Post by tigger on Apr 13, 2013 10:55:33 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I am a newby to this forum, and to sidekicks! I just love this car, so much fun and it will be a great toad for our RV. However, I live in southern Cal, and need a smog certificate to get it registered to me; and there lies the problem. After 4 smog tests (retests x 3) it still fails its smog; the reason? NO levels too high. The NO is about 1100 ppm, max is about 600 ppm so way over the limit. The initial 'cause' diagnosed by the technician was a faulty EGR valve, the diaphragm wasn't moving when it should. The reason turned out to be a blocked channel from the exhaust manifold to the valve. Hours of endless fun later, rooting out the gunge left a smooth, clear run to the valve and all was well. Except it failed again! this time because the EGR diaphragm wasn't moving because the inlet manifold suction channel to the EGR valve was also blocked! 
To clear this was an absolute nightmare, but eventually got it clean and a nice lot of suction goes to the EGR valve and this time the diaphragm works as it should! ;D except it failed again on NO levels, still too high at 1100 ppm. The technician and I tested the VSV, modulator, checked all the pipes and wires, no fault code on the EMU so there is only one other thing that can cause this ------ a faulty catalytic converter, its that that strips the NO out of the exhaust. So, 450 bucks later I have a shiny new cat welded in place and send it in for its 4th test--------------- FAILED AGAIN reason? NO levels too high at 1100 ppm. The technician said that my car is perfect, CO2, HC, everything perfect, everything is like it was when it came out of the factory in 1994 (!), he reckons that when the car was built NO levels straight out of the factory would be at least 800 ppm so it will NEVER pass a smog test. I am asking you guys out there in SOCO there MUST be sidekicks 1994 vintage which pass the smog, there just has to be. Can anyone help at all please? pretty please? I have spent well over 100 hours (and huge amount of bucks) trying to get this car through.
I will eventually get it smogged, I am sure, and when I do I will post all my findings here because the threads I have seen, and what is in the Haynes manual barely touches on the subject, there are so many EASY tests to do to diagnose faults which are not mentioned anywhere (like take the hose of the bottom of the modulator when the engine is running, if you can feel hot air coming out the exhaust channel is clear, if not its blocked! simples!) Looking for any help guys, thanks. BTW its a 1994 16 valve, TBI, manual tranny, 2 door, 2wd sidekick
To clear this was an absolute nightmare, but eventually got it clean and a nice lot of suction goes to the EGR valve and this time the diaphragm works as it should! ;D except it failed again on NO levels, still too high at 1100 ppm. The technician and I tested the VSV, modulator, checked all the pipes and wires, no fault code on the EMU so there is only one other thing that can cause this ------ a faulty catalytic converter, its that that strips the NO out of the exhaust. So, 450 bucks later I have a shiny new cat welded in place and send it in for its 4th test--------------- FAILED AGAIN reason? NO levels too high at 1100 ppm. The technician said that my car is perfect, CO2, HC, everything perfect, everything is like it was when it came out of the factory in 1994 (!), he reckons that when the car was built NO levels straight out of the factory would be at least 800 ppm so it will NEVER pass a smog test. I am asking you guys out there in SOCO there MUST be sidekicks 1994 vintage which pass the smog, there just has to be. Can anyone help at all please? pretty please? I have spent well over 100 hours (and huge amount of bucks) trying to get this car through.I will eventually get it smogged, I am sure, and when I do I will post all my findings here because the threads I have seen, and what is in the Haynes manual barely touches on the subject, there are so many EASY tests to do to diagnose faults which are not mentioned anywhere (like take the hose of the bottom of the modulator when the engine is running, if you can feel hot air coming out the exhaust channel is clear, if not its blocked! simples!) Looking for any help guys, thanks. BTW its a 1994 16 valve, TBI, manual tranny, 2 door, 2wd sidekick