Hey, I just failed emissions for HC and CO (both very high). So, i went ahead and changed the plugs (PITA). Took 'em all out and here is what I got, consistent color with a big gap (I think around .45-.50). That might be my problem, but it did not seem like it.
So here are the pics of the plugs.


Color is brown, some areas had gray.

What do you make of it???

 

Still using a cat? They do look a bit on the rich side. O² sensor still active?

 

I sure hope so .

Will be putting in a new one along with a new cat.

I am also going to have a shop diagnose the fuel system because I failed due to running rich.!
Thank you Lord Vader

 

Really high HCs (you didn't say exactly how high) is often the sign of an ignition miss. Even a mild miss sends them to the moon. Not even a good cat won't save you from an ignition miss.

I'd do a complete ignition tune-up with plugs, wires, cap, rotor and a fresh coil. A new O2 isn't a bad idea, either. Plus check your ignition timing and make sure it's at factory spec using the correct factory-specified procedure, at least for emissions testing. If you want to crank it up a little for some more power on the street that's fine but don't do it for an emissions test.

You might want to try this stuff first, before you throw a new cat on it. The difference with a really sharp tune-up like this can be dramatic sometimes. And the cost is very low, if you do the work yourself. Cats generally don't die. They can be KILLED by a bad-running engine (melting the honeycomb brick inside) but they generally don't just die for no reason.

 

My HC's were at 4.6 from a 2.5 limit.
The CO's were pretty high 49 limit is 20.
When I tested the pluggs were old. I had new wires, new cap and rotor, and a new coil along with a new oil change. Now I put in the platinum (hotter burning) plugs in there to help with the combustion.
I am trying to change the damn O2 sensor, but I just cant get to it from any angle.
Other than that there must be something wrong with the fuel injection. I am just stumped since a rich exhaust should trip a code in the ECM. Hmmmm...

The biggest problem I had, I think, was that the car was not totally warmed up, and it had about 20 minutes sitting there shut off while it was lined up waiting. Plus I had my fan wired to run all the time.

I am also having bad fuel mileage, getting about 140 miles to a tank or so. So, there is defenetly a problem there.

 

Rich exhaust won't trip a code in the ECM unless the O2 sensor is working properly. If it is the culprit, the ECM will think the mixture is too lean and richen it up without setting a code.

As stated, HC is usually from a miss, and CO from a rich mixture. They aren't the same thing. However, a bad cat can cause both.

What was your NOx reading?

 

My nox is 1 and limit is 6.

Now that I think about it, I have a receipt from a previous owner who had the injectors serviced and the car was running rich. There just might be a chance that this messed up the cat, plus its stock as well.
I will try to see why am running rich, plus there is a tiny little miss that I can notice, however my buddys car which is a 350 pretty much had almost the same idle and it passe emissions.

Hmmmm...

 

Whenever I have to waste money on a smog test, I always run the car down the freeway about 10 miles or so to dry out the exhaust system and then keep it running through the test. Moisture in the exhaust can contribute to high HC.

 

I have the stock exhaust and having a little problem with changing the o2 sensor. Does anybody know the size of the O2 sensor (so I can get a socket on it)????
Also, I touched all of my injectors and they were all ticking at the same speed (as far as I could tell). Some were a bit more faint than the others, but it was consistent with the old injectors, and the three new ones were ticking more strongly. (By strongly I mean the force that I felt on my finger by touching them).
The O2 sensor is pissing me off. I can't find the right size socket for the darn thing. I can't get to it any other way but with a socket. Belive me I tried!

 

It takes a special socket specifically for an O2 sensor, that is unless you clip the electrical connector off the end of it's pigtail- not a big deal for removal of the old one, but... you will need the right socket to install the new one for the same reason. 15/16" comes to mind??

I get to them from almost the front of the motor next to the power steering using the afore-mentioned socket and a long extension.

Soak in penetrating oil for several hours before attempting removal- they can obviously rust into their threads in the exh. manifold real bad.

 

your plugs to me show a rich condition, they should look more white to very light brown.

your NOx was low because of the rich condition, once you get it leaned out look for an increase in NOx.

the O2 sensor is 7/8. you can knock the top part of the old one off to get a regular 6 point socket on it.

after you get the new O2 sensor in, i would recommend taking a look at the data stream, things like block learn & integrator, air & coolant temps, TPS & MAP. check for exhaust leaks near or before the O2 sensor. check the AIR injection system, if it is adding fresh air to the exhaust manifolds after the motor is warm, the ECM will think your lean & add fuel.

 

Wow, I wanna find out why there is a rich condition? If I was running rich wouldnt the O2 sensor tell me??
You think I should replace the MAP sensor???
When the new motor was put in, all new sensors were used.

Could a bad catalytic converter give me these numbers as well??
I got the socket too for the O2 sensor. So, we'll see tommorow!

Here are my problems with the first testing.

1. The car was never fully warmed up and it sat for over 25 minutes shut off.
2. I did not drive it very long, acutally had it parked at my house, then drove it to emissions and shut it off.
3. I had the stock, stuffed air cleaner, old oil (well 1500 miles on it).
4. The timing was at 6 degrees, which is stock (but lower would help).

