I failed Ca smog today, need help!

[Daggar]

We need SMOG control in CA, try jogging on a summer day in the valey or in the LA area and you will understand. Nothing quite like seeing the brown layer blanketing the city...

Spoken like a true earth muffin. LOL I wonder how many folks are aware that all of the pollution caused by all of the cars since their invention doesn't even add up to 1 of 1% of the pollution created during a single 24 hour period of the Mt. St. Hellens erruption. The reason you have smog in those areas is not due to the number of cars in that area. It's due to the geopraphic layout. The topographics and weather conditions are what gives you all your High smog and low smog days... or perhaps it's just that a couple of million folks just didn't drive on that low smog day.... ermmmm... I don't think so. I am still amazed that the special interest groups out in California are still selling that drivel and getting away with it. How about the New York and Chicago folks? An awful lot of cars out there? You guys got smog problems???

 

[92greenlx]

What all does the EGR system consist of? I take it that me just having changed out the EGR valve has done nothing if I have a bad EGR system then right? I used that guaranteed to pass stuff and it didnt work. Time to put the stock H-pipe back on. If I pass then I will never use the Mac one for smog and only for the street so I dont have to worry about getting in trouble like the guys running off road h pipes.

 

[jrichker]

The EGR system has a vacuum source (line from the intake manifold), a computer operated electrical vacuum regulator, the EGR valve and the passages in the heads and intake manifold that route exhaust gas to the EGR valve. The computer uses RPM, Load. and some other factors to tell the vacuum regulator to pass vacuum to open the EGR valve. The EGR sensor tells the computer how far the EGR valve is open. Then computer adjusts the signal sent to the EGR vacuum regulator to hold, increase or decrease the vacuum.

The EGR shuts off at Wide Open Throttle (WOT), so it has minimal effect on performance. The addition of exhaust gas drops combustion temperature, increases gas mileage and reduces the tendency of the engine to ping.

 

[plucka-plucka]

I am glad to here there are still people out there with the heads up their you know what. To test your theory, Why don't we lock ourselves in separate garages, me with my honda and you with your stang. First to die, loses.

 

[SmockDoiley]

Yes they do have smog problems you friggin idiot. Yes, the valley affect in LA causes the smog to get stuck. IT IS caused by automobiles along with other things. Hey maybe thats why Chicago has smog laws too and not in rural Chicago? And as for you failing. Your a dumbass for not puting your 4-cat back on because legally and technically you are suppose to have all 4 on. I dont care if a 2-cat pipe is "50 state legal", its not legal in California. You can ask my friend who tried passing with a MAC 2-cat 50 state H-pipe and he failed because of that. He called MAC and they confirmed it and he had to borrow a stock pipe. How could you be stupid enough to fail and wonder if it was the missing cats, and then try again without them again. Run 87, 10* timing, 4 cats, and all your smog and egr hooked up. If you fail then, then you have a problem with your car.

 

[01TrueBlueCobra]

Yes they do have smog problems you friggin idiot. Yes, the valley affect in LA causes the smog to get stuck. IT IS caused by automobiles along with other things. Hey maybe thats why Chicago has smog laws too and not in rural Chicago? And as for you failing. Your a dumbass for not puting your 4-cat back on because legally and technically you are suppose to have all 4 on. I dont care if a 2-cat pipe is "50 state legal", its not legal in California. You can ask my friend who tried passing with a MAC 2-cat 50 state H-pipe and he failed because of that. He called MAC and they confirmed it and he had to borrow a stock pipe. How could you be stupid enough to fail and wonder if it was the missing cats, and then try again without them again. Run 87, 10* timing, 4 cats, and all your smog and egr hooked up. If you fail then, then you have a problem with your car.

Actually all 95 and older OBD 1 cars are only required to have 2 CATS, since most of them have over 50,000 miles. Look it up.

 

[92greenlx]

Smockdoiley,
Where you confused as to who posted the earlier post which got you upset? It wasnt me, but thanks for calling me a dumbass! Oh and thanks for letting me know about your buddy who also failed using the 2 cat mac h pipe!

 

[Michael Yount]

Yikes Smock! Did you stop takin' the lithium?

 

[YellowLightning]

Too many people around here get all wound about nothing.

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

Check fuel pressure and put the highest octane not the lowest like earlier stated, the higher octane burns cleaner add the additive as well. also the bump in fuel pressure helps run cleaner. also make sure those two cats you have are nice and hot. I have passed my car many a times this way. And if that doesnt work the 02 censors might be off. Any cam or head change done?

 

[White89GTstang]

I live in California and just smoged my vehicle the other day. When i went in i figured i wasnt gonna pass because my car was lowered really low for a while and I banged up 1 of my catalitic converts really bad on speed bumps. SO bad that i took it into my mechanic and he tore the catalitic converter off and handed me all the pieces of the inside of it. So one of the catalitic converters is ****ed. The other, i guess, was enough cause thats the tailpipe the smog guy stuck the sensor into. It passed fine. Weird as it may be. The only reason i can understand why it did pass was because i took it in there running really hot.

 

[92greenlx]

I have no Heads or Cam change. The 1st time I took my car to get smogged I drove to the place having just started my car for the day and the shop is only like 5 minutes away. The 2nd time I took it to the pre test place, my car sat around until the guy could get to it. So I am sure it wasnt even close to op temp when it was tested. I am going to install my stock h pipe, drive around for a while then have it tested at a different pre test place and go from there. Thanks for all of the replies so far everyone!

 

[ill advised]

Smock, totally uncalled for.

 

[SmockDoiley]

Sorry Cobra but I'm going to disagree since from the factory they are 4-cats, lots of people I know in Cali have failed with 2-cats and that MAC had to send my friend to a smogger they knew that would "pass" him with their pipe on since they admitted that 2 wasnt enough. Other states may allow 2 cats but not cali. Which brings to mind that lots of people drive around in every state with no cats and though their states may not have smog, by federal law we are all suppose to have cats on a street legal car. "Look it up". Setting aside the 2 or 4 question, I still dont get why he'd go to a smog war with only 2 guns and not 4 if he had the access. I know lots of states dont have smog but that doesnt mean we are allowed to drive around with no cats. The only reason I do is because my 85 only sees 1000 miles a year, but my 95 has 4-cats. As for getting pissed it was for the douche saying that cars dont make smog or pollute the air. I love the environment and it pisses me off when people just blow it off like it doesnt matter. It'll be really funny when the worlds oil supply runs out in 50-65 years with the current rate of useage. This anger carried over to GreenLX so I apologize but I'm still frustrated that you admit to having the stock pipe laying around yet you went back without it.Thats like going back to the strip knowing you have slicks at home and bitching that your times still didnt improve the second time around. Your answering your own question!

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

This is not intended to be a flame on anyone, I live in huntington beach I have a bassani X W/cats (two very small ones) and my car passes fine. So there is no confusion on the 2 or 4 cat theory according to cali state law as long as the car has cats present (min. 2 cats) and passes the sniffer test at all applicable speeds it is road worthy. Also a catted X or H pipe doesnt void most factory warrenties. But I have heard time and time again about the mac h pipes with cats having trouble passing. You might just have to put the stockie back on for a day or two. Good luck and hope all works out.

Sorry forgot it said min. 2 cats on v6 and v8 vehicles.

 

[Michael Yount]

All cats are not created equal. There are 2-way and 3-way cats and 3-way w/air cats, as well as 'main' catalytic converters, and 'pre' or 'light-off' catalytic converters. All are designed to perform a specific task. If you want to know which catalytic converter to use on which application, you have to determine the type of catalytic converter(s) originally put on the vehicle. This information (required by the EPA) was originally on the vehicle emission control information label somewhere under the hood - different locations on different cars - hood underside, shock tower, radiator support, fan shroud, firewall, etc. The labels will ID the cats with stuff like:

Two-Way (Oxidation) = OC or COC
Three-Way (Oxidation Reduction) = TWC or ORC
Three-Way + Air (3-Way Plus Oxidation) = TWC/OC or ORC/OC

In addition, replacement cats are also categorized according to vehicle weight and engine size.

THEORETICALLY - to pass an emissions test anywhere, you have to have either the same type/number of cats on the car that came on it originally, OR a single replacement set up designed to treat the exhaust stream in the same way the original multiple cats did, AND the set up has to pass the sniffer. I say theoretically because as a practical matter here's what really matters:

The guy or gal that inspects your car that day at that station (doesn't matter where - CA, or anyplace else) has to say OK. That's the only rule that matters. Doesn't matter what the state/local rules are, doesn't matter what the EPA said, doesn't matter what you think you know about the regs. What matters is will that inspector say yes to your car. That's why all this banter on the forums is helpful -- but limited in it's ability to help any particular person get their car past the test. Because if the person inspecting your car that day wants to see two cats on each side, and you've only got one - it don't matter that you think the rule says you can replace two with the correct single cat. Likewise, if the person just wants to see a cat, and see that you pass the sniffer - it don't matter that the rule says you've got to have the same number and type of cats that originally came on the car.

Bottom line - you can't generalize your particular inspection experience to someone else's car/trip to the inspection station.

 

[SmockDoiley]

I understand this in the same way that the same power combo doesnt create the same track times for everyone because no 2 driver/car are the same. The matter is, he failed once with a 2-cat MAC which has been known to fail the sniffer. Instead of reinstalling his factory pipes, he opted to return with the same junk stuff and I just dont understand that. Im sure if he pulls the MAC H-pipe he'll see that the cats are blown.

 

[jaidedeye]

even though i am in the air force and live in NC i was born and raised in laguna beach cali until i was 19..... well im 28 now and i can say that i will nver live in cali again because of crap like the emissions laws. sure, i understand that we need to controll emission, but only to a certain extent......what california needs to do is follow suit like the other states do, like arizona for example only requires emissions testing for vehicles wich are owned and operated in the phoenix and tucson metro areas. not all areas in cali have smog issues.

i like how florida handled the emissions laws....THEY THREW THEM IN THE FREAKING TRASH!!!

as far are the maintenance on your car, you have to keep up on it if you wanna pass the sniffer, and you have to have all your equipment. off road x pipes and what not are waste of money. with the technologhy and efficiency going into the new catted x and h pipes you are making damn near the same amount of hp as you would with an off road one.....

as a matter of fact, i have my intake manifold off my car and i unbolted my EGR and damn....its dirty as helll!!!!!!
here are my suggestions to help pass.....

1. clean/ replace your EGR
2. clean/ replace your IAC
3. replace vaccum lines....stock ones are junk. get silicone.
4. new plugs
5. new O2 sensors
6. new pcv valve
7. new oil......synthetic its cleaner....yeah, i know this is debatable
8. Cat cleaner gas additive..
9. set timing to stock
10. adjust idle, if your IAC is stuck it might not change, so thats why i said clean/replace your IAC
11. check/replace cats
12. believe it of not but mufflers and exhast pipes can collect emissions gunk in them and cause issues too


thats all the things i can think of at the moment

 

[92greenlx]

After I failed the 1st time the guy at the shop was telling me that it more than likely is the O2 sensors. So I changed them out as well as the EGR Valve, IAC Valve, set timing back to 10deg. My Cap/Rotor, Plugs, Wires are all 6 months old. So I thought that I would be fine. So when I paid for a pre test, I passed the 25mph NO(ppm) but not the 15mph part but the numbers did get lower. I have always smogged my car prior to this with my stock h pipe. I have had this Mac 2 cat h pipe on for less than 6 months. I have also never heard of people having failed with it till recently. So I am going to install the stock h pipe then go back to the pre test place and see what my numbers are but only after having driven the car for a while to get the cats nice and hot. Then I will post my results.

 

[92greenlx]

I passed smog yesterday with ease! I installed the stock 4 cat h pipe and then went to the smog shop with my car running until it was time. Thank you all for your inputs and help. If I would have known from the begining that I didnt have a chance with the mac 2 cat h pipe i owuld of never have went with it still on. The only reason why i tried a 2nd time was to see if my EGR Valve, IAC Valve and O2 Sensor change did anything and it did. It lowered my numbers a lil but of course not enough. So I am now relieved and never will I go to a smog shop without the stocker on ever again!