Thanks for the notes, folks.

Yeah, the readings seemed funny to me too, but there was nothing awkward with the readings that came from my dad's car, which by sheer coincidence, was done there just 3 cars prior to mine's. So why it looked that way, I can't say, still ...

At least this time around at the DMV, they gave me a whole month temporary, so it's some more time to fiddle around. And because it was so bad, I do qualify for repair assistance, in which after the first $100 of out-of-pocket repairs, the state would cover up to another $500.

A thought that I most likely would not pursue, but according to my parts man, there actually still is a junker program going on with the state. He got $1k for his '84 Supra, which was worth well more than it's physical condition would've suggested.

-- Kane ... okkay, I do have a dead blower motor to deal with counting for that plan ...
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

Ladies and Gents,

I'm with Richard, I live here in NE Ohio and as I'm itching to emigrate, I thought things were more civilized north of the border...Is the smog check "national" up there or is it done province by province, area by area...?

The latter solution holds here in OH, i.e. there is "E-check" in highly populous areas that have been (and are being?) targeted by the US EPA for "unhealthy" County immediately west (10 mi.) of me (Lake), more populous, closer to Cleveland, has it; here in Ashtabula, no E-check at all. Same no. of people in entire county as a suburb of Cleveland. There's no safety check whatsover in Ohio either, but that's another story. Or is it?

Just got an '81 244 new to us, purchased in PA, had proudly affixed PA safety insp. sticker yet found totally shot ball joints, disconnected PCV system, exhaust leak in front pipe on return to Ohio. Seller was a "licensed" mechanic....

Back to smog chek. 2-3 yrs ago lived in Portage County OH, south and west of here again closer to "Clean"land. Was e-check there and my raggedy 242's number was up--emissions insp. every other year. Broke hillbilly I was at the time ran the car w/less than factory equipment....Had no CAT, only one muffler at rear, hey I was on a budget and only drove 20-50 mi daily tops.

Put dysfunctional, original cat back on, guys at NAPA where I was parts monkey told me to ream the guts out and put it back in for e-check as they do hold a mirror under the car. Local Volvo guru said these cars run really clean, I'd make it no prob.

He was right, thing passed easily, didn't change timing, mixture, anything.

What is the moral to this long-winded story?

We burn so much blasted fuel here in N. Amerika, when is the madness going to end? This forest for the trees mentality, brand new cars even here in impoverished former industrial zone....Why won't somone with "pull" (a sports star? movie actor?) have the nerve to tell people the truth about the resources wasted in having all this new, high tech, "clean" running new machinery?

Even though it's 35 degrees I'm getting on my 10 speed for a little "fresh" air.

FRANKly speaking

Hello All,

On the subject of smog testing I will give my rant and that will be it.

THEY ARE A CROCK OF CRAP!!!!!

We up here in Ontario Canada just started this junk about 4 years ago. My 1987 245 DL has never had problems passing the little test which shops lose money on and the government gets a cut of every test. $30 total which the shop gets 20 and the government gets 10, you guys down south convert it to your dollars and now you know why shops lose money on the damn tests.

My beef is centered on the test I did in june when I renewed my sticker. The guy at the shop where I got it done misentered my serial number. It still took the test, but point being when I got down to the licence office, they wouldn't take that test. Since the only way around it was another test, the shop did it at no charge. 30 minutes, same machine, same car (with 325,000 km at the time) same technician. I have used the same gas station and grade of fuel for 6 years. Completely different results. We're not talking a couple of points here, 30 points on CO%, 200 on NOx and close to 50 points on HC.

I truly believe that the key to getting crap cars off the road is getting cops to pull over loosers who drive cars that are visibly falling apart ie. smoking, rusty, parts falling off.

It wouldn't be a bad idea if a "Minivan/SUV Free Day" would be declared... or maybe if god opened a crack in the space/time continuum and swallowed up all of those bastardly vehicles in one foul swoop.... WISHFUL THINKING!!!

As Always Happy Bricking!!!

Richard
87 245 DL 338,000 km and counting.

P.S. Change your oxygen sensor and maybe your PCV for good measure and all will be well.

I am a Ca. 240 owner as well. I agree with Mittenhead. Go to a dif. station. It can't be rich and lean! The state recently cut the allowable levels in HALF! The replacement Cats are about 90-100 bucks and are good for a little over two years. Use a station that gives a free retest. If the Cat doesn't do it, look at the fuel pressure regulator.Tune ups and oil changes are great if you need them, but they won't often cure the problem. My nox almost dissappeared after installing a new CAT. Good luck. And you want to continue driving the safest cars in the world,or the vehicle of your choice, FIRE GOV.DAVIS!

Mark

Try a good cleaner, Run the highest octane for a week. Then change you oil, fill up the tank, run it for 20 minutes before going for the test.

Worked on my 92 Chevy Truck. It failed this year. I barely passed after doing this, but I passed.

Worth a try before you blow any money.

86 240 DL 160K miles

A new Cat will help the HC.. An Oxy will control the mixture much better..
--
john,,1985, 245:GLTi 246k mi..so.california

I hate to say this, but speaking as a combustion professional, those results can not be real. HC and CO go together, but NOX should be in inverse proportion to them. The results that you posted show both lean and rich combustion at the same time. Try another test station.