Failed CA Smog
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,284
Likes: 140
From: Philadelphia, PA
Sorry to hear about the problems Mark. When we lived in CA I never used to take my cars for smog without driving them for a good half hour, as you said, to get the cats warmed up - it makes the world of difference.
I can imagine your frustration, as California smog tests are so bogus at the best of times. Pity that you had to go to the trouble of swapping out the cats.
I can imagine your frustration, as California smog tests are so bogus at the best of times. Pity that you had to go to the trouble of swapping out the cats.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,031
Likes: 266
From: Bentonville, AR
I wanted to update what happened with my cars, in case someone else experiences this problem. I installed the factory cats, that I bought off ebay. I did not even install the rear bumper to go get it smogged. I heated the car up and left it running, while I was waiting for the test. It passed with flying colors. I drove it home and promptly reinstalled the high flow cats...it sounded terrible without the high flow cats. What a PITA.
On the same day that I has the Porsche retested, My wife brought her 2001 Mercedes SL600 (with 55,000 miles) to have it smog tested also. It failed...at 15 mph it had 47ppm of CO2...passing was 44ppm. It is completely stock and runs perfect. I went to Kragen and bought a can of CRC "Guaranteed to Pass" additive and followed the instructions. I just came back from having it retested. I was hoping that between the additive and really warming the cats up, it would drop the 3ppm necessary to pass. It passed with the CO2 reading at 4ppm (down from 47). All of the other readings were at about 0ppm. Both the tech and I were amazed. I will never take a car to have it smogged again without adding that stuff. For less than $10, it was money well spent.
On the same day that I has the Porsche retested, My wife brought her 2001 Mercedes SL600 (with 55,000 miles) to have it smog tested also. It failed...at 15 mph it had 47ppm of CO2...passing was 44ppm. It is completely stock and runs perfect. I went to Kragen and bought a can of CRC "Guaranteed to Pass" additive and followed the instructions. I just came back from having it retested. I was hoping that between the additive and really warming the cats up, it would drop the 3ppm necessary to pass. It passed with the CO2 reading at 4ppm (down from 47). All of the other readings were at about 0ppm. Both the tech and I were amazed. I will never take a car to have it smogged again without adding that stuff. For less than $10, it was money well spent.
It is so important to drive the car a while -- 30 miles or so -- if possible with the A/C off -- to get the engine and all nice and warm. If the car sees mainly short hops a longer drive may be even better to well blow the cob webs out.
I'm going to see what I can learn about that CRC stuff, what's in it.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 3
From: Aiea, HI
The below link is for a bunch of amazon results for the CRC product. I did see one forum where people had performance problems from their cars while running the stuff. But these were cars I feel would have a problem of getting out of their own way. I'd imagine possibly the best thing would be when low on fuel then only make half a tank solution instead of being stuck with a full tank of snake oil.
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ed=0CCIQrQQwAA
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ed=0CCIQrQQwAA
Poseur
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 17,731
Likes: 289
From: Santa Barbara, CA
From Macster's posting it's clear that you just make sure that you have properly serviced the engine so that it runs optimally--that is truly the reason for the California smog tests--to make sure these cars are tuned for optimal performance--and thus they put out less smog.
The final solution to all this smog stuff is when Porsche puts a diesel engine in the 911! Never again would a smog test be needed--as they never test diesel engined vehicles.
The final solution to all this smog stuff is when Porsche puts a diesel engine in the 911! Never again would a smog test be needed--as they never test diesel engined vehicles.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 94
From: Horseshoe Bend, Idaho
996 Fan, you are very welcome.
Wayne, Thanks. I am really glad that it was the cats and not the ECU.
Macster, the only difference on the Mercedes, other than the additive, was that I left it running prior to the test. I believe that the additive made most of the difference. The smog shop is far enough away that the car is completely warmed up, by the time I get there.
Steve, thanks. From your growing list of mods, it sounds like you are enjoying your Porsche, as much as I am. The 99 996, with LSD and no e-gas is a keeper. My back is ok. After 7 surgeries, hopefully, I am done. Thanks for asking.
Wayne, Thanks. I am really glad that it was the cats and not the ECU.
Macster, the only difference on the Mercedes, other than the additive, was that I left it running prior to the test. I believe that the additive made most of the difference. The smog shop is far enough away that the car is completely warmed up, by the time I get there.
Steve, thanks. From your growing list of mods, it sounds like you are enjoying your Porsche, as much as I am. The 99 996, with LSD and no e-gas is a keeper. My back is ok. After 7 surgeries, hopefully, I am done. Thanks for asking.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: san jose, california
I wanted to update what happened with my cars, in case someone else experiences this problem. I installed the factory cats, that I bought off ebay. I did not even install the rear bumper to go get it smogged. I heated the car up and left it running, while I was waiting for the test. It passed with flying colors. I drove it home and promptly reinstalled the high flow cats...it sounded terrible without the high flow cats. What a PITA.
On the same day that I has the Porsche retested, My wife brought her 2001 Mercedes SL600 (with 55,000 miles) to have it smog tested also. It failed...at 15 mph it had 47ppm of CO2...passing was 44ppm. It is completely stock and runs perfect. I went to Kragen and bought a can of CRC "Guaranteed to Pass" additive and followed the instructions. I just came back from having it retested. I was hoping that between the additive and really warming the cats up, it would drop the 3ppm necessary to pass. It passed with the CO2 reading at 4ppm (down from 47). All of the other readings were at about 0ppm. Both the tech and I were amazed. I will never take a car to have it smogged again without adding that stuff. For less than $10, it was money well spent.
On the same day that I has the Porsche retested, My wife brought her 2001 Mercedes SL600 (with 55,000 miles) to have it smog tested also. It failed...at 15 mph it had 47ppm of CO2...passing was 44ppm. It is completely stock and runs perfect. I went to Kragen and bought a can of CRC "Guaranteed to Pass" additive and followed the instructions. I just came back from having it retested. I was hoping that between the additive and really warming the cats up, it would drop the 3ppm necessary to pass. It passed with the CO2 reading at 4ppm (down from 47). All of the other readings were at about 0ppm. Both the tech and I were amazed. I will never take a car to have it smogged again without adding that stuff. For less than $10, it was money well spent.
just hold on to them as you'll need them every couple of years. FYI high flow cats will eventually trigger a cel and don't seem to last a long time but at least you'll have the stockers if/when needed one can also retune and desensitize the 02s but...
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 94
From: Horseshoe Bend, Idaho
Hey Alex, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I appreciate you guys taking the time to give me the right answer. You are partially responsible for my mod addiction. You did a few to my car under the previous ownership and your project "White Shark" convinced me to do the others. It remains one of my favorite examples of a modified 996. The sound clips were what really sold me on the LWFW.
