Emissions Failure

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Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Emissions Failure

Post by Water Boy »

Last year it took me 4 tries to pass emissions.

This year, failed again. ](*,)

25/25 test
Test / Allowed / Actual
HC / 184 / 268 = failed
CO / 2.29 / 0.80
NO / 1195 / 692
CO+CO / 6.0 min / 15.4

50/15 test
Test / Allowed / Actual
HC / 188 / 259 = failed
CO / 1.69 / 0.77
NO / 1300 / 721
CO+CO / 6.0 min / 15.5

Ya'll's thought ? ? ?
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.
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v8famvan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: British Columbia

Post by v8famvan »

If I could see the O2 levels at the time of testing, I would probably see that they are too high, indicating the need for a catalytic convertor replacement. That would be my guess.
James from B.C.
1992 Safari - R.I.P.
GM Grand Master Techncian

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

I believe that it has the original cat.
If I get what my mufler shop says to get, ohhhh BIG $$$.

Or, I could get a Catco or a "performance" cat from Summit which are at least 1/2 the size of what is on there now.

Yes, it is just money. But when I fillup with gas, I double the value of the van. So any $ spent is a big deal in relation to its' value.
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.
User avatar

v8famvan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: British Columbia

Post by v8famvan »

Don't cheap out on the cat if you want it to last or you might be replacing it again next year. Seen it to often that a customer has had the cat convertor replaced & comes to us the next year & is suprised when we tell them that it needs to be replaced. They respond with "I just had it replaced last year!" Sure enough, it is dead & replacing it with a better quality one fixes it up.

Just some info for you to chew on, balance it out with how long you expect to keep the vehicle.
James from B.C.
1992 Safari - R.I.P.
GM Grand Master Techncian

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

Talked to another shop.
The computer thinks it needs to run rich.

A) temp sensor is reading *cold*.
Which temp sensor is the 'puter sensor?

B) TPS is not right as in it could be telling the 'puter it is open more than it really is.

Volt readings for the TPS?

Hummmm.

Thanks in advance.
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

Well, decided to do a tuneup.
Installed MSD wires
http://www.msdignition.com/wire_2.htm
I wrapped each wire with 3/8" convoluted tubing to give it that extra gap.

MSD coil
http://www.msdignition.com/coil_blaster_5_8226.htm
Had to grind off the rivets of the mounting bracket on the OEM coil to transfer to the MSD. MSD did include the needed screws to reattach the OEM bracket to the new coil.

Used AcDelco cap and rotor and plugs (CR43TS) gapped 0.35 per the OEM sticker.

Can't find my camera. Need to add pics. Wnat to show ya some wire issues and #3 and #5 plugs.

Checked the ignition timing. With the wire unplugged it is sitting dead on at zero.

Test drove with the doghouse off.
Still have the dam ignition noise in my AM radio along with other sounds. Engine knocks almost all of the time. Under 1/2 and 3/4 throttle acceleration mostly even with using mid-grade gas. Not as bad as a diesel but noticable.

And, of course, the locking tabs on the connectors broke off instead of flexing open. Brittle.

While working on the driver's side, I touched something and parts of brittle tubing fell to the ground. The vac hose from the cruise control to the firewall behind the battery was the line that crumbled to the touch. Since the cruise does not work, I just bypassed it by making a splice of the two vac lines.

Any thoughts ???
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

UPDATE

See above... cap / rotor / coil / wires / plugs

Ran it thru the E-test again....Temp needle was past middle in the last white bar before the yellow.

FAILED

25/25 test
Test / Allowed / Actual T1 / T2
HC / 184 / 268 /248 = failed
CO / 2.29 / 0.80 / 0.52
NO / 1195 / 692 / 755
CO+CO / 6.0 min / 15.4 / 15.1

50/15 test
Test / Allowed / Actual T1 / T2
HC / 188 / 259 / 235 = failed
CO / 1.69 / 0.77 / 0.48
NO / 1300 / 721 / 738
CO+CO / 6.0 min / 15.5 / 15.2
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

I add about 1-1/2 to 2 quarts (1.419529425 Canadian to 1.8927059 Canadian) of oil in 400 miles (643.7376 Canadian). It does not drip hardly any oil. The morning puff is bad. As well as sometimes after it sits during the day. Valve SEALS SEALS SEALS. Does not trail smoke going down the road.

Thought I already checked for vac leaks.
Bought a knock sensor yesterday.
Bought a 'puter temp sensor yesterday.
Will look at the MAP.
Will look at the TPS.
Replaced the injectors last May.
I run 2-3 bottles (at once) of Walmart cleaner about once a month or so.
A new econo cat is $200.00 installed.
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

:D :D :D :D

25/25 test
Test / Allowed / Actual T1 / T2 / T3
HC / 184 / 268 /248 / 156
CO / 2.29 / 0.80 / 0.52 / 0.21
NO / 1195 / 692 / 755 / 287
CO+CO / 6.0 min / 15.4 / 15.1 / 15.2

50/15 test
Test / Allowed / Actual T1 / T2 / T3
HC / 188 / 259 / 235 / 181
CO / 1.69 / 0.77 / 0.48 / 0.31
NO / 1300 / 721 / 738 / 429
CO+CO / 6.0 min / 15.5 / 15.2 / 15.2

Had a friend with a scan tool to read the ALDL. It showed the O2 sensor reading was barely moving at idle. It should be swinging "rich / lean / rich / lean etc." And it should be cycling more often.

Installed an AcDelco O2 sensor for $34.00 USD (36.7268 CAD). The theory is that the large amount of oil burning made the O2 sensor to not work as it should.

I still have to get that HC 181 down because I plan to run it thru the E-test in June. Some clause in the rules allows an E-test to be valid for 12 months. So I "pass" the E-test in June '07 and use that for May '08 tag renewal, just in case I still own the van next May.

Still want to work on the constant pinging.
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.

fingernipp
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:15 pm

Post by fingernipp »

Are you sure its a detonation knock you hear? Typically with detonation you get heat but your NOX numbers are pretty low. Maybe lifter noise?

Topic author
Water Boy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Canton/Holly Springs GA (Atlanta)

Post by Water Boy »

Nope, not lifter noise.

Did replace the knock sensor recently.
Still knocks/pings....

Wonder if it is the Spark Control thingy ???
I was told getting my beauty sleep was a waste of time.

1990 Astro (Z motor) mostly original @ 343,584 miles (552,944.8488960001 Canadian) (03/2008). Bad startup puff. Starting to spray for skeeters. Gone 06/07/08.
1993 Astro with a bad W motor. Parked next to a chicken coop in Talking Rock GA
I'm 'tween Canton and Holly Springs (North NorthWest of Atlanta GA)
I haul bottled water everyday- between 500 and 2500 pounds (226.796185 and 1,133.980925 Canadian) INSIDE the van.
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