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Failed CA Smog "Gross Polluter" Help Please!

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by scba8, Jun 4, 2014.

  1. Jun 4, 2014 at 12:14 PM
    #1
    scba8

    scba8 [OP] New Member

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    Hello! Im new to the forums but I have two first gen Tacos, both 4 cylinder 2rzFE. One is 5 speed and the other is Automatic. My Automatic Taco failed smog horribly and was labeled as a gross polluter. Before I brought it into smog I had a check engine light for code P0420 and swapped out the o2 sensor. This fixed the CEL but I failed smog horribly so I decided to change out the Cat. After a new cat I still failed in HC as well as CO.I even drove the car around for about 40 minutes and went straight to smog but it still failed. I have changed the air filter, oil, both o2 sensors, and the cat. Spark plugs were changed no more than a year ago. I stumped as to what it can be. Oh yea the Taco has almost 350k on it. If anyone could give me some insight that would be perfect and much appreciated.

    Here are my test results
    HC
    --------Max-GP-MEAS
    15 mph 60/285/220
    25 mph 43/235/223

    CO
    --------Max-GP-MEAS
    15 MPH .75/2.05/2.44
    25 MPH .90/2.20/2.40

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Jun 4, 2014 at 12:18 PM
    #2
    whahahajr

    whahahajr Lone Star Club

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    Have you checked your EGR valve? I don't know just throwing something out there. No codes. Some times it will have stored codes even though there is not a check engine lamp on.
     
  3. Jun 5, 2014 at 10:49 AM
    #3
    nigglewiggle60

    nigglewiggle60 Well-Known Member

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    go to a smog station that will actually answer your questions and help you correct the problem.
     
    DustStorm4x4 likes this.
  4. Jun 5, 2014 at 1:59 PM
    #4
    scba8

    scba8 [OP] New Member

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    whahahajr thanks for the reply! I have been checking high and low for the EGR valve to clean but I can't seem to find it. I've also been searching the web but still nothing on the 4 cylinder. Can anyone point me in the right direction so I can clean this thing out?

    nigglewiggle60, unfortunately most of the smog shops around here will only help if you pay them.
     
    fummins likes this.
  5. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:25 PM
    #5
    geoff06

    geoff06 261k and counting

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    California emissions...something I do not miss. I don't remember, does the emissions testing require an actual tailpipe test or just the OBDII test? If it's only OBDII you could get an oxygen simulator (Underdog Racing Developement O2 sims are talked about a bunch on here) and see where that gets you.
    Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it just works in combination with the rear O2 sensor and tells the ECU that all emissions are good, allowing the truck to run theoretically as well as it can with the way it's currently tuned. Buuut, again that might only help if CA sticks to OBDII testing.
    Hope this helps
     
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  6. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:32 PM
    #6
    MonkeyProof

    MonkeyProof Power Top

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    CA. Smog laws requires a tail pipe test
     
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  7. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:41 PM
    #7
    Styx586

    Styx586 Well-Known Member

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    If you replaced the cat and O2 sensors and are still failing smog, something is not functioning properly in the engine and you need a professional diagnosis. You'll be better off in the long run if you pay the money, get a professional to look at the scan data, and get it fixed right the first time, than if you start throwing parts at it and replacing parts that are still good.
     
    fummins likes this.
  8. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:45 PM
    #8
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    There should be 2 o2 sensors on these trucks. Also, you might not pass smog without an OEM cat. These trucks don't handle aftermarket cats well
     
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  9. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:46 PM
    #9
    TrdSurgie

    TrdSurgie revised

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    New plugs? Clean the maf?
     
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  10. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:52 PM
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    toyodajeff

    toyodajeff Well-Known Member

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    fummins likes this.
  11. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:55 PM
    #11
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    I ran a bottle of mr. Gasket cataclean through mine and havnt had a code for probably 2500+ miles. I would never ever run alcohol through a vehicle. You have no idea what that would do to an engine and emission system
     
  12. Jun 7, 2014 at 9:57 PM
    #12
    TrdSurgie

    TrdSurgie revised

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    You do know what is in gas these days right........ But yeah a bottle tobalcohol wont do anything worth while.
     
  13. Jun 7, 2014 at 10:00 PM
    #13
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    Rubbing alcohol and ethanol are 2 different creatures. Plus adding more alcohol to an engine not even rated for ethanol gas would not be good
     
  14. Jun 7, 2014 at 10:05 PM
    #14
    worthywads

    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    And you've thrown a cat and 2 o2 sensors, oil change, air filter, spark plugs at it which you paid for with no success. The smog shop may have saved you that expense.
     
  15. Jun 7, 2014 at 10:13 PM
    #15
    toyodajeff

    toyodajeff Well-Known Member

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    I doubt it would hurt anything, gas is just as strong of a solvent. I wouldnt be surprised if the bottles of fuel system cleaner aren't at least %75 alcohol. And

    Ethanol is alcohol, you can buy %90 alcohol rubbing alcohol. I believe all new vehicles sold are compatible up to %10 ethanol.
    The gas companies or gov. Just call it ethanol because it sounds more sophisticated
     
  16. Jun 7, 2014 at 10:31 PM
    #16
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    New vehicles are designed to handle ethanol. But he's got a 2000. Those years aren't designed for the ethanol in today's fuel
     
  17. Dec 8, 2016 at 4:59 PM
    #17
    fummins

    fummins Member

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    nope, but I will
     
  18. Dec 8, 2016 at 5:01 PM
    #18
    fummins

    fummins Member

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    I have not replaced sensors, there is a newer one pre cat from the p.o.
     
  19. Dec 8, 2016 at 5:03 PM
    #19
    fummins

    fummins Member

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  20. Dec 8, 2016 at 5:05 PM
    #20
    fummins

    fummins Member

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    cleaned the MAF, new plugs going in tmrw.
     

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