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3800 Failed Emissions Test


ZeroDCX

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1992 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Series 1: (3800 Series 1 cars were egr-less in 1992, but received them in 1993).

 

The first time I took the test, I got:

 

Limit/Reading Limit/Reading

HC 72/101 FAIL HC 79/231 FAIL

CO 0.29/0.17 PASS CO 0.42/1.04 FAIL

NO 947/608 PASS NO 921/1164 FAIL

At 15mph At 25mph

 

After this, I changed the Crankshaft Position Sensor, Camshaft Position Sensor, Coolant Temperature Sensor, PCV Value, Plugs, Wires, changed my oil twice, Ran Seafoam throughout the intake, cleaned my injectors manually, and changed a believed to be bad coil. I did have some seafoam in my gastank at the time of my second test. (I didn't have time to completely run it dry and refill with fresh gas, to get my free retest ... so I just took it anyway).

 

The second time my readings were:

 

Limit/Reading Limit/Reading

HC 72/248 FAIL HC 79/298 FAIL

CO 0.29/1.06 FAIL CO 0.42/0.95 FAIL

NO 947/1721 FAIL NO 921/1570 FAIL

At 15mph At 25mph

 

Does anyone have an idea outside of what I've already done to my car, that could be wrong with it? It runs very nicely, I'm getting no codes from the SES light at all ... nothing. I'm thinking that the seafoam still in the system can make it fail also. I did note that during the ASM2 Tailpipe Emissons Inspection, under load after 3 minutes during the test, there was a little burned smell coming from my exhaust and a faint bit of smoke after the test was finished. Any ideas?

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If your rings aren't sealing well, you're gonna have a hard time..

 

I don't think seafoam really smelled like anything when I put it through my car..

It would've been all gone by the time you actually drove it to the inspection place anyway.

 

I'd say O2 sensor and Cat are up next.

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Im thinking cat. The seafoam could have loosened up the carbon and clogged it. I believe that you are suppose to disconnect it before you seafoam a the engine.

 

Jarek

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o2 sensor?

If your rings aren't sealing well, you're gonna have a hard time..

 

I don't think seafoam really smelled like anything when I put it through my car..

It would've been all gone by the time you actually drove it to the inspection place anyway.

 

I'd say O2 sensor and Cat are up next.

No not yet, but I have a new made by Bosch (which i hear is crap), waiting to be installed.

Im thinking cat. The seafoam could have loosened up the carbon and clogged it. I believe that you are suppose to disconnect it before you seafoam a the engine.

 

Jarek

That seems logical as well, but I read on the bottle that it's O2 sensor safe ... If I'm not mistaken (but don't quote me on that though).

clean the MAF?

Actually I did clean the MAF, I took it off to clean it too. I also cleaned the throttle body along with the MAF.

definetly the catalyst is done if all 3 readings are over the limit. You may be running rich too but with especially the CO and NOx readings, bad cat.

Yeah, that's along the lines of what the other guys were saying ... well here goes to spending more money on the W-Body. I did notice now that there's a relatively strong gas-like odor coming from the exhaust. It still runs like a top ... well as good as a 3800 Series I can run. The SES aka check wallet light isn't coming on though. Isn't it supposed to throw a code if the O2 sensor detects that the engine's running rich? (assuming that the o2 sensor is still good). I also forgot to mention that she has 222,XXX miles on her.

 

... Thanks for all the help guys, I truly appreciate it.

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where do you live? I'd horribly fail an emissions test if we were required to take them (no cat, egr blocked off, running leaded gas most of the time) I'd say get a denso o2 sensor, they're cheap enough and better than bosch by far, i wonder if a high flow cat would suffice so your not paying out of your ass for one.

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Just out of curiosity, how many miles are on that L27?

 

222,XXX ( from his post )

 

You can pick up a universal cat that will work for cheap as well.

 

Oh, ok. Just wanted to know if I should expect to be failing emissions any time soon, lol.

 

Even though I hear I don't even have to pass emissions in Illinois...

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Just out of curiosity, how many miles are on that L27?

 

222,XXX ( from his post )

 

You can pick up a universal cat that will work for cheap as well.

 

Oh, ok. Just wanted to know if I should expect to be failing emissions any time soon, lol.

 

Even though I hear I don't even have to pass emissions in Illinois...

WHy do these cars not pass emissions, my 96 DOHC Lumina passed with flying colors.

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Just out of curiosity, how many miles are on that L27?

 

222,XXX ( from his post )

 

You can pick up a universal cat that will work for cheap as well.

 

Oh, ok. Just wanted to know if I should expect to be failing emissions any time soon, lol.

 

Even though I hear I don't even have to pass emissions in Illinois...

WHy do these cars not pass emissions, my 96 DOHC Lumina passed with flying colors.

 

With 222k+ miles?

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