Just waiting for this money pit to hit my part of Oregon, money pit= smog issues. how i feel
CA wants these off the road. the machines are lame!

just my 2cents :)

Joe

-----Original Message-----
>From: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
>Sent: Jun 28, 2008 2:14 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: CA Smog Failed - 1985 1.9L
>
>Without CAT CO will be alway above 0.2% or 2.0% something like that.
>CAT is the device that reduces CO from there down to zero. That's what
>CAT is supposed to do and nothing else. That is what my Smog test
>operator said. If you have other problems it has nothing to do with
>the CAT.
>
>David
>
>
>--- "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
>> I failed these things over and over again with my 84 Westy 1.9l back when
>> Michigan had these tests.  I ended up adjusting the AFM to fix my issue, and
>> get it to pass.  Also, tried it on a very warm day, cold day etc.
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> Glad we don't have these tests in Michigan any longer!
>>
>> Jack R.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> Walter Houle
>> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 10:45 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: CA Smog Failed - 1985 1.9L
>>
>> OK I failed test #3 with high NOx agai. We can rule out timing as the
>> problem. I will now check the injectors, the O2 sensor, the fuel pump
>> pressure, and the AFM per our friend Bentley.
>>
>> However, my mechanic swears that the problem is the catalytic converter.
>> Since its brand new, I'm not sure I believe him. I got the same one I used
>> 4 yers ago, and that got me thru 2 smog tests sucessfully. Are there
>> better performing cats out there that will work on CA vanagons? Any
>> suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Walter
>> 85 Vanagon 1.9L
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:19:08 -0400, Walter Houle <whoule@ECSCONTROLS.COM>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >My van failed the NO part of the CA Smog Test twice.
>> >I had the van worked on in between so I'm wondering what is causing the
>> >high NO. The 15 MPH 2200 RPM readings were as follows:
>> >
>> >Test 1: %CO2=14.5  %O2=0.6  HC PPM Max=131 Measured=131  CO% Max=0.87
>> >Measured = 0.37  NO PPM Max=1085 Measured = 1492
>> >
>> >I installed a new O2 sensor and a new catalytic converter. Also, a good
>> >local mechanic found that the vacuum retard port on the distributer had
>> >been disconnected and that the timing was set at 19 degrees too far
>> >advanced. They reconnected a vacuum hose to the retard side of the
>> >distributer and set the timing back to spec. However, it failer NO again,
>> >this time even worse.
>> >
>> >Test 2: %CO2=14.9  %O2=0.4  HC PPM Max=131 Measured=40  CO% Max=0.87
>> >Measured = 0.04  NO PPM Max=1085 Measured = 2131
>> >
>> >The reduced HC & CO readings show me that the new cat and O2 sensor are
>> >doing their jobs.
>> >
>> >What is causing the higher NO reading? Did retarding the timing make it
>> >worse? Does anyone have any suggestions?
>> >
>> >Otherwise, my next move is to remove the vacuum retard hose again, advance
>> >the timing 19 degrees, and return for Test #3. Since I now have made
>> >the "Gross Polluter" class, my Max NO limit got bumped to 2050.
>> >
>> >Thanks,
>> >Walter
>> >1985 Vanagon 1.9
>>

Have a nice Day :)