My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

[HemiMopar]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

I am glad I don't live in Cali... we even voted out regular inspections before I got my drivers license.

[the_invisible]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

California is a beautiful state. It has the most Prius, vegetarian, and global warming believers in the world.

[rusty bumper]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

I am glad I don't live in Cali... we even voted out regular inspections before I got my drivers license.

Here in NC, I don't remember the cutoff date, but many models made back in the 1990's (and earlier) are not subject to emission tests. All that is required is a safety check costing $13.60.

I don't necessarily agree with that though, because of the way some drivers abuse their cars. Some of them change their oil & filter every year or two, whether it needs it not . Just today, I got behind a 1990's model car on the interstate, and it was difficult for us to breathe the exhaust...and the car was 100 yards in front of us!

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

I'm either going this Saturday or next.

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Failed again with GTP and Octane Boost with Shell 91 Gas.

[Larry A]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Take the car on a 100 mile hiway trip. They use to call this blowing out the city dust. On the day you go for the next test drive it at least a hour to get it completely warmed up. You can also take it to a shop that specializes in testing and repairing emision controls. A friend had to take his Chrysler to a shop because it wouldnt pass, and it cost him $100.00 and they took it for the test. It did findly pass.By me Auto Zone will scan the computer for falt codes for free. If you have a Auto Zone by you check and see if they also will do that.

[Dier]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Believe his car is a Pre 1996.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)*
NOx is formed inside the combustion chamber when excessive heat is present.

A list of common causes of NOx related smog check failure:

1. As usual check the timing first. Advanced timing can cause extra NOx.
2. The next thing to check is the EGR system.This system is designed to reduce Nox. It consists of a EGR valve, vacuum hoses, one or more vacuum switching valves or solenoids. Its job is to reroute a small amount of exhaust gas back into the engine to help reduce combustion chamber temperature. Not all vehicles have an EGR system.
3. Next thing to check is the air / fuel ratio. If the vehicle is running to lean, NOx emissions will increase.
4. Some possibilities are a restricted fuel filter, low fuel pressure, vacuum leaks, oxygen sensor, load sensor such as a map sensor, air flow meter.
5. Check the cooling system. An extra increase in water temperature will increase NOx production.
6. A defective catalytic converter can also increase NOx. The Cat. reduces NOx that has already been produced.
7. Check to see that the air coming into the engine is not over heated. Some vehicles have a vacuum controlled air valve which switches the incoming air to hot air from the outside of your exhaust manifold.This should only happen when the engine is cold. If this system malfunctions and sends hot air all the time.Your Nox could go up. This system is called T.A.C. ( Thermostatic air cleaner )
8. There is another system similar to the one above called E.F.E. ( Early fuel evaporation ). This system routes hot air under the intake manifold. This helps keep the fuel in the vapor state. If stuck in the hot mode Nox emissions could increase and cause a Smog Check failure.

*Data obtained from http://www.smogsearch.com/index.php?page=faq

[Lasthope05]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

I knew you were going to fail but I shut up after I was ignored and everybody was jumping on the additive bandwagon. You should of done what I said on page two, or at least read up on it.

[the_invisible]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Failed again with GTP and Octane Boost with Shell 91 Gas.

NOx has noticely improved over the previous test! But not enough to pass!!!

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Ok (Lasthope05) I found this on another forum:

1. Buy 1-2 quarts of denatured alcohol from your local hardware store (home depot give me a sponsorship!)
2. Run your tank down anywhere from 1/4 tank to the E line depending on how gutsy you feel or how badly your car passed emissions last time.
3. Throw the bottle of denatured alcohol into your tank.
4. Warm up the car and drive it immediately to your emissions place.
5. Either run down your tank or siphon out the rest of the fuel
6. Fill up a FULL tank to dillute any denatured alcohol thats left

How effective is this? I already spent nearly a hundred dollars on these smog checks to just fail again...I don't get the instructions. So I run my tank down to empty and either throw in a quart or two of the alcohol, warm the car up and drive it to the emissions place with an empty tank? And after than waste the only gas I have left and fill up again, then do I take it to the smog check or was that before? Thanks.

[rusty bumper]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

I hate you didn't pass, but it was worth a try anyway.

Your next step, in my opinion, would be to follow up on Larry A's advice and see what's going on under the hood. If you can find an Auto Zone that will check for trouble codes, then by all means do it.

Post back with the trouble codes, if any, and see if someone can recommend anything else.

Too bad you don't have a Chrysler product. There codes are easy to access by flipping the ignition key three times and counting the blinking light on the speedometer console.

[Lasthope05]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Ok (Lasthope05) I found this on another forum:



How effective is this? I already spent nearly a hundred dollars on these smog checks to just fail again...I don't get the instructions. So I run my tank down to empty and either throw in a quart or two of the alcohol, warm the car up and drive it to the emissions place with an empty tank? And after than waste the only gas I have left and fill up again, then do I take it to the smog check or was that before? Thanks.

What you do is before you run to the emissons place make sure you've been driving the car for atleast 10-15 minutes to warm the cat up so it'll work properly. Or just let it run for that amount of time. Dump the alcohol/e85 gas in your tank drive to the emissions testing place and get it done. This is assuming the shop is near by, if not then pour the alcohol/e85 in a mile or 2 away. The stop and go traffic should mix to two properly. Bring tools with you like a flat head to adjust the car or throttle body if the car is stumbling and bump the idle up. I believe the limit on idle is between 1200-1500 rpm so just bump it to 1100 if need be and take the test immediately.

Now this is this will lower your over all emissions but is not an exact science. You would want to start with different mix ratios so your car is not running too lean were you will start to detonate. Thats why after you fail the first test you run the alcohol mix and see how much improvement you made. And how by if chance you fail the second you would would know you'd need a much stronger ratio.

Its all mathematics really. Size of your gas tank, stoichiometric ratio of gasoline, stoichiometric ratio of alcohol/ethanol, current stoichiometric ratio of vehicle emissions, 30% loss of energy with the use of alcohol/ethanol and ratio of parts per gallon between the two.

All in all with 1/4 of gas and 2 qts of denatured alcohol(depending upon tank size) you should see noticeable improvements. If you pass go straight to a gas station and fill up to dilute the mix in your tank. If you dont pass simply increase the ratio of alcohol to gasoline. Also since its your NOx that failed you'll want to reduce your base timing/ignition timing also, just for the test (resort to you factory service manual on how to adjust that)

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

I hate you didn't pass, but it was worth a try anyway.

Your next step, in my opinion, would be to follow up on Larry A's advice and see what's going on under the hood. If you can find an Auto Zone that will check for trouble codes, then by all means do it.

Post back with the trouble codes, if any, and see if someone can recommend anything else.

Too bad you don't have a Chrysler product. There codes are easy to access by flipping the ignition key three times and counting the blinking light on the speedometer console.

I'm considering the disnatured alcohol but really don't want to waste my money. I heard Auto Zone no longer offers free code reading in California but I'll try it.

[roushstage2]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Some still will, some won't. As far as I know though, your car will automatically fail if you have a CEL too, so I wouldn't think he has any codes. Well, not emissions related anyways (the ones that actually trigger the CEL).

[ocmdiaz714]

Re: My Cadillac didn't pass the smog.

Some still will, some won't. As far as I know though, your car will automatically fail if you have a CEL too, so I wouldn't think he has any codes. Well, not emissions related anyways (the ones that actually trigger the CEL).

What's a CEL?