Hi guys,

I failed my emmisions test horribly yesterday. Here's the readings:

Hyrdrocarbons - driving (ppm)
Average reading: 35
Mine: 106
Max allowable: 88

Hyrdrocarbons - idle (ppm)
Average reading: 31
Mine: 932
Max allowable: 76

Carbon Monoxide - driving (ppm)
Average reading: 0.08
Mine: 0.78
Max allowable: 0.65

Carbon Monoxide - idle (ppm)
Average reading: 0.06
Mine: 0.61
Max allowable: 0.43

Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) - driving (ppm)
Average reading: 335
Mine: 891
Max allowable: 960


Those hydrocarbons at idle have to be the reason I'm getting horrible gas mileage. The last time my car passed was almost 2 years ago when I first got the car. I had to replace my O2 sensor to get it to pass, but the performance of the car at that time was less than it is now. Right now my car feels to be running the same it was last summer when it ran a 14.5.

My car has been sitting for 9 months until I got a permit 2 days ago, drove it around for a while and then yesterday I drove it for 45 minutes before taking it through the sniffer. My car has 178,000 km on it. In the last 2 years I havent put many miles on it because its been sitting while I've been in college. I started it up ~every month and let it heat up to operating temp. I've also done tuneup stuff like plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter... over the last 2 years. I put in half a tank of 94 octane before the test.

I've tried to list any information that I think is relevant. If anyone has any ideas of what the problem might be I would be happy to hear them. Thanks.

 

might be time to replace the ignition coil or do a distributor rebuild. also check the timing chain for excess play. not really sure what exactly causes bad emmissions but those things should help. also check your base timing.

 

I'd suggest a new oxygen sensor, and a gallon of lacquer thinner in the gas tank when it's almost empty. Make sure you don't get any on the car's paint while pouring it in (duh).