Failed Emission Test..., ...running too lean Options

[LatinKraze]

I was told by the Smog shop that I was running too lean. They said that I wasnt getting enough air and the Air to Fuel was off by a bit. They said that maybe if I removed the air filter while doing the test it might help for it to breathe better. So I removed it and they ran the test again and the numbers came back 5x worse. I have to get 1.2 reading at the most, with out the filter it ran at 10.0-15.0, and I am currently at 2.08 with the air filter in. They said it might be the Mass Air Flow Sensor. I went to the dealer and they said that my car does not have one. I think it might be my O2 sensor. Can this make my car run lean? I dont want to change them out cuz the previous owner cross threaded the mofos. Where can I start fellas? Any suggestions? Thanks

-Ivan-

[shid]

Try cleaning the O2 sensor.. but isn't running lean too little fuel to too much air? I dunno why they'd want you to put more air in it; thats probably why the results came back worse. You want LESS air in your engine to make the ratio favor gas more.

Also, maybe the sensor thats in the intake? try cleaning that too

[ShadowFX]

yeah i thought lean was gas<air, rich was gas>air...

[OOBE]

Oh gosh those people are dumb. They tell you you're running lean but yet they tell you to remove the filter to get more air? That makes you run more lean. You should've disconnected the O2 sensor...that'll make you run richer.

[FAQdaWorld]

werd, running lean means that theres not enough fuel, and the ratio of fuel to air is not correct with their being to much air. Check your O2 sensors perhaps? I'm not sure I understand why in terms of emissions they would care about you running lean, its more just bad for your engine....

[shid]

come to think of it- wouldn't running lean be good for emissions?

[LatinKraze]

Im going to take her to my mechanic. He said he'll run a diagnostic on tuesday. Thanks for the input guys. Weird thing is that I was on the highway a few months back and when I downshifted to 4th to pass a big rig my CEL came on. It read that the secondary O2 sensor was faulty. I reset my codes, replaced the sensor, and it came back after a while. Only seemed to turn on when I hit high RPMs. Now that I reset it again for emissions, I raced the hell out of it to see if the CEL light would come on and it hasnt so far. I've "raced" a 04 Mustang GT, 90 sumtin Firebird or Trans AM, and a GT-S and still no CEL light. Do you think it might have been a clogged injector? I heard that pushin her hard sometimes makes the injectors flow better afterwards.

[LatinKraze]

Any other suggestions or thoughts before I take her to the mechanic tomorrow? Thanks for the info so far guys.

-Ivan-

[LatinKraze]

What the hell is going on?!?! I went to get another check and now it's too Rich. I didnt even change anything! Where can I start to check for problems? The CO% is too high and he says its because im runing rich, is this right? He keeps saying that im not getting enought air. What can I check and what parts might I want to get replaced?

[shid]

Latin, get the **** out of that testing station. Find a new one that only does testing, NOT repair. Sounds like they're trying to screw you by getting them to "repair" it.

[LatinKraze]

They dont repair. My deadline to have it registered is getting closer.

[Supersprynt]

Oh man they dont know what they're doing. Did you bring it to the mechanic or no? If so what did he so? Lets cover the basics in lamens.

Lean = more air than fuel.
Rich = more fuel than air.

Now taking ur filter off will add air, making it more lean, the more lean, the less fuel is being burned, thus there is less emissions. You have 2 O2 sensors, one in right up top there, and one below, you need to get under ur car to see it. I would suggest making sure both of these are clean and usable. If you are running lean, put some injector cleaner in, maybe ur injectors are a little clogged.

[LatinKraze]

Well, he confirmed it is running rich and not lean. I removed the air filter and it ran even more rich. I put in my air filter and I unplugged an O2 sensor and ran a little better, but not good enough. My CEL light wont come on anymore so I cant pull any codes. He keeps pointing at a certain part on my engine that he says I need to check. It's some sort of electric thinggy next to the stock intake right where the hose to the box connects to the motor. I'll get a pic.

[shid]

[LatinKraze]

Lol, Here



Picture provided w/o permission by: Phat95celigt
(let me know if you dont want me to use it)

This post has been edited by LatinKraze: Sep 29, 2004 - 1:00 PM

[Supersprynt]

Maybe theres something wrong with ur MAF sensor, but I'd think that if it was unplugged ur car would run leaner because it doesnt sense any air intake.

Also, taking the filter off and having that make it richer doesnt make any sense, and I cant make out what that is.

How come he just stood there and pointed, why didnt you ask, hey what is that? or what does that do? Did he stand from far away and point? I am missing something here.

[bufferdan]

Pointing to the EGR system?

Have you messed with your timing any? Might want to check and make sure its 10degrees before top dead center.

[LatinKraze]

[recneps]

if your running too rich im pointing at your egr valve.

[Kwanza26]

[LatinKraze]

He even touched the TPS but he called it a MAF sensor, lol. This guy does not know what he's talking about. I'm taking it to a real mechanic tomorrow guys. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you guys know what it was, when I find out.

-Ivan-

[Anub1s]

The way that it was explained to me is that the TPS and MAF sensor is all in the same housing on the end of the throttle body. Maybe I am wrong?

[LatinKraze]

Well it passed inspection at my mechanics yesterday. I took it back to the smog place and failed again, lol. My tags expire on the 4th. My mechanic is not licensed to give read outs but uses his machine to test and tune cars. I will take her to another smog place and have her passed there. Thanks for all your help fellas.

[Fox-N-It2]

Replace your O2, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, airfilter(or clean it if its K&N), and change the oil then go back you should have no problem passing.

[LatinKraze]

Air filter is clean; O2 sensors changed 9 months ago; oil changed 1 month ago; cap, rotor, wires, and plugs changed 10 months ago.

[LatinKraze]

I went to a different smog place and it passed. Go figure. Thanks for all the help guys.

-Ivan-

[turboinduction]