My bone stock 87 Carrera coupe cannot seem to pass the new California Bay Area smog check. It is fine at idle (14 ppm HC, 0.02% CO) but at 2500 rpm the HC goes up to 258 ppm and the CO to 8%. My mechanic checked the oxygen sensor and is going to change the catalytic convertor next ($$$). This is not even the more onorous dyno test which I hear is coming next year. The car has 116K miles, is driven 40 miles per day and just had a major service done.

Any ideas/suggestions on what else to check or tweak to get through this mess?

thanks,

SEW QUIK

"it's not that I go fast, but sometimes I go sideways"

 

My '84 VW Scirocco would not pass an emission test no matter what. I replaced the cat converter and it passed easy. The smog tech said it's as clean as a new car.

 

What cat is your mechanic going to use? Seems like the aftermarket ones are about half the price of the OEM ones, and is it possible/practical to get one for a good price off a wreck (like from Parts Heaven), or might you just be getting into the same situation as with the one you have?

Good luck. I just had my '87 smogged in August, which I guess used the 'new' test (but no dyno) and it passed with no problems (other than having to test the gas cap 2 times before it held vacuum properly).

Tom

 

My understanding is that it's unlawfull to sell a used catalytic converter in California.

 

What was the NOx reading?
A high reading generally indicates a dead (dying?) cat.

 

MAKE SURE YOUR SMOG TECH TESTS THE CAT CONVERTER BEFORE REPLACING IT. THE DAMAGE COULD BE ELSEWHERE. I AM A PORSCHE CAR MECHANIC, HAVE MY OWN SHOP AND ALSO PERFORM SMOG INSPECTIONS. CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. 650 992 0978 -JIMMY

 

Was your car properly warmed up first? At least a half hour minimum.

 

you could borrow my cat if that is the problem... nestorjw@Hotmail.com