Emissions Problem - Failed Smog

Might be worth it to go have them take a look because they should have the proper equipment and know-how to diagnose a bad cat versus a bad sensor (as long as you trust them). Cats should last a long time IF you have a healthy running engine...if something is amiss however and causing you to run too lean or too rich, you could easily ruin your cats very quickly....I learned this the hard way. Especially running lean, that'll toast your cats faster than sliced bread. Do you get any engine ping or knock under heavy acceleration or wide open throttle?

 

I don't think so. There is a very light tick-tick noise, but I believe that is normal. I would not be surprised if it was running rich tho. I'm thinking about changing the spark plugs today on my own, and seeing if that alone changes anything. Probably won't change much, but they need to be replaced anyway. Also planning to do the pm that @scocar recommended. Would love to find an OEM intake used.

 

To bad i just sold my oem intake not to long ago lol

 

Rich isn't all that bad, not good, but not as bad as running too lean. If you had knock/ping you would definitely know it, sounds like a can full of marbles rattling around like crazy when you accelerate, it's an awful sound.

 

UPDATE: Had the shop do diagnostics on it. They said it is definitely the catalytic converter.

So, my question is, even with bad spark plugs, which is throwing too much gas toward the cat, and a gunked up air filter, which is limiting air flow, they can definitely tell that the cat is bad?

 

Did you ask how they new it was the cat?

 

Yes, I asked that, as well as mentioned the spark plug/ air filter issue. They said that with their equipment, they could tell it was the cat converter due to the code it threw. I'm not convinced 100% still.

 

They sure can, a vacuum test is an easy way to test for a failing/failed cat. Can also be done at home with the right tools.

https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/How-to-Test-a-Bad-Catalytic-Converter

Did they say which converter is bad? Most of the time if one is bad, then the other is not far behind and it's a good idea to just replace both while you're at it.

 

They just mentioned the one. I think if the front was bad it would throw the P0430 code?

 

I'm not sure which code relates to which converter...I had P0420 and if I remember right, they told me the front cat was bad and that I should replace both because once one fails, the other is having to pick up the slack which is isn't designed to do and greatly shortens its lifespan as well (especially if there's an issue that led to the 1st one failing). I just had them replace both with CA approved Magnaflows...I paid $600 OTD for a local exhaust shop to put those in for me. Toyota wanted over $2k to put new OEM ones in...I said no thanks, lol.

 

Move away from California...

Or, do you have any relatives in states that don't require emissions testing? My uncle lives in NorCal and his '77 VW Westfalia camper wouldn't pass smog so he registered at his brother's address in Texas!

 

I'm pretty sure that's illegal to do here, lol. I've known people that have done it before too, but if the state catches on then you get hit with a pretty hefty fine. I think there's a time limit to how long you can have an out of state registered vehicle here (if you're living in CA).

 

Another not-so-legal option that people running turbos and superchargers do is just run cat-less, or hi flow cats with O2 simulators in between smog tests which are every two years in CA. Once you have to get tested you put the CA legal cats back in for the test.

Not saying to do this...it's an expensive fine if you get nabbed. Believe me I've been tempted to myself with all the stupid cat issues I've been having with my truck and the supercharger. Still trying to figure out my lean issue which has been ruining my cats in the meantime.

 

I was born in California and lived the first year of my life there, plus an additional two between the ages of 7 and 9 (my dad was in the Navy and we moved a lot). It's a nice place to visit, but strict emissions regulations are just one of many reasons I would never want to live there.

In Pennsylvania, all gasoline-powered passengers vehicles and light trucks have to get emissions tested and safety inspected every year. California is only every two years, but if your vehicle fails smog you can't register it.

In Pennsylvania, inspection is not tied to registration, so you're not totally screwed if your vehicle fails. If you get stopped by a cop who's in a bad mood, though, then watch out!

Back in 2014, my boss who has a flawless driving record got a $128 ticket for a 3-month expired inspection in her immaculate '05 Honda Element which had maybe 80K miles on it at the time. The cop pulled up next to her, noticed the expired stickers, made her pull over, and wrote her the ticket. He said if it was a newer vehicle, he could have cut her a break, but he had no choice because the Element was 10 years old! Even more galling about the incident is that it was on Christmas Eve!

Fuck car inspections!

 

@eon_blue

I am OCD about keeping my truck in good condition and have never failed PA state inspection in the nearly 9 years I've owned it,either. As far as I'm considered, it's a waste of my valuable time...

 

Depends on the county. Not all counties require emissions. but all PA needs inspection and registration (now every two years if you want).

Also, 3 months expired is different than 3 days or 3 weeks. Usually on shorter terms as long as you can prove it's done within the next 10-14 days they will waive the fine. you still have to go to court to hand in the paperwork.

 

I hear you guys. This is definitely a PITA>

 

So I planning to have the shop do some preventative maintenance that I was going to do anyway first. I don't want to do the cat yet, I'm going to have them install some spark plugs I bought the other day, and I may have them flush the transmission fluid. Things I need to do anyway, and I'm on the hook for $125 diagnostics fee unless I have them do some work.

 

The Element is actually a company car is sorts, not my boss's. My boss moved here from a state that has no emissions or safety inspection and she had no idea what those two stickers in the lower left corner of the windshield were for. Unfortunately, my boss happened to get pulled over by the Grinch...

 

haha, yeah. unfortunate. I only know of a few states that don't require inspection or emission, probably quite a few