, gapped to spec ...
5. inspected exh headers, gaskets, vac lines for proper conditions ...
6. ran the gas tank to near empty, added 4 gall of highest octane fuel (about 1/4 tank) AND
added 1or 2 qal of PURE choosen "Alternative Fuel additive" .. WOOOOOO .. THAT is a kick ...
7. drained and filled crankcase with FRESH heavy 40W oil & STP, BUT kept it one quart low to avoid "splashing" ...
8. drive wheel tire pressure set at rated tire max psi ...
9. "pulled" connector from A/C compressor ...
10. removed air filter
11. ran 10 miles on the FWY and kept engine running while waiting its turn for the test .. 20 min ...

she passed, well under the limits in every measured item including the high speed dyno test ..
she rans so clean you can sit behind the dual pipes and not smell anything ..

03-27-2009, 07:58 PM	#3
USMC YJ Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hubert, NC Posts: 13 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	It's a 2.5 liter '93 wrangler with a manual transmission.

03-27-2009, 08:14 PM	#5
USMC YJ Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hubert, NC Posts: 13 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	It is registered in TN, but in order to get a base decal I have to get a smog check done here. The pass for the HC (PPM) is 93 the Jeep got 96, the pass for CO% is .72 I got .76 and the max for the NO is 539 and I got 2848. All of these are at 15 MPH. Also failed the NO at 25 MPH max is 792 i got 1993.

03-28-2009, 05:29 PM	#13
USMC YJ Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hubert, NC Posts: 13 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks for the help... I guess I'll be doing a tune up this weekend and checking prices on a cat. converter. Again thanks for the help.