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Sorry, not sure why all the extraneous charactors appeared when I posted this yesterday, but try, try again...
My ’86 900T has had problems passing smog in the past. As a high emitter profile vehicle, I always get directed to a test only station. It fails, I fill out the CAP paperwork, and after approval, take it to a CAP certified repair shop, and pay the $100 deductible. (the state pays for up to $500 worth of smog related repairs) The repair shop always comes up a repair bill of right around $599.99, and miraculously the car passes! As of Jan 1, they have discontinued that part the program. Now it’s based only on low income eligibility. Budget cuts. I get it, Fine. Although, they still offer the $1000 retirement credit. Sorry, just can’t do it.
Two years ago, the last time I had to get the car smogged, I drove it down to my friendly local test-only station. The technician gave it a quick look over and pointed out the hole in my muffler and told me he probably wouldn’t be able to complete the test because of it. I was also having trouble the my battery, having to jump start the car every time. I thought it was likely the charging system. I was working out of town at the time, so out of pure convenience I dropped it off at the local gas station/garage in our neighborhood and asked them to take a look the charging issue and that I needed to get it smogged, but the smog guy thought the hole in muffler would be a problem. They told me that the muffler wasn’t a problem and they that smog guy didn’t know what he was talking about. (I thought to myself hmmm) So they kept it for the week. It turned out to be a battery, but of course they found a whole bunch of other things that had to be fixed. There was a problem with the fuel line and they ended up running some kind of cleaner through the engine, changed the plugs, and I can’t remember what else. The following Saturday, I picked up the car and $600+ later, It ran pretty well! The next day, to try to minimize the muffler issue, I fabricated a custom piece of galvanized metal and strapped it over the hole in the muffler with a couple of long stainless band clamps. While I was away working the next week, my dear wife was kind enough to run the car back to the smog guy… and it passed. Knowing her, she drove directly to the shop, about a mile away. There is no way that she drove the car any extra distance to warm it up, but it passed.
Fast forward two years. I did not yet mention that I do not drive this car enough! Occasional short Sunday afternoon drives around the twisty hills in the neighborhood or a drive to the beach and back. Anyway, it only has only been driven 467 miles since the last smog check! (disgusting but true) This time I decided to go ahead and change that muffler, as it did seem like it has deteriorated from the last time. I drove it down the my friendly test-only and FAIL! It passed the 25 mph test, but failed at 15 mph.
15 mph HC: 95 max, 152 meas CO% .58 max, .56 meas NO: 864 max,1653 meas
25 mph HC: 77 max, 77 meas CO% .44 max, .18 meas NO: 676 max,630 meas
Any advice on what to do next before I retest? I’m thinking fresh tank of premium gasoline is a given, and to make sure the car is really warmed up. I can’t imagine what else could have changed in 467 miles!
posted by 72.207.118...
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