Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

86 T/A Failed emissions, best way to lower Hydrocarbons?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-17-2001 | 03:34 PM
  #1  
BrianB's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, OH
86 T/A Failed emissions, best way to lower Hydrocarbons?

The car has been sitting for close to three years now, but have been driving it the past month or so. Has all emissions equipment on it but the smog pump is locked up. Also my own stupidity I had 87 octane in the car during the test. Would this cause the hydrocarbons to be high? The limit is 144ppm, my car had a 253ppm. Any other suggestions besides higher octance gas and a bottle of pass emissions additive?

------------------
Founder of the Greater Cincinnati F-Body Association
Greater Cincinnati F-Body Association
1988 Yellow Trans Am GTA
Click here for photos
Old 05-17-2001 | 03:43 PM
  #2  
cbpldc's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, IN USA
Did you know that when you fail an emmisions test, that information goes on your carfax report? That really sucks! I imagine if you get your smog pump running it should help you out. I don't think that running higher octane gasoline would help unless your car tends to run better with it.

Chris
Old 05-17-2001 | 04:26 PM
  #3  
Mark305TBI's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: Huntsville, AL
Car: '00 Chevrolet Corvette
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Cats don't last forever, it might be time to replace it. If your '88 Car has about the same number of miles as mine has on it, your cat probably isn't doing any good by now. You could probably get one from a local exhaust shop, or a high flow unit from Jeg's. That, and fix your AIR pump and you should be good to go.

-Mark W.
'88 SC Camaro w/ 305 TBI
EDIT: Call me typo man

[This message has been edited by Mark305TBI (edited May 17, 2001).]
Old 05-17-2001 | 04:31 PM
  #4  
poncho9789's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 953
Likes: 0
From: LONGVIEW TX . USA
try putting new plugs,dist cap, rotor,and timing,those should help you burn your fuel more efficiently. You should get a new smog pump and than go back. you would probly pass then.
Old 05-17-2001 | 05:49 PM
  #5  
Bort62's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
The smog pumps like to seize up, but You can take them apart and lube em up and they will work for a whil again, fairly easily.


AS far as High HC, thats unburnt gasoline. Like they said, plugs wires cap and Rotor, Maybe a small Vaccum leak to introduce a lean condition ( its not a SD car, isit ? ) Higher octane gas shouldnt make a differance, infact it could hurt.

The CAT is the primary defeater of Hydrocarbons, So that is also a good place to look.




------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver
Reader's ride -> My Ride

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype
Old 05-17-2001 | 07:21 PM
  #6  
Vader's Avatar
Moderator
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 19,456
Likes: 244
Another vote for the air injection pump. The cat converter needs additional air to complete the combustion of the exhaust gasses. You might be able to clean up the cat and get it functional if you have AIR working. You should also get your engine and exhaust as warm as possible to lower the HC numbers. The cat works best hot, and the EFI will lower the fuel rates with a hot CTS. A fresh oxygen sensor will also read more correctly and trim the fuel accordingly, whereas a weakening O2 tends to allow a more rich mixture.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Fear is how I fall, Confusing what is real..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Old 05-18-2001 | 12:04 PM
  #7  
87formula's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: my garage, mi
Don't buy a new smog pump, try the junk yard, as they are very easy to get off and they rarely go bad besides seizing up, and that is easy to tell.... Also the OX sensor will kill ya as well as the cat, that is why I killed my cat.


<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by BrianB:
The car has been sitting for close to three years now, but have been driving it the past month or so. Has all emissions equipment on it but the smog pump is locked up. Also my own stupidity I had 87 octane in the car during the test. Would this cause the hydrocarbons to be high? The limit is 144ppm, my car had a 253ppm. Any other suggestions besides higher octance gas and a bottle of pass emissions additive?

