Another CA SMOG Evap test fail ('84 1.9l WBX)

[fxr]

Emissions - fine.

Evap test - fail. This is a year after I replaced all lines and grommets in the fuel system.

The tech (who appeared perfectly OK with testing a Vanagon, BTDTGTTS he said) says he clamped a line near the charcoal canister, then pressurised the system to just over 1 PSI via a special replacement fuel filler cap. My problem is that I can't see any line near the charcoal canister that could be clamped - they're all hard plastic. There is a short rubber hose join in the vent tube to the canister half-way along that might be suitable - but there's no sign of a clamp having been used there.

However - that join is the perfect place to do a bit of DIY testing - I could perhaps add a bit of pressure there back to the tank and see where any leaks are.

Hrrmph...
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[bluebus86]

find a smog place that does not own the correct adaptor cap for the vanagon and they will enter NA for the evap test and you pass. some smog places evidently stock a wider range of adaptor caps than others. I got two classic cars one the vanagon that never get the evap test cause the palce I go to does not have the cap!!!! the vangon fuel cap is some what unique, so some palce just dont have a cap for it. I am in the greated san fransisco bay area also, so you should be able to find a place that will give you a passing NA and then you are good to al it will aslo save you some money in some cases as some shops charge extra for the evap test.

so shop around, ask them before the retest if they have the cap or not.

since you have aleady failed, you may have to get a passing test, but next time in two years when the test time arrives, search out a shop that dont have a cap that fits the van.

good luck
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[termuehlen]

Oh boy, this is such a fun topic. I went through this when I got a BAR sticker for my Subaru conversion.

Vanagons are considered N/A (not applicable) for the evap test for CA smog. Since the lines are hard from the charcoal canister to the fuel tank, there is no readily achievable way to isolate the system without making modifications. Therefore, you should get a pass with N/A. I think it is very likely that your tech put a clamp on the hard line and detected a pressure leak, because he didn't actually isolate the system. I would go to another smog station and hope they look up to see that the evap test for Vanagons is N/A and you can move right along.
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[termuehlen]

This thread includes my post regarding the evap adventure I went through...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...california
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[stevey88]

There is no place near the canister that can be clamped. The line is hard plastic, clamping it will damage it. Go to this test station:

http://starsmogcheckredwoodcity.com/

They understand vanagon and will not fail you on the evap system.
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Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

[fxr]

[termuehlen]

When I finally went through my entire evap system I ended up disconnecting the hard line at the charcoal canister that goes to the gas tank, attaching a piece of flexible hose, and then I blew into the hose and clamped it off (didn't taste good). You only want 1 or 2 psi. You could be elaborate and attach a tee with a very low pressure guage and you could even use a bike pump but put very little pressure on it. 1 or 2 psi only! If it holds pressure for a few minutes, you are good to go.
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[bluebus86]

trans auto repair in redwood city knows how to smog the vanagon, great service, they wont be trying to clamp a hard plastic line. been getting my van done there for years. 50 bucks out the door. they also are the only place I could find to smog my triumph. lots of shops dont even know triump even made cars, much less are able to smog them properly. Trans really knows it stuff. multi generation father son bussiness, great people, honest, fast efficient, they will do your vanagon right.


link...
http://m.yelp.com/biz/trans-auto-repair-redwood-city
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[fxr]

[bluebus86]

[fxr]

It's in the system as having failed - so it'll apparently need to get an actual pass this time round. Next time - another place.

I'm not going to bad-mouth this place unless he says he clamped the hard line. If he did clamp at the rubber hose join half-way to the canister, then it was a fair test - even if some more sympathetic shops would have N/A'd it.
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[fxr]

Had a good long chat with the guy yesterday. He first tried clamping the rubber hose join - gross pressure loss. As a last resort he then tried clamping the hard line nearer the tank - same result. He showed me where he'd clamped it - no damage thank goodness. He was fully aware of the potential problems in doing this, but said he'd had many words with BAR about it previously (this applies to several other vehicle makes), and they were apparently adamant that if it was possible to clamp a line, it should be done, even if more than the prescribed 8" from the charcoal canister.

As my van had passed the Evap test a couple of years ago at the same station, he was not prepared to N/A it this time round. If it was spotted by BAR (and apparently they do random checks on results) he'd have some difficult explaining to do.

Anyway, as it *can* pass the test if everything is tickety-boo, I'm damn well doing to rig up some system so I can easily test it myself. A nice little challenge.
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[bluebus86]

[fxr]

I bought a low-pressure gauge and a couple of fittings from Home depot for ~$14. I used odd bits of tubing to mate it all up.

I attached a hose directly to the hard line from the tank where it goes into the rubber join.

The good news - the Evap Crap takes over 10 minutes to leak from 1.5psi down to 1psi. I hadn't touched any other join, pipe, seal or the gas cap.

Now to convince the SMOG nazis.
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[fxr]

I fitted a hose clamp around the rubber join on the hard plastic line, and took the van in for testing again. I asked for the Evap Crap to be tested first - and it passed with flying colours. It would seem that it was that join that was leaking first time round. All done and dusted, and having chatted with the tech/owner I'm very happy to recommend them for anyone wanting their Vanagon properly SMOG tested without resorting to work-arounds. As a STAR certified station they are not allowed to do repairs (or even recommend repair places) but they were very happy to have spelled out exactly what they did first time round, and what the problems might have been (including that join...).

So for SF (far) East Bay folk, Pacheco Smog are one of the very few places locally that will SMOG Vanagons, but don't hope for them to cut any corners or 'interpret' any rules.

http://pachecosmog.com/
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300