Cali SMOG Frustration

T

trefive

Registered Member
Joined
15 April 2004
Messages
76
Location
Newport Beach, CA
I have a 91 with only 30k miles on it. I have someone prepared to buy the car and it today it failed smog. I went to a muffler shop for them to perhaps put new cats on and they wouldn't touch it. It passed smog only 8 months ago, so I am totally confused.

H E L P!

Today
HC
15 mph max 115, measured 195
25 mph max 88, measured 181

Co% pass

NO
15 mph max 785, measured 1131
25 mph max 724, measured 957

on May 12, 2004
HC
15-114 max, measured 114
25- 88 max, measured 75

NO
15-785 max, measured 766
25-724 max, measured 302
 
Last edited:
Well, it's not like it's really bad - first, try pulling the clock fuse to reset the ECU. Then, get it really hot before you take it in - high speed high rpm to get a LOT of heat into the cats.
Incidentally, I had trouble getting mine to pass on the first test (as did another local NSX'r) due to issues with the operator getting the car into the band. My operator ran an immediate re-test after the first one failed & it passed.
I would try again at a different station after you get it good & hot.
 
Actually those numbers are a bit high.

Do make sure the car is good and HOT before taking in for a test. The coolant has to be hot (or the sensor will tell the engine to run rich) and the cats have to be hot to work properly. Ken and I both suspect this is the problem.

Use lower gears and blast around on the freeway right before pulling into the test rig.

I'd even go so far as to use regular 87 octane fuel, rumor that helps by making sure everything burns quicker/completely.

There also some additives you can buy at your local auto parts show (not sure if they are snake oil or not). Make sure your air filter is clean too.

If THAT still doesn't work: I have a spare set of cats you can borrow, even though I doubt anything is wrong with your cats.

Drew
 
Your May # were just good enough so having it fail now is not a surprise. My guess is you have an o2 sensor that is on its last leg. Have you had any CEL Check engine lights (CEL)? Take a nice steady run down the freeway for a few miles and see if you get a check engine light. Then pull the code and see what's up.
 
Thanks for the feedback so far guys. No check engine lights what-so-ever.

When I took it in today, I traveled nice and far, but I am going to try the 87 gas (10 bucks of that won't kill it, right) and zip around, reset the ECU and try again tommorrow.

I might take up your offer to borrow those cats D'Ecosse :smile:
 
Your tech has to be a real bone head for this to happen, the dash starts blinking AND you have to floor it to get it to 25 MPH. Either one of those should have tipped him off...

Besides: your set readouts are very close in registered values. So unless they forgot BOTH times to disable the TCS, it is doubtful that is problem.

Not impossible mind you, just unlikely.

Drew
 
trefive said:
Mother F........I bet he forgot to turn off the traction control!
Click to expand...


If the tech forgot to turn off the traction control it would end the smog test right away and not give you the readings on the hc, co, etc. at 25mph
 
For those of us not in CA who don't have to do smog testing, why would the traction control affect the test? Do they run it wide open in 1st, or something? I can't imagine in "normal" driving at 25 mph the traction control getting involved. Just curious....


Joseph said:
If the tech forgot to turn off the traction control it would end the smog test right away and not give you the readings on the hc, co, etc. at 25mph
Click to expand...
 
rbirling said:
For those of us not in CA who don't have to do smog testing, why would the traction control affect the test? Do they run it wide open in 1st, or something? I can't imagine in "normal" driving at 25 mph the traction control getting involved. Just curious....
Click to expand...

The traction control gets very upset when running the car on rollers. With the rear tires turning and the front not turning the TCS shuts down power allmost immediately as it should.
 
Briank said:
The traction control gets very upset when running the car on rollers. With the rear tires turning and the front not turning the TCS shuts down power allmost immediately as it should.
Click to expand...

You're right. Duh.... :redface:
 
trefive said:
PASSED! ....
Click to expand...
BINGO!
biggthum.gif
biggthum.gif


Congratulations!
- but also sorry to hear you are passing along your NSX
crap.gif


But Happy she has a new home and owner!
claps.gif
 
AndyH said:
I thought the new owner suppose to do smog themselve :)
...
Click to expand...
In CA, it is the responsibility of the seller, not buyer, to ensure the SMOG is completed at time of transfer. Often, in practise, in private sales this doesn't always happen, but legal position is this is way it's supposed to happen.
 
I'll expand on the CA seller smogging requirement:

The seller is supposed to have a smog cert to show the potential buying party. The cert is good for 90 days

The reason is this: CA will cause your car to be crushed if it cannot pass smog (you get several chances and single grace registration...but after that: the crusher).

The smog cert insures the buying party that the car is viable.

The only exception is if you designate the car as "Parts Only", which tells the buyer the car is not expected to be registered.

Drew
 

Similar threads

Lude_2_NSX
CA smog help, what else is new...
Replies
10
Views
2K
Lude_2_NSX
Lude_2_NSX
Mikexike
92 nsx failed smog in california
2
Replies
25
Views
3K
Mikexike
Mikexike
L
Need smog analysis - Failed smog 4 times.
Replies
12
Views
3K
lithiumus
lithiumus
B
CA smog is out to get us
Replies
24
Views
3K
2nsx
2
B
CA smog is out to get us
2 3 4
Replies
77
Views
18K
Tai
Tai
Back
Top