How to Pass Smog

[Pat]

changing the cat will not make the truck run correctly..  you have a real issue.. A properly running efi toyota motor would pass smog(tailpipe) without a cat even on there.. 

[Plekto]

I had an old Volvo years ago that did that and it had a worn cam - so it was dumping fuel out of one cylinder since the valves weren't working on one cylinder at all and it essentially was running along for the ride.  Since it was an inline engine, it idled rough but otherwise ran fine.

ie - it's a bigger issue than smog, most likely, if it's that far off.

[RogueRunner]

Smog Checks in California isn't really that hard to pass at all, I'm a Smog Tech at a family owned and operated shop.  Common reasons for failures on EFI yota's  Timing being to far advanced, you are allowed 3 degrees = or - what the under hood lable says anything more then that you will fail for functional. Tune Ups are a really big help, keep up on the maintainence, good plugs (NGK), wires, cap, rotor and air filter.  Most people seem to always forget the air filter, do an oil change.  Check for vacuum leaks, make sure the O2 sensor is working right, make sure that you take your "trail cat." off of it and put on a good CARB approved cat. convereter.  Remember, ALWAYS CHECK THE BASICS

[86rustbucket]

i just failed in my carberated 86 in california of course, the nox were through the roof.
i was told check the egr     sure as sh*t first thing i checked was the line from the vacuum switch to egr, it was totally plugged  i bypassed it with rubber line and cleaned the crap out of the egr and it passed yesterday quickly, it probably took a couple seconds after he got it up to 15 mph.  
  just check the little things and of course a full tune up never hurts, every two years is probably pretty good timing on that anyway

[superyota]

well, i finally broke down and paid a shop to diagnos it for me.  ended up the timing belt was off on passanger side by 4 teeth, and off by one tooth on the driver side.  guessing whoever i got the motor from didn't know how the change the belt.  fixed that, took it back, hc's were still at 890 ppm, changed the O2 sensor, brought it down to 49 ppm.  passed with flying colors! 

[Pat]

4 teeth, Man I can't believe that..  I would think it would for sure tap the valves that far off

[superyota]

4 teeth, Man I can't believe that..  I would think it would for sure tap the valves that far off

thats what i said.  according to the shop that figured it out, the 3.0 is a non interference motor, so i guess it would be impossible for the valves to hit pistons.

[Pat]

I have seen alot of them non interference heads tap a valve still. All you need is a little carbon build up and wammo   I am glad at least somebody is lucky..     I hate smog time

[Yota4life]

I have a rebuilt 22re with EB head, CAM, and doug thorley header. Just put a new cat on, oil an filter, air filter, sparkplugs, 91oct, and retarted the timming 2 degrees. does that all sound sufficiant enouph to pass smog? I havent tried to smog it in 2 years so i dont really know what to expect. Could the CAM really throw it off?

[superyota]

I have a rebuilt 22re with EB head, CAM, and doug thorley header. Just put a new cat on, oil an filter, air filter, sparkplugs, 91oct, and retarted the timming 2 degrees. does that all sound sufficiant enouph to pass smog? I havent tried to smog it in 2 years so i dont really know what to expect. Could the CAM really throw it off?

depending on how big your cam is, you bet!  if its loping, they probably wont even put the sniffer in it.  does your header have a CARB number on it somewhere?  they will also be looking for that. 

[Yota4life]

depending on how big your cam is, you bet!  if its loping, they probably wont even put the sniffer in it.  does your header have a CARB number on it somewhere?  they will also be looking for that.  

Yeah my header is CA legal and has the plate on it. I have the EB 268cam and u cant even tell its in there. Smooth idle. But i had a hard time today finding a shop that will smog my truck with 37s. So i found one in carmichael an the guy was a A-hole! I had to get papers for my header to prove it was built for my motor. Then i had mentioned to him i put a new cat on it and he said if its not made for the truck then its an auto fail. wtf! Its a new magnaflow cat. If i didnt say anything he would have never checked it he said. i didnt even have him test it at that point. Anyone know a GOOD SMOG shop thats around the Sacramento area?

[superyota]

if the header has a CARB stamp on it, there is no need for paperwork, the guy is giving you a hard time.  as for the cam, if its idleing smooth, you should pass with no problem.  i know california passed a law jan. 09 that called for a different cat, which makes just about every cat not abide by the new law, but if the cat was on there before the law passed, they can't say anything.  don't tell them you just put a new cat on.  i have some friends in sac and roseville area, i'll see if i can get a recomendation on a shop.