</font>


------------------
1987 Firebird Formula
305 LG-4
Crane CompuCam 2030
700-R4 Trans
4 barrel quadrajunk remained by holley (this carb stinks!!!)
edelbrock performer intake
Hypertech Thermomaster Chip
Open Element Air Filter
No Cat with Straight pipe (Dynomax muffler rusted apart and fell off probably could not stand the heat )
Accel H/P Coil

- Soon to be installed
Holly Spreadbore 600
Edelbrock TES
True Dual exhaust or 4 inch single pipe to dual 2 1/4"
1.6:1 Ratio Rockers
Set of New Valve Springs
Old 05-20-2001 | 02:41 AM
  #8  
jaretz28's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
I would definately get a new cat. You can check the how-to section on how to remove and lube your smog pump. The higher ocane gas?!??! Well I tried that and lets get real, it really adds nothing except cost more. Get a set of Plain AC Delco plugs and gap them properly, then after all that. Take the test again.
Old 05-20-2001 | 11:08 PM
  #9  
camaro1j's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: St.Pete, FL.
Car: 92 Camaro
Engine: 406 sbc
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9" ME with 4.56 gears
Hi HC is caused by unburned gas which is caused by incomplete combustion or misfire.
Probable causes are
1.idle speed -usually too low
2.improper timming
3.lean mixture
4.ignition misfire
5.vacuum leaks

------------------
www.geocities.com/camaro1j/myz28.html


406
accel supper ram
6000 rpm Hyd roller cam
afr heads
spohn torque arm and crossmember
t-56 trans, [wier racing bellhousing and hydrolic throwout bearing]
9" ME rearend 3.91 Gears
Old 05-21-2001 | 12:13 PM
  #10  
BrianB's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, OH
I did find a vaccum leak but it is for the cruise control. I guess I need to fix that to.

------------------
Founder of the Greater Cincinnati F-Body Association
Greater Cincinnati F-Body Association
1988 Yellow Trans Am GTA
Click here for photos
Old 05-21-2001 | 11:27 PM
  #11  
slayer2000's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: kentucky
Car: 1990 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: manual/t56
tune up definatly. Not just plugs and so forth but check your timing and make sure it's correct. Check all your vacuum lines to make sure they're okay. I know that's a pain but a vacuum leak can screw your day up. also if you're running a colder thermostat go back to the factory temp stat. I don't know if you can test the oxygen sensor voltage to see if it's okay but if you can check that it's in good working order. And definately make sure the engine is warm when you test it. Drive for 30 minutes or so to be sure the combustion chamber and cat are both good and hot.
Old 05-21-2001 | 11:28 PM
  #12  
slayer2000's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: kentucky
Car: 1990 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: manual/t56
tune up definatly. Not just plugs and so forth but check your timing and make sure it's correct. Check all your vacuum lines to make sure they're okay. I know that's a pain but a vacuum leak can screw your day up. also if you're running a colder thermostat go back to the factory temp stat. I don't know if you can test the oxygen sensor voltage to see if it's okay but if you can check that it's in good working order. And definately make sure the engine is warm when you test it. Drive for 30 minutes or so to be sure the combustion chamber and cat are both good and hot.
Old 05-21-2001 | 11:29 PM
  #13  
slayer2000's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: kentucky
Car: 1990 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: manual/t56
tune up definatly. Not just plugs and so forth but check your timing and make sure it's correct. Check all your vacuum lines to make sure they're okay. I know that's a pain but a vacuum leak can screw your day up. also if you're running a colder thermostat go back to the factory temp stat. I don't know if you can test the oxygen sensor voltage to see if it's okay but if you can check that it's in good working order. And definately make sure the engine is warm when you test it. Drive for 30 minutes or so to be sure the combustion chamber and cat are both good and hot.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
3
12-10-2019 08:07 PM
norcalz28
Northern California
26
12-07-2016 01:49 PM
91L98Z28
Southern California Area
10
09-19-2015 10:35 AM
TBRays98
Tech / General Engine
6
09-06-2015 06:05 PM
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
0
09-02-2015 08:28 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:01 PM.