HELP Massive emissions problems !!!!!!!

[1987cp]

Ah, the joys of emissions testing in Lake County. That shop reminds me of one or two I tried in the area. One guy I liked dealing with is an older dude called Chuck Mertz who runs a place called Valpo Auto Repair. If he's still around, he's down to earth and dislikes vans and front-wheel-drive and to my knowledge is decidedly not known for jerking people around.

Come to think of it, I had an emissions problem on a '90 Cutlass taken care of at the Olds dealer on US 30 in Valpo. They were great - even had the car retested for me and everything.

My off-the-top-of-my-head checklist for the U-fix-it approach:

O2 sensors ... right, they're not terribly expensive and not that bad to replace. Rent a dedicated O2 sensor socket from AutoZone, soak the buggers in PB Blaster, and use a big breaker bar.

Choke pulloff ... I assume you have CFI, and I didn't realize that had a choke ... on the carb'd models, the hot air choke seems to be hard to get working properly. If that's the problem, converting to either electric or manual choke isn't a big deal. Not sure if the emissions goons would like a manual choke, though.

Computer ground ... that ought to be a pretty basic wiring issue, not particularly difficult for you or me to fix and super-easy for a real mechanic.

IAT (intake air temperature) sender ... you'll find that in the intake manifold with a plug going to it, and it's not a particularly expensive part.

And EGR valves *can* just get clogged with carbon and quit working properly. I once got an EGR code to go away on a '94 Corsica by disassembling the valve, soaking it in mineral spirits, and giving everything a good scraping and wire-brushing and spraying with carb cleaner. Of course, Ford EGR valves are different than that one ... definitely listen to everyone's input on that issue.

If you want, my dad still lives in Portage and used to work at one of the steel mills, and I can ask if he knows anyone who knows something that could help.

Just my 2 cents' worth ... good luck!!

[88grandmarq]

does CFI have a air temp sensor? I am not aware of one.

[85crownHPP]

yes they do almost same location as yours in the lower manifold.

When he said "oddball" he was probably talking about the CFI... you dont have to have the choke pulloff, disconnect it if its sticking... tapping the gas does the same thing if that doesnt work something else is wrong. I have a video of how its suppoesd to work in the CFI place........

take the test again with the car warmed up and put some rubbing alcohol in the tank!

[p71towny]

We have emissions testing in Indiana??

[gadget73]

"choke pulloff" is sort of a misnomer in CFI land. It doesn't actually have a choke in the sense that a carb has one, with the plate on top to cut down air. Its just a high idle circuit to assist with warmups, nothing more. It does use the same type of vacuum puller thingy like a carb has, but other than making the idle run a bit high, it won't really do much. On a carb engine, if the choke sticks, it will affect the idle fuel mix, which in turn messes with the emissions.

One other thing, how exactly are your emissions readings done? If they're at idle, the EGR doesn't even function at idle, so it shouldn't even matter. The EGR system operates under part throttle cruise conditions, and is designed to reduce NOx emissions. It doesn't really affect anything else.

If the engine is not completely warmed up when you take it in, you're also not going to get an accurate reading. The catalytics must be hot to function.

[Enigma]

We have emissions testing in Indiana??

yep, two counties, Lake and Porter, up by Chicago.

[1987cp]

One other thing, how exactly are your emissions readings done? If they're at idle, the EGR doesn't even function at idle, so it shouldn't even matter. The EGR system operates under part throttle cruise conditions, and is designed to reduce NOx emissions. It doesn't really affect anything else.

It at least used to be that way in NW Indiana ... sort of. In '96 when my Cutlass failed emissions, the guy had me keep the engine at 2 grand for a few minutes with the sniffer stuff hooked up. Can't remember whether he also tested at idle. In '97 when I got the Mercury, they ran it through its paces on a chassis dyno. I was lucky that time, though, since that car passed the first time around.

I do wish I knew how picky they are about having things present under the hood like California is supposed to be. One of my big paranoias is someday having to move back to that area with no emissions equipment on my cars!

[gadget73]

The first year they implemented smog nazi stuff here they had people opening hoods, but the 20something year old large breasted female that was looking under the hood didn't exactly strike me as checking too close for smog equipment. That, or she was good enough to be able to know all the smog controls were there in about 30 seconds. They quit putting on a show after a while. They also quit with the chassis dyno for 1996+ vehicles. As long as the CEL is not on, and the computer check doesn't tell them anything bad, it passes. 1980-1996 I think get the chassis dyno, and older get the idle sniffer. The Lincoln passes with no smog pump present and a hyperactive EGR system.

[1987cp]

The first year they implemented smog nazi stuff here they had people opening hoods, but the 20something year old large breasted female that was looking under the hood didn't exactly strike me as checking too close for smog equipment.

Boy, I know exactly what you mean! I'm quite amused at the kind of people I saw in positions where they were telling me whether my car was functioning correctly.

BTW, what part of the country do you live in?

[Mangjura]

To testy her they put the sniffer on & run it on a dyno type set up.

Past two tests I failed I was on the highway for about a half hour to an hour at about 80 to 90 mph before the test.... if she wasnt warm then she ain't gonna get warm.

If any of you have realitives neare here or friends or anything that can help PLEASE let them know.

My temp plates are now expired & I NEED to get her fixed soon / NOW or I will need to sell her. The town of Whiting does not like expired plates & she will be towed!

& Yes p71Towny, Indiana does have testing. Expecially up here near Chicago

[1987cp]

I did find out that Valpo Auto Repair seems to still be there, but not sure whether Chuck is still there. I'd really suggest giving them a call if you want to farm out the work. If my info is correct, their address is 309 Evans and the phone is (219) 464-2917. From Lake Station, I always took 130 into town and then north on either Campbell or Calumet Ave. It's on Evans well west of Calumet and just slightly east of Campbell.

No promises, but I'll try to find out tomorrow whether my dad knows anything or anyone else that could be of assistance. There is a place in Portage called Reeders that has good things said about them, so you might look them up also. If you want, give my cell a call tomorrow night - 517-775-0290 - and just maybe I can help a little.

[1987cp]

Come to think of it, I used to work with a couple of car guys at the Miner-Dunn diner in Merrillville back in '96 and '97. Names were Josh Cook (had an '87 Regal T type) and Ben Payer (got himself a rusty '78 Blazer). Josh had a turbo Regal buddy who ran a small speed shop in Merrillville or somewhere, but now I don't even remember the guy's name. Haven't talked to either of my old coworkers in about 10 years ... they'd be about 28 years old now. Wonder if there's a way I could look one of them up ...

[gadget73]

Boy, I know exactly what you mean! I'm quite amused at the kind of people I saw in positions where they were telling me whether my car was functioning correctly.

BTW, what part of the country do you live in?

Southern New Jersey. We got smog nazi'd about 8 or 9 years ago now. They tried to dyno my Beetle, which wasn't supposed to get the test. They were part way though hooking it up, and even had the fan in front of the car to help cool it. Its air cooled. hehe.

[ss_mini14]

i love smog nazi's, typicaly around here its bosnian refugee's who wouldn't know emmission equipment from an a/c compressor. last time i went through emissions with my old toyota it passed without a smog pump or an operational EGR valve (i found out it had been previously plugged with a soda bottle cap and epoxy when i removed it).they checked for a cat but never noticed the gaping exhaust leaks between the header and the cat. i've since registered both vehicles out of town so i don't have to worry about it.

[1987cp]

i love smog nazi's, typicaly around here its bosnian refugee's who wouldn't know emmission equipment from an a/c compressor. last time i went through emissions with my old toyota it passed without a smog pump or an operational EGR valve (i found out it had been previously plugged with a soda bottle cap and epoxy when i removed it).they checked for a cat but never noticed the gaping exhaust leaks between the header and the cat. i've since registered both vehicles out of town so i don't have to worry about it.

:lol: