yeah, failed smog for the first time. the NOS levels were too high. any ideas of what could cause em to be that high? the smog guy said the EGR usually does that when its clogged.. help!

 

Yeah, a faulty EGR could do that. Try cleaning it out with some carb/trhottle body spray. If you have a vac gun see if it holds vacuum.

 

3 causes of high NOx: EGR, EGR and EGR. Check the EGR, clean or replace as needed.

 

ok, for nox it measured 1500ppm at 15mph, and 1578ppm at 25mph, max is 1058ppm at 15, and 918 at 25. egr?

 

Isnt there like some back ally guy who will pass you for 100 bucks without testing your vehicle? cause there normally is anywhere you go.

 

yeah, but i dont got 100, i only got enuf for insurance and registration and some gas. lol. i need a job BAD

 

Check your EGR valve and EGR modulator. My modulator went kaput and I was failing with 1360ppm (max 1200). Swapped in a used one (25 bucks) and it shot down to 750.

 

If you meet requirements, the state will help you fix your car so it will pass.

 

no idea how to do that, ill prob just get the egr and the modulator looked at by my neighbor, who is a mechanic. i have no idea where the egr is

 

It's on the back of the throttle body/intake manifold, there's a pipe that goes down and attaches to the back of the cylinder head too.

 

anyone got a pic? sorry for the stupidity

 

Excess ignition advance will also raise the levels. I would check static timing to see if its in specs. You can always drop it to no advance to lower emissions and then put it back after you pass. Putting in 20% E85 will also help. But, I agree with fixing the EGR. Its main purpose in life is to lower combustion temperatures and reduce NOx.

My $0.02

 

the timing at.. lets see... 07 btdc(what the smog place checked) checked out okay...

 

okay, so been doin some thinkin... i am using 3VZE spark plugs in a 22RE.... i know when it burns cleaner, the NOS levels rise. so im gonna try putting regular 22RE spark plugs in it and run it for about an hour on the freeway then immediately take it to the smog place, where i have a free retest. am i thinking in the right direction, or am i WAY off?

 

NOx comes from combustion temps being to high. You could try switching to colder plugs but that's ify.

Do you only get one free re-take? if so dont wast it.

 

Find a shop that does retesting and that works with the state and they can set you up with the right paper work for state accidence. You pay first $100 they state pay up to $500. Thats only if you whore required to go to a smog only station. In the first place. It worked for me.

 

Stock timing is 5 BTDC with the timing jumper installed. Retarding the timing will reduce the NOx output. When I test my '85, I retard the timing into the 1-2 degree range and also fill w/ premium gas for the test. That dropped my NOx about 40%.

 

yeah coming to think of it man its the egr and try out the timing cause on mine (thank god we dont do emissions here) is at about 40 btdc so yeah id try the egr thingy then the timing then go again


the egr is right at the tip of the wrench that pipe there and the cly looking thing with the vac line on it your should be the same the pipes look like water pipes on a old building just so you know

 

ok, took my truck to the mechanic my parents use today, and he started trying to play me. he told me the EGR is bad, and theres no way to clean it. that once you take it off, you cannot put it back on. and its about a 500 dollar job. (i know is BS). then he told me if i need it smogged, give him 250 and he'll pass it. is it worth it to pay the 250, or should i get a 2nd opinion on the EGR? i just called my old mechanic up in vegas, and told him, he said its prob not the egr thats clogged, its probably the line going from the egr to the exhaust, or something. what should i do?

 

Technically he is right. In the state of California a mechanic can not knowingly install defective smog equipment. If he takes it off, tests it and its bad he cann't put it back on. $500 is about right for parts and labor if he uses an new EGR.
Since he offered to pass you obviously he is not playing by the book. Report his happy @ss to the state. They take that kind of thing fairly seriously around here. It only takes a few complaints and he will lose his license.

The EGR is a little bit of a pain to pull of, but it can be done with a very minimul amount of wrenching ability. Pull it off and clean it out with some carb cleaner or seafoam.