What I am going to do

Put in the cat back that I got
RxP
O2 sensor
Knock the timing down
What I did
New spark plugs (platnum, hoter burning)
new wires
new cap and rotor
new coil
new air cleaner!
I think that might be enough.
If not I will be ordering an adjustable fuel preassure regulator and installing it. Just knock down the preassure and go to town.

Will check the air system. Will the MAP from at TBI car work????
Also I will check the TPS, as well as CTS.
Well, now that am thinking... LOL
Since all the plugs are reading the same color and consistency, would it be safe to say that injectors are working fine? I would think that one of those plugs would be bad under the bad injector??
If my reasoning works then there is something thats messing with the ECM telling it I am lean.

 

the O2 wouldn't necessarily tell you your rich, they can shift in range & look like they are giving a good reading.
a bad cat can cause you to fail, but not cause the plugs to show rich like yours' are.
the timing set to stock will be fine as long as everything else is working right & in good condition
not being fully warmed up can cause you to fail, but again your plugs show your rich.
you won't necessarily gain anything with platinum plugs, they are designed for the DIS systems which can fire much hotter than the HEI systems can.
i don't know if a MAP sensor from a TBI car would work right or not.
fuel pressure can cause you to fail, too high or too low is not good, so check it if you don't know what it is.

 

Allright, replaced the O2 sensor (what a pain in the *** that was). Replaced the whole cat back (will have to replace the cat, which looked fine inside, no sign of running rich the honeycomb looked clean and white). The old exhaust was rusted out in many spots, and it was full of dirt and stuff!
Checked all the vacum lines, and made sure everything had tight hookups with no leaks. I replaced one of the hoses, cuz it looked fishy to me (but it wasnt connected to the MAP or fuel preassure regulator).
I also checked the fpr for leaks and there were none. Tommorow I gotta have one part of my exhaust welded, and I will check for the proper operation of the air system. Fuel preassure too!

I also have one of the fans wired on to go all the time, I will take that off and have the car warm up over 220 (which it used to do stock).

I sure hope I pass those dang emissions.

 

Wow, I failed both HC and CO 6-8 times the limit.
WTF. I did a tune up, replaced o2 sensor and put in, non rusted exhaust. My o2 is not telling me that I am runing rich! Holy crap, I droped off the car at a mechanic shop and I am bending over to get screwed now! The person who sold me the car won't contact me so I might have to take legal action.

 

Check this link out - it may give you some more ideas.GM ECM Code 45

 

The shop got back to me. They tested many things and they found that my o2 sensor was very sluggish. Its a brand new Bosch O2 sensor. So, they are putting in AC delco sensor tommorow. The fuel preassure was fine its just that the car ran closed loop (warm up ) all the time. They blamed it on o2 sensor. So, we'll see what happens.
I just spent more than half of what I need to spend to get waived. So, i am hoping that something works out here.

 

The next thing I'd look at if the motor won't go into closed loop (open loop is warmup/WOT) is to see if the CTS (Coolant Temp Snesor) is working correctly.

Honestly, you need to get a scan tool once you're beyond a basic tune-up. If you don't see things the way the computer is seeing things you can chase your tail for weeks and never figure out what's wrong.

And if you bought this car from someone else it's possible they swapped injectors or something that could really throw things out of whack.

 

Ok, here is the update.

The shop said that with the EGR and the charcoal canister unplugged my car passes!
LOL, How in the blue hell are these "emission" parts suposed to help you run better??? I know that they are old, but man it pisses me off. The previous owner is willing to help me out with the cost, but he is also looking into things (which kinda makes me feel that he wont come through).
So, I need to replace the EGR valve and the charcoal canister. Suposedly the canister is getting saturated with gas, and to further diagnose this they told me that they have to remove the tank. However, they said that by replacing it and going to emissions immidiatelly would do the trick. I am just thinking of getting it all plugged up so it doesn't send gas to the TB and masking it so it passes visual. Than replacing the EGR and being done with it. Also i just might unhook the EGR as well and make it look like everything is hooked up.
We will see.
But changing to the delco O2 really made a difference from exhaust smell to the driveability.

 

hmmm so there's really THAT much difference between a Bosch and AC Delco O2 sensor ?

I'm up for smog now, have to have it done within a few weeks, so I'm reading here what's going on.

 

You know, on my TBI thats all I used. However, after seeing this, yeah there is defenetly a LOT of difference. Also, you should check you smog equipment and see if its functioning properly. I guess its a big deal.
Usually disconecting/rendering unusable the equipment will make you pass smog. What kind of **** is that??

 

That's incredible, well if nothing else, I may do the same thing, if I run into problems.

First of all I need to bend some exhaust pipe, run it over the axle, and attach it to the muffler I got right behind the cat.

 

sounds like is the canister is saturated. that can happen over time as the charcoal breaks down & looses its ability to absorb fuel vapors. what seems to be the main cause though is over filling the tank. when the tank is over filled, liquid fuel gets into the vapor line & is then drawn into the canister when the ECM turns the canister purge valve on, the canister can't handle much liquid fuel.
there is also a filter on the bottom of the canister, it gets dirty just like your air filter does. if fresh air can't be drawn through the filter, its drawn from the fuel tank.
the canister purge valve may also be bad, its not uncommon for them to stick in the open position when they go out.