The car will not pass smog! Car is a 2000 FRC manual tested it two times and it failed both times. After the first test the idiot at the station told me to change the 02 sensors so I changed all 4. Car only fails the 15mph NO test, all other values and tests pass with no problems (actually better than average). The NO value max is like 430 and the vette is at about 800 both times. Any ideas what to do?

Ben

 

Emissions are covered for 7years or 100000 miles, take it to a dealer that does emission testing.

 

thanks!

 

i assume that's if it is all stock. if it's not you can always do the denatured alchohol trick.

i used to do this in my rx7 and i know it works. first take some high rpm runs up and down a highway, get that cat red hot. you should do this at about 2 gallons left in the tank. then add a gallon of denatured alcohol to the gas tank and take it easy on the way to the smog station. let them do there tests and then after ti passes go to the gas station and fill it up and you're good to go

legal disclaimer...if you blow up your engine doing this dont blame me, it's just for inormational purposes only (but i did do this on my twin turbo rx7 and a buddies integra)

 

Hmmm, maybe you have bad Cats? I know also that your O2's/Cats/Computer have to be in what's called "readiness mode", in otherwords, the car has to have so many ignition cycles and drive time on it before it's in readyness mode....but that probably would have shown up at the emissions station if that was the problem....
good luck, I am sure more will chime in.

 

well I took the car to the local chevy place and it seems like they are gonna rape me, but I will find out for sure tomorrow. The rule is that the PCM and cats have a 8 year 96k mile warranty which I qualify for, and the tech there told me it is a 99% chance the cats are bad, but the guy at the service department told me they would have to invoice me for a $165 diagnosis and then they will decide where to go. I told him I just wanted the cats replaced under warranty and nothing else but he said they dont do that. For some reason I get the feeling that it will either not be the cats or the cats and something else and I have to fix both for them to cover the cats. So either way they are gonna charge me and arm and a leg plus corvette tax, but we will see.

thanks
Ben

 

Don't know what state your in, so let's assume a toughie... California. The NO (nitros oxide) test is relatively new and requires the tires are spinning. If one is borderline this is the one they will fail. Do not replace your O2 sensors, do not replace your cats. Simply run into your friendly local auto parts store and buy a bottle of octane booster There is an alternate, and similar product which states on the bottle "guaranteed to pass smog" buy that one if they have it. Drive a tank full and viola your in the club. Suggest you drive the car hard for a while when running through the soup - you need to clear out carbon build up.

When you go in for the test. The warmer the car is... the better. If your running a low temp thermostat - lose it! If you have a friendly tester he will let the car idle for a while before testing. Lastly check the gear they are using for the test... the higher the rpm, the better you will score.

Summary:

Clean out the carbon build up (chemical and hard driving - lets see if you remember where the red line is)

Heat is your friend.

RPM's are good.

I am confident you will pass with flying colors.

PS. Cats in California are very expensive (I had to replace them on a BMW 840 and it was well over $2,000). You don't just cut out the bad ones and weld in the new.... No that's too easy, in California cars newer than '95 have to replace - are you sitting down - the entire exhaust system. If you can get new ones for $160 from the dealer it may pay divididends in the future.

By the way, on the BMW, even after new cats, I still failed. Ran some smog chemical and drove like I stole it for 100 miles. Passed easy.

 

Thanks for the advice but believe it or not that did not work. I put a bottle of the "guaranteed to pass" in the tank and ran it to the bottom before i tested. I also drove the car down the freeway for about 25 minutes between 2-3 gear running from 3500-6000 rpms the whole time, then took it to the smog place and only waited 5 minutes between the freeway and the actual test. It still failed horribly on the 15mph test. Also, the car was in 1rst gear the whole time.

thanks again for the help though!

Ben

 

how many miles are on the spark plugs? *shrugs* its all i can think of. If you have the origonal factory plugs get rid of them. they're trash. Get yourself some NGK TR55's

Shane

 

got word back from the dealer today, the guy told me that the car is perfect, no problems what so ever and they were not sure why it didnt pass smog before. He said they would smog it there for me and I could pick it up today at 430 for just the 165 diagnostic fee so we shall see. thanks again for all the help guys

Ben

 

/me wonders if they are going to just write a fake smog pass to get you out of the warranty period on those cats.....

Nah, a dealer would never do such a thing

 

This happened to my girlfriend EXACTLY as you described. Under the warranty mentioned above during the two months of re-tests and returning it to the dealership she got 4 new cats (different kind of car), a new PCM, and new 02 sensors. Car still wouldn't pass.

The dealership "elevated" the problem. She was instructed to put premium gas in before the test (which technically is illegal as it has to pass with the gas grade recommended for the engine). Car didn't pass.

After 10, yes 10 smog tests in two months they started over by replacing the new 02 sensors with another set of new sensors. ---THAT WAS THE PROBLEM! One of the original new sensors was defective.

Of course she got to keep the thousands of dollars worth of cats and new PCM.

So, I suggest you have them try another set of O2 sensors. Butt only pay for one!

I wish you luck pal... You in CA? If so, CARB has a program that can reimburse you for your smog repair expenses but here's the clincher........ ya' got to apply for it BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY WORK DONE ON YOUR CAR!!!!!!! That was a real bummer since she agreed to have the shop change her 02 sensors out when they called and said it didn't pass the 1st time. They kinda failed to mention the State run reimbursement program to her.---- Why? Because if your application is accepted the State tells you where to have the car fixed, then picks up the tab; no paperwork for you.

..rickko..

 

more follow up:

dealer said the car passed pretest this morning, but at 4:00 when I showed up the car failed the smog, so now 3 fails in a row. Tech reviews the car and calls be back at 5:40 and says the problem was a heater circuit fuse and the car should pass smog tomorrow.

My personal belief is that they are doing some mickey mouse stuff and are gonna trick the car into passing so they can weasel out of the warranty work, but again we will see. All I need is a smog so the car can be registered and this nightmare can end

Ben

Oh, and yes I am in California

 

Had the same problem. The premium gas, elevated temp. and an oil change cured mine. Good Luck.

 

Find another Dealer!! If your unsure of the dealer your going to I would definitely go somewhere else. Another dealer may treat you better to get your busiiness. Keep us posted. This is getting very interesting. Good luck.