1982 AC California Smog Test Failure

[Chris in Santa Cruz, CA]

Just tried to smog the engine I built up and it passed the HC (hydro-carbons) with flying colors and failed miserably on the CO%.

Can this just be the rattling bad catalytic converter or is it something more serious like the perhaps someone goofed with the AFM?

It almost passed CO at idle but blew "Gross Polluter" at 2500 RPM.

It is tuned to factory spec except the idle mixture which is out 4.5 turns from "all the way in".
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current:Bugatti Type 35 kit car (74 beetle), 1972 Thing

previous: 1965 1500 Variant S (first car), 1976 Westfalia, 1978 Bus, 1982 Vanagon

[Randy in Maine]

Have you spent some time with a wideband exhaust gas sniffer (like an LM1)?


I really don't like playing around with the fine adjustment knob without having the LM1 hooked up so you can see just what you are changing.

[Jon_slider]

> Can this just be the rattling bad catalytic converter

I have known good spare cat you can have

Jonathan in Santa Cruz
505-690-5468

[Low67vdubinnocal]

[reluctantartist]

Is this a Cali or Fed setup?If Cal..check the Oxy sensor and yes could be need a new CAT as well. If you have an Oxy you can check it at idle to see if it is close to .5 volts. It will bounce around but on average it should be close to that if not you adjust the Air fuel mixture accordingly. Randy has best advice find someone with an LM1 and adjust the Air fuel mixture with that.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

[RCB]

Be sure to measure the cat you have now. If Im not mistaken the cat fits between the heater box and the crossover pipe. Mine measures 12 1/2" from flange to flange and its a 1982 California Westy.

Some of the so-called direct fit cats are too small (by about 1") Even the new CARB approved cats (DEC-Benchmark) that are marketed as direct fit for the 82"s are also too short to properly fit.

I suppose the other option is to get a universal fit and have the whole kitten ka-boodle welded into place....OR get a universal fit, weld two flanges on it ..and create your own "direct fit" cat.

[Chris in Santa Cruz, CA]

I took Jonathan up on his, yes "very cool" offer. Thanks J in SC! Do you like good salsa?

I just need to weld a tri-star like flange to my muffler so it will fit.

This is a Colorado or "Federal" Vanagon. Closed loop system with no O2 sensor but it has the EGR set-up on it for which I have collected 3 or 4 spare "valves". However I have heard of people taking this off and still having it "Pass" the EGR inspection in California. True?

The numbers of the CO% it blew are 2.36% at idle and 3.58% at 2500rpms.
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current:Bugatti Type 35 kit car (74 beetle), 1972 Thing

previous: 1965 1500 Variant S (first car), 1976 Westfalia, 1978 Bus, 1982 Vanagon

[Randy in Maine]

Somebody in the Santa Cruz area has to have a wide band exhaust gas analylyzer.

You need to find that person or shop and dial in the FI. YOu are likely to get better mileage and power also.

[RCB]

Most smoggers have no idea of what they are looking at or looking for when it comes to the Vanagons. The visual inspection usually consists of someone waving a flash light in a figure 8 motion and while this maneuver looks impressive, it does give the savy Vanagon owner an insight as to the smoggers IQ.

This is the kinda smogger your looking for. The machines themselves dont lie (unless they havent been recently callibrated) so if your numbers are off the wall..you need to remedy the reason they are off the wall.

The visual test however is another story. If the smogger actually notices a missing puzzle part, they might inspect your van with a fine tooth comb.

[Jon_slider]

I love salsa!

try
John Rood Smog & Repairs
1050 17th Ave # A
Santa Cruz CA
1-831-464-8150

they are a true dont pass dont pay, and will try to tweak it to pass.. excellent service!

[Chris in Santa Cruz, CA]

Sorry, its an open loop system.

Thanks for all the advice its much appreciated.

Jonathan, salsa is coming your way.
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current:Bugatti Type 35 kit car (74 beetle), 1972 Thing

previous: 1965 1500 Variant S (first car), 1976 Westfalia, 1978 Bus, 1982 Vanagon

[Chris in Santa Cruz, CA]

Success yesterday on the smog cert. Legal!

I just went to a smog guy. He ran his smog machine in "manual" mode while I tweaked things (3 teeth CW on the AFM spring). It ran cleaner above 2500 RPM (CO 1.7%) than at 2300 (CO 2.3%).

I then went to a smog "test only" station and told the tech to run the high RPM test at 2650. All went well though when I drove in they all went running for the exits and tried to initially charge me a ton. I said a test is a test and I didn;t need them to turn any wrenches. They were stunned when it passed.

Thanks to everyone's advice and Jonathan for the cat. I would be very curious to run this on a dyno to see what the numbers are.
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current:Bugatti Type 35 kit car (74 beetle), 1972 Thing

previous: 1965 1500 Variant S (first car), 1976 Westfalia, 1978 Bus, 1982 Vanagon

[CQ]

Hip hip hooray! Another sucessful smog check!
Congrats!
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82 Westy 'Betsy'
72 Bus 'Bertha' -Sold
Learning about 2.0L AFC Everyday.

[RCB]

Congratulations Chris, thats great news.