I took my car (92 firebird) in for an inspection on Wednesday. The car failed. Then numbers were HC .94 OC 14.47 NOx 2.39.
He says it was probably the EGR valve. The car wasn't coding so we just cleaned it out.
I brought the car back two days later. Now the numbers are
HC 1.63 OC 29.49 NOx 1.81. Can this be?
Same shop and same machine.
O2 sensor is about a year old and the plugs and wires maybe 5 months.

 

How old/effective is the cat converter? Is the A.I.R. pump and valving system functioning properly?

What are the new emissions limits in NY, anyway?

 

Has the car sat? Did you warm it up good? What do you have in it for gas etc.? I am inclined to agree with this guy and say that, most likely, the air isn't hitting the cat.

 

The new limits are
HC 0.80 CO 15.00 NOx 2.00

I had just regular gas in it and the day in between I put an injector cleaner in. I had dropped the car off so I'm sure he didn't warm it up.
I'm getting a sticker but I still just want to understand how the numbers can vary so much.
I guess I should look into the cat being the problem.

Thanks

 

If he put it right on after just starting it, that would be your problem. The catalyst has to reach it's operating temperature so that the catalyzation occurs.

 

Where in NY are you that you have to get your car sniffer test? Nyc area?

 

Long Island....
I had the car tested today someplace else and it still fails so I guess it is the car.