Failed Emissions in Illinois!
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 54
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From: Lindenhurst IL
Failed Emissions in Illinois!
First let me start off by saying my '98 didn't technically fail, but was rejected because all the OBD sensors were not ready. My Battery died during winter storage so I had to replace with a new Optima. Because of this the sensors had to reset themselves. Unfortunately all but 3 were in working order. A/C refig. sensor, O2 sensors, and Cat heat sensors. The A/C sensor reset itself after some driving but the O2's had to be replaced, so now that sensor is in working order again. Now here's the tough one. The cat heat sensor still has not reset, the cats were replaced per GM after a few calls from the service manager but still not working. Almost 1000 miles have been put on the car since the repairs were made and still nothing. It's been at the shop for almost a month a now and it's driving me 
The service manager is a friend of mine and tells me that they have done everything that they can or know of anyways, they have another call into GM to try and figure out what to do. Has anyone run into anything like this before? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Oh yeah, the biggest kick in the nutz is that they installed my new B&B Bullets and new Motorsports rims on the car when I first brought it in a month ago
At least it'll look and sound good in the service lot 
The service manager is a friend of mine and tells me that they have done everything that they can or know of anyways, they have another call into GM to try and figure out what to do. Has anyone run into anything like this before? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.Oh yeah, the biggest kick in the nutz is that they installed my new B&B Bullets and new Motorsports rims on the car when I first brought it in a month ago
At least it'll look and sound good in the service lot
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 33
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You did not mention what mods the car has and they may be effecting the O2 heater tests in not allowing O2 to get hot enough.
You could wrap the O2s to retain more heat and see if that helps. Under EPA rules a 1998 model is allowed to have up to 2 I/M tests be in a non complete state so if that one test is the only issue by rights they should pass the car if the SES light is off.
You could have someone with a PCM tuner product turn off those tests so they will go into a complete/passed state.
Some of these tests take up to 40 drive cycles so maybe the problem is fixed but just has not seen enough cold/hot drives to get test into a completed state.
You could wrap the O2s to retain more heat and see if that helps. Under EPA rules a 1998 model is allowed to have up to 2 I/M tests be in a non complete state so if that one test is the only issue by rights they should pass the car if the SES light is off.
You could have someone with a PCM tuner product turn off those tests so they will go into a complete/passed state.
Some of these tests take up to 40 drive cycles so maybe the problem is fixed but just has not seen enough cold/hot drives to get test into a completed state.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
It takes many cold starts that are brought up to operating temp to complete the testing in the computer... are you sure they are starting it up in the morning and then taking it out for drives and then letting it cool down completely before taking it out again?
VR
VR
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,607
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From: San Francisco CA
What trouble code(s) are coming up? There isn't a trouble code for "cat heat sensors" in the service manual and I can't find reference to "cat heat sensors" in the service manual at all.
O2 sensors do have a heater circuit within them so that they can perform their function. Is this what you are refering to? If so, it may be a fuse needs to be replaced if it is affecting both rear O2 sensors. It may also be that you have a wiring problem to the O2 sensor heaters.
Bottom line is that I need to know the codes that are coming up to help you.
O2 sensors do have a heater circuit within them so that they can perform their function. Is this what you are refering to? If so, it may be a fuse needs to be replaced if it is affecting both rear O2 sensors. It may also be that you have a wiring problem to the O2 sensor heaters.
Bottom line is that I need to know the codes that are coming up to help you.
Last edited by SFVetteman; May 25, 2005 at 02:10 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Havin' fun in Frederick, MD!!!
St. Jude Donor '05 '09
Take the report from the dealer to the emissions folks to show that you and the dealer have done every thing you could to pass. They shouldn't be able to prevent a vehicle from being on the road when it is not possible to fix it.