[Yota4life]

yea i learned my lesson with the cat. let me know if you find out any half way decent shops so i could at leased get them to test my truck... Thanks man

[emsvitil]

if the header has a CARB stamp on it, there is no need for paperwork, the guy is giving you a hard time.  as for the cam, if its idleing smooth, you should pass with no problem.  i know california passed a law jan. 09 that called for a different cat, which makes just about every cat not abide by the new law, but if the cat was on there before the law passed, they can't say anything.  don't tell them you just put a new cat on.  i have some friends in sac and roseville area, i'll see if i can get a recomendation on a shop.

i.e.   the cat was installed on or before 12/31/2008..............

[Yota4life]

well today was day #3 trying to smog it. Went to a place in roseville and there evap system was broke. Soo i went to another shop and they said they could do it and then told me they arent a test only station. Ridiculous! I have yet to get it ran on a dyno....

[Yota4life]

So i finally got it smogged. Somehow it failed the evap test. I think the filler hose on the tank has a leak but not sure. But here are what my test results came out. Looks like im running super lean. So im replacing the o2 sensor to start. I applied vacume to the EGR and my truck stumbled badly so i assume its working right? I may just replace the EGR modulator. It has a new CAT i just put on but its a magnaflow made for newer vehicles like 1999 Tacoma so i have a feeling its not doing much. The NOX is just sky high!   

                 CO %                  NO
          | max | meas.|    | max | meas.|
15mph   0.87    0.01         1058    749
25mph   1.08    0.01          918    1909!

[Yota4life]

So i replaced the o2 sensor with a new Denso one. Added some backpressure to my exhaust and made sure the EGR was working. Retarted the timming 3 degrees and put a quart of Denatured alcohol in my gas tank. I ended up getting  

                  No
          |max|  |meas.|
15mph   1058     452
25mph    918     1193

I failed again!! So i figured out the outdated highflow cat i have on just isent cutting it with all the new CA legal catalytic converters out. Im going to buy another cat and it should pass just fine this time! But i did pass the evap test this time i got the leak fixed.

[emsvitil]

How old is the cat?

I'm wondering if it's a 2-way (no NOX) and not a 3-way.....


If you're getting a new one, put flanges on it, and just use it for testing.............

[Yota4life]

I just put the cat on like 3 weeks ago... so its new. I was thinking the same thing... it may not be a 3way. This is what i bought.
http://www.car-sound.com/02product/displayuniversal.asp?universal=94105

It isnt California legal there for it probably dosent do much or i would have passed my very first smog test... Live an learn i guess now i know it would be better to live in nevada

I now found the correct CA legal cat. Im going to order it and use it only for testing like u suggested

This site has the best prices i could find with free shipping on Cats. http://www.performancepeddler.com and use the code "bestoffer4em" for a big discount.

[emsvitil]

Looks like it's a 3-way.

http://www.car-sound.com/04basics/04emission.asp


More backpressure needed   
(smaller hole)

Put the restriction after the cat, and still use the restriction with the new cat......

[Yota4life]

Hmmm this is not making much sense then inless the camshaft i have is driving the NOx up at higher rpms. I bet if i ran 35" tires it would help also but i dont have any to run or borrow. Almost like the egr isnt fully working. I could add more denatured alcohol to the gas but im afraid it will mess up my new 02 sensor.

[emsvitil]

What's the engine rpm at 15 and 25?   (should be on test results)

They usually use 2nd gear for both speeds.

What's the rear end ratio?

Is cat installed in the correct direction?      3 ways have a front and rear section.   The front section is for NOX, the rear HC and CO.         Backwards may not work for NOX...........

[Yota4life]

The gears are 5.29s and im running 37" tires.  The test says 15mph-1649prm and 25mph-2668rpm. And i didnt even think the cat was directional when i put it on but it didnt have any markings showing it was directional. Not that i could see... maybe it is on wrong.

[emsvitil]

Some have any arrow indicating flow direction.

If there's an air-injection tube, they come out of the middle and make a 90 degree turn.   This pipe will then point forwards towards the engine.

Without an air-injection tube,    Consider the input to be above any lettering.   i.e. when you're looking at it from underneath,   with head towards engine, feet towards rear axle, you can read the lettering right-side up..........

[Yota4life]

I just went out and looked. The lettering is on the back side of the exhaust. So the exhaust is exiting the side with the writing. Sounds like its on backwards. Think its ruined now?

[emsvitil]

It's not ruined........

[emsvitil]

Put a gauge on the EGR module and see what kind of backpressure you're getting  (big bottom hose)

[Yota4life]

What kind of gauge? I will have to pick one up tomorrow...

[emsvitil]

Fuel pressure/vacuum (dual gauge)

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93547

Heated or unheated O2.    And where is it mounted.

I retrofitted a heated 3-wire to my 86.   Unheated may goto open-loop because it cools down too much because of the headers

Still have the stock exhaust manifolde?

[Yota4life]

ok im going to get that gauge today. I bought the nice Denso o2 sensor, that goes for like 160 bucks, its mounted right before the cat.. and the stock exhaust is long gone. how much vacuum should i be looking for at 2600 rpm?