CA Smog Test
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One other thing that occurs to me: An air leak AFTER the engine but BEFORE the O2 sensor can also cause this. Air gets sucked into the exhaust stream and makes the O2 sensor think the engine is running lean, so it richens up the mixture to compensate. This is unusual, but I've seen it happen.
Also, while I'm rambling, I have three or four VAMs I believe are all good, and you're welcome to swap any of them if you think that's the issue.
Also, while I'm rambling, I have three or four VAMs I believe are all good, and you're welcome to swap any of them if you think that's the issue.
- DPDISXR4Ti
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Re: CA Smog Test
Not sure about Kurplunkistan, but here on earth (including eBay and the merkur community in general), they trade hands for much less than $100.milehighXR wrote:Maybe in Kurplunkistan, but here in CO I have paid upwards of $100.00 for one. And almost all the yards around here want a minimum of $100.0 for ECMs.John R. Rowlands wrote:LeslieO,
I agree with Brad I don't think it's the PCM either! As was stated you can get a used PCM at the local junk yard for $20-$40.
John
Sounds like "Sameguy" has offered up an even better deal - and yes, you should be able to swap any P-series for another, if only for testing purposes.
Brad
CA Smog Test
It's been a bad couple of days...here's the story. I ran the koer test. The codes I got were 25,41,77. I did it 2 more times but kept getting the same codes. I know 77 means I was not quite doing the test right, but I couldn't get it to do any different. So I changed the o2 sensor and took it to a state certified smog & repair shop. They said $120 to diagnose the rich air/fuel ratio problem. A few hours later they called and said it was going to take more time and they needed another $120. So I said go ahead, and they had the car until the end of the next day. When I picked it up it barely ran. Remember, when I dropped it off it ran great, just would't pass smog. Now it kept dying, had no power and coughed and jerked, I only live 2 miles from the shop so I went home and called the shop and they said bring it back. I ran a koer test before taking it back, but this time the codes were 25,26,77. So now I have a code for a vam. They kept it another day, and when I picked it up it did run better but still not quite like it was, plus it made a funny sound from under the car between the front and back seats, and an occasional backfire type sound, but not real loud. Husband comes home and notices aluminum shavings on the motor mounts under the air cleaner. He takes off air cleaner canister and lo and behold, THAT IS NOT MY VAM! Mine was a new part 3 years ago, this is from a wrecking yard and has yellow writing on that says 86 merkur. remember they were only suppossed to diagnose. So now the code reader says this bogus vam is junk, I have funny noises and the car smells like gas so bad I am afraid to start it up. We are going to complain so I will let you all know what happens. I might need to take sameguy up on his offer of a vam. In the meantime I am working extra hours at work to get some more $$$ for the car.
85 xr4ti owned since 89
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- John R. Rowlands
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CA Smog Test
LeslieO,
To put it mildly you got screwed!!!!!
Make sure you get your old VAM back from the so called SMOG testing facility. The noise you are hearing between the front and back seats is from the exhaust. When you get your VAM back you can check it or you can check the one that is on there. Inside the VAM there is a gate that should swing freely, and not hang up. If it doesn't swing freely let us know. That in all likelihood is what's causing the gas smell you are getting.
The code 25 is caused by the code 77, don't worry about that. Code 25 is the knock sensor.
John
To put it mildly you got screwed!!!!!
Make sure you get your old VAM back from the so called SMOG testing facility. The noise you are hearing between the front and back seats is from the exhaust. When you get your VAM back you can check it or you can check the one that is on there. Inside the VAM there is a gate that should swing freely, and not hang up. If it doesn't swing freely let us know. That in all likelihood is what's causing the gas smell you are getting.
The code 25 is caused by the code 77, don't worry about that. Code 25 is the knock sensor.
John
If it ain't broke don't fix it!
CA Smog Test
Well, we got that repair shop to buy a new vam for the car. I bought it, and they paid me back. I went right to their bank and cashed the check!
So now I have a new vam, oxygen sensor, cat, plugs, pcv valve, distibutor cap and rotor. I don't know if those idiots messed with the timing. It runs now but stalls on deceleration.
The injectors have a green stripe, so I guess they are not stock? Could they be causing it to run rich? How do I tell?
We are going to keep working on it and see if we can't get it to run better, and then tackle the smog issue again.
Leslie
So now I have a new vam, oxygen sensor, cat, plugs, pcv valve, distibutor cap and rotor. I don't know if those idiots messed with the timing. It runs now but stalls on deceleration.
The injectors have a green stripe, so I guess they are not stock? Could they be causing it to run rich? How do I tell?
We are going to keep working on it and see if we can't get it to run better, and then tackle the smog issue again.
Leslie
85 xr4ti owned since 89
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- John R. Rowlands
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CA Smog Test,
LeslieO,
What I would do, being that you bought all those parts is finish the tuneup on your XR. Buy the plugs and wires and install them.
Pull one of you plugs and smell it. If it smells like gas then it is running rich. Maybe one of the guys, in your area that responded to your post would have a set of brown top injectors that they could sell you. The brown top injectors are the stock injectors. Warm your XR up and take a KOER test. If you get an oxygen sensor code that would indicate that you are running rich also.
John
What I would do, being that you bought all those parts is finish the tuneup on your XR. Buy the plugs and wires and install them.
Pull one of you plugs and smell it. If it smells like gas then it is running rich. Maybe one of the guys, in your area that responded to your post would have a set of brown top injectors that they could sell you. The brown top injectors are the stock injectors. Warm your XR up and take a KOER test. If you get an oxygen sensor code that would indicate that you are running rich also.
John
If it ain't broke don't fix it!
CA Smog test
Great news! The smog cartel has blessed me! My car finally passed!! 6 tests and after replacing everything even remotely smog related ( except fuel injectors), I discovered the wastegate actuator was non-functional. I replaced that with a new one and the car passed, no problem. We also replaced the water tubes with stainless steel ones from Ed's tubes, while we had the turbo out. So we are now legal, after being labeled a gross polluter and sneaking out to get the smog tests. A BIG thank you to all on this list who helped with suggestions. Also the guys at the smog-n-go, who were so happy for me they didn't charge me for that last test!I now know more than I ever thought I would about how the car works. Now to get that headliner fixed...
LeslieO
Check out my new license plate
LeslieO
Check out my new license plate
85 xr4ti owned since 89
One Black One Maroon
One Black One Maroon
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Awesome work!
That is a great looking car - hopefully we'll see you around...
There's like five or six of us now... we could have an XR4Ti gang or something. Talk about fearsome... if the cars don't break down and we can get them through smog and keep enough spare parts around to keep them running we could terrorize Sacramento!
That is a great looking car - hopefully we'll see you around...
There's like five or six of us now... we could have an XR4Ti gang or something. Talk about fearsome... if the cars don't break down and we can get them through smog and keep enough spare parts around to keep them running we could terrorize Sacramento!
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