Failed Emissions today ...

What mods have you done to your car. Is all the emissions equipment there? To get that high of a reading something must be wrong.

I'm glad there isn't testing in MI

A full tune-up, DEFINITELY. Plugs, wires, cap/rotor, air filter, fuel filter, flush it out with Seafoam, clean the MAF wires, maybe clean the EGR valve, set your timing back to 10*, and double-check all of your vacuum lines. Then give 'er another shot and report back here.

It depends on where you suck it in. I always use the PCV valve to slurp the Seafoam, and that will pull it through the intake. If you still have the original PCV valve hose, though, be careful that it's not so dried out and stiff that it cracks/breaks when you lift it to start feeding the Seafoam into it, otherwise you'll need to invest in about 2.5 feet of 3/8" fuel hose to replace it. Man, I wish I'd taken pictures of that HUGE cloud of smoke that poured outta Frankenstang's '86 GT when we Seafoamed it over the weekend! The entire highway behind the car completely vanished!

Yeah, that was a sweet smoke show!

You're not alone jfran, my '86 failed too.

Sitting for 2+ years was obviously not good for it.

High NO - high combustion temps - retard timing, check EGR for operation.
High CO - EGR isn't working - fix it.
High HC - fuel mixture too rich - check O2 sensors, smog pump, and cats. Clean MAF element. Do the ethanol thing as suggested.

How to pass emissions testing:

1.) Make sure all the emissions gear the car was made with is present and connected up properly. That includes a working smog pump and cats.

2.) Make sure that you have fresh tune up with spark plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, fuel & air filters. An oil & filter change is a good idea while you are at it.

3.) Dump the codes and see what the computer says is wrong…Codes may be present in the computer even if the Check Engine light isn’t on.

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.
See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html





IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is less than $30 or so at AutoZone or Wal-Mart.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/p-7208-equus-digital-ford-code-reader-3145.aspx– It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $30.


4.) Post the codes and get help to fix them. Don’t try to pass with codes not fixed. Clearing the computer just temporarily removes them from memory, it doesn’t fix the problem that caused the code to be set.

5.) Be sure to do the testing on a hot engine. Drive for 15-20 minutes prior to taking the test to get operating temps up into the normal range. Do not shut off the engine while waiting for your turn on the test machine. An engine up to full operating temperature puts out fewer emissions.

I just pay for my smog

I failed also this year, HCs were to high.

I bumped my timing back to stock, it dropped the HCs a few hundred and passed.

The drop was smaller than I remember, here is the before and after:

Failure
HC - reading (257) limit (220) fail
CO - reading (.24) limit (1.20) pass
CO2 - 10.76

After timing adjusted
HC: 139 (smog pump still disconnected)
CO: .11
CO2: 11.02


Since the last test I have hooked the smog pump back up, hoping for even lower numbers next year.

This is what my '90 put out recently:

Measured at 15mph & 25mph

HC: (limit 121)
36
42

CO: (.76)
.11
.02

CO2:
12.6
12.4

Get yourself some better cats... New Clean cats will get you through.

Especially if you have an H pipe with 100G+ miles on it.

I think that's half of Frankie's problem on the '86 GT - that H-pipe on there is old enough to drink!

put a couple ounces of acentone in the tank before u hit the sniffer. Easy way to cheat the emissions test.