PASSED CA Smog - Just Not the First Time

[shadetreemech]

The PO passed CA Smog a couple years ago when I bought my '88 Westy. This July it was my turn.

Got on The Samba and searched titles in the Vanagon Forum for "CA Smog". Bought and installed new NGK BP6ET plugs, new distributor cap, rotor, Temp II sensor, air & fuel filters.

Looked up tencentlife's "All-In Timing" essay and set the Van's timing at 40 degrees advanced at 3,000 rpm. Also set the idle at 880.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=261067

Figured I was stylin' & ready to go. Drove around on City streets for about a hal an hour, pulled into the Smog Chek station when it opened at 9 am.

20 minutes later the Van was in the red for Hydrocarbons at 173 ppm, green for 02 at 0.5, speed was 16.1, CO red at .87 and in the red at 1763 ppm for NOx. The rest were in the green. Looking at the NOx I'm thinking Catalytic Converter.

Last October, GoWesty had a California Cat on sale for $312.76. That's over $50 off, I bought one. It's been sitting unopened in my garage waiting for just such an occasion.

Pulled the old Cat:

Well, that's no bueno

Installed the new Cat:

Found a helpful topic for adjusting fuel mixture on The Samba here:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=356377

Cherry-picked info from various sources and performed adjustments until I gained a high degree of confidence my Van could pass the freakin' California Smog Test. Went back in at 9 this morning.

Results: in the green for Hydrocarbons at 8 ppm, green for 02 at 0., speed was 16.1, CO green at 0.01 and in the green at 1.0 ppm for NOx. The rest were in the green. The Van passed.

What I learned: Once I had the results of the first test, I had an idea of what needed to be replaced or adjusted. Did some Googling, chased some questions, fell back A LOT on The Samba and ultimately did the required wrenching. I felt tacit support from a group of folks with similar interests.

Thank you all.

Dan
_________________
'84 GL 1.9
'01 Volvo V70 T5
'88 Westy - "MZDRTHY"

[jlrftype7]

That Cat Converter had seen better days...
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[shadetreemech]

[silversync]

Thought I'd add to this thread my recent smog failure and then passing.

First test, I did nothing to prepare. It has been running well and figured I'd give it a try. Failed only one thing: High HC at Idle (measured 208 vs. 120 is the max).

Measures to correct:

My smog guy said "don't use ARCO Gas" (or Valero, same company). He's told me that before, I forgot.
Bottle of "Guaranteed to Pass" fuel treatment in a full tank from Shell. Drove off about 3/4 of the tank.
Called Markswagen (gotta love San Diego) and he installed new spark plugs, smoke test for vacuum leak, some AFM and other idle adjustments (not sure of the whole list). Spark plugs were about 9 years old.
Made appointment for an early morning test, ambient air is cooler and denser.
Drove it for 45 minutes before the test to heat up the Cat.

Retest: all emissions passed, but it failed again. This time because the coolant burped some from the overflow tank and it dripped on the garage floor. Automatic failure.

2nd retest: I simply didn't top up the coolant, and then it passed.

Other notes:
- my CA Cat is about 8 years old, so I guess it is good. Before that I tried for some years to go on the cheap with the non-CA Cat and it sometimes worked. Bottom line, we have to bite the bullet and always use the CA Cat.
- I actually believe that "Guranteed to Pass" helped get it done.
- Reminder: don't use ARCO gas prior to a smog test.
- Thanked my smog guy and "see you again in 2 years". He replied that there is currently a new proposed bill in CA that will require smog testing every year (probably because the treasury is running empty, has nothing to do with cleaner air).
_________________
Roland: '89 Syncro, '02 911 C4S, '10 Audi A4 Avant

[4Gears4Tires]

I would investigate why it burped coolant from the overflow tank. That should only happen if the overflow tank was completely full, which, unless something is wrong shouldn't happen. You might have a fire ring leak (like I probably do.) Are you regularly adding coolant?

I saw the term Wasserleaker in a thread earlier. I think it's accurate.
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[silversync]