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Failed SMOG, now what???



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 20th 05, 03:38 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???

Hi, I am trying to sell my 1992 Toyota Tercel, it runs good but has
200k miles on it.

I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.

The emission problem could be o2 sensor, catalytic converter or EGR
valve. Or even more than 1 of the 3. So this could cost me a lot.

I was asking $1400 for the car. Now, I don't know if I fix and try to
ask for more, if I should donate, etc...

Do you think I could replace the 02 sensor or catalytic converter
myself? I amnot a mechanic. If the problem is in the 02 sensor or
converter it wn't cost so much, but I believe the EGR valve costs
around $200





Some people are calling me and saying they will buy the car as is. But
I am afraid of that, because without smog they can't transfer to their
name.



What do you suggest?



I appreciate your help.



Thanks so much,

  #2  
Old November 20th 05, 04:17 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???

On 19 Nov 2005 18:38:02 -0800 "skuba" > wrote:

> I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.


Many times, I've seen where people change the plugs,
cap and rotor, and use SeaFoam (~200 miles before)
prior to the test. The trick, in most instances, is
to drive the vehicle at LEAST 30 minutes (preferably
an hour) before getting to the inspection station.

Some states offer an owner a max-limit on repairs
to get the vehicle into compliance - once the owner
has spent that amount (some states = ~300 on older
cars), allow the vehicle to pass.

[snip]
> Some people are calling me and saying they will buy the car as is. But
> I am afraid of that, because without smog they can't transfer to their
> name.


Not sure which stat you're in, but in Texas, a person
can sell a car that has an expired inspection sticker.

--
remove MYSHOES to email
  #3  
Old November 20th 05, 04:31 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???

skuba wrote:
>
> Hi, I am trying to sell my 1992 Toyota Tercel, it runs good but has
> 200k miles on it.
>
> I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.
>
> What do you suggest?


Junk it.
  #4  
Old November 20th 05, 04:46 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???

Charity laws have changed. Be careful.

"« Paul »" <"=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul
> wrote in message
...
> skuba wrote:
>>
>> Hi, I am trying to sell my 1992 Toyota Tercel, it runs good but has
>> 200k miles on it.
>>
>> I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.
>>
>> What do you suggest?

>
> Junk it.



  #5  
Old November 20th 05, 05:12 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???


> The emission problem could be o2 sensor, catalytic converter or EGR
> valve. Or even more than 1 of the 3. So this could cost me a lot.



1. In what exact ways did you fail the smog test? Usually they give
you a printout with specific tests and their results.


2. What makes you suspect those particular parts? Smoggability
problems can come from a lot of sources, and shotgunning parts at them
is not nearly as efficient (or cheap) an approach as diagnosing what's
wrong.


3. Do you also have driveability or gas-mileage problems or just too
much of one or more of the specific kinds of pollution they check?

4. How long since the last general tune-up (plugs, cap, wires, rotor,
check ignition timing)?

As for the parts you mentioned: Generally speaking, the EGR valve
lends itself to simple go/no-go diagnosis and is not too terribly hard
to replace -- see