SF East Bay (925): need to borrow s13 catalytic converter for smog

[gripster]

Concord/Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek folks:

*Update 10-21 I don't need to borrow a cat*

1st test: passed 15 and 25 mph tests with flying colors -- failed the timing check and idle was kinda high.

2nd test: passed 15 mph but failed 25 mph test -- idle was right, but timing was still off. Hydrocarbon was 1 point above Max allowed in the 25 mph test.

Timing is now at 15 degrees BTDC, idle at 900 rpm (i'm changing out the IAAC thursday to get to 700 rpm idle) but i'm worried that it is still running rich (I can smell it).

Engine has:
New catalytic converter
newish O2 sensor
new spark plugs
new oil, oil filter

Can anybody refer me to a smog test shop that will *pass* my car. I would greatly appreciate it since i don't want to put any more miles on my IS, not to mention it's getting expensive with premium gas.


I dropped in a new used KA24E motor in my s13, now i need to smog it.

My car is completely stock, and i need to get it registered to use as my daily driver. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Flipzide]

if nobody offers, you can try to use a Magnaflow Cat..

i used a 3" magnaflow cat for my smog in august and passed with flying colors.

[gripster]

Need recommendations for smog only shops that will *pass* my car. See post #1.

[projekt_s13]

I will ask around,see if any of my friends have a cat laying around.
BTW Im from the 925 area also.

[!Zar!]

Take a can of throttle body cleaner and spray it into the egr valve and all it's lines.

That'll lower your some of your emission problems.

Also check and clean your maf with maf cleaner. Look for any leaks in your intake system. Because if it's sucking in more air than what's accounted for, that will cause it to run rich.

[BigVinnie]

If your all legit take it to Tony at the 76station on willow pass road in concord. He isn't a test only station but he will help you out, Tell him that Vince with the 91 240 coupe sent ya.
I would assume that if you have installed a new cat you should pass. Thats if you are not using a high flow CATCO. My engine didn't pass with the high flow catco so I put the stock CAT back in.
But what you described to me from idle being off and that it's hard to compensate for timing at idle I would have to guess that it is your vacuum lines, and quite possibly the lines that run to evaporative emissions, egr/bpt.
Then I would assume the egr temp sensor, then I would assum it is the MAF, or AIV if all else fails.

I would assume that if your hydrocarbons are high you might want to change out your carbon canister it deals with evaporative emissions, and if the carbon canister isn't working HC's can be a bit higher than normal.
Also check vacuum on the AIV, because if the AIV isn't pre heating your new CAT it isn't handling the gas conversion process as well.

Tony has all the equipment needed to check all vacuum lines while he runs the engine through the RPMS, it's a good way to check for signs of leaky vacuum.
Also it may be wise to check your EGR temp sensor. What you want to do is get an OHM tester. Put the sensor in boiling hot water at 212*F. The OHM indication should read 83.5 @ 200OhMs, and 8.35 @ 20 Ohms. Thats the test I did on my DE, you may want to check Ohm impedance in the FSM for the SOHC engine to see if it is different.

After Tony gets you to pass then take it to Bayside Smog a test Only talk to Melvin Nisthal, his shop is 2 blocks down from Tony's on willow pass road.

Also make a note lower octane rated fuels drops your HC levels. Usually octane a derivative of Toulene, makes more HC, CO's. I used 87 octane on my DE and passed smog better than using the 91 octane. It was a test that Tony and myself tried out. In conclusion, less octane rated fuels have less HC, and CO's at burn off than higher octane fuels. Using 91 octane I was a few points higher than using the 87octane.

[midnightouge]

i have one you can borrow, im from pittsburg so let me know if you still need it

[gripster]

thanks for the cat offers, i got a stock size cat from an acquaintance.

Someone tested the IACV. He plugged it up and the car dies. He says a good IACV won't let the car die. Is this correct? Plus I, or we, couldn't adjust the idle to 700 rpms. Lowest it will go was 900 rpms. So they concluded that IACV was done.

I used 89 octane for my test. didn't know it will raise HCs. Thanks for the info.

[s13DrOop]

i needed smog my car before november too. i need wire harness 3-plug for the MAF as well intake temp bung. or your car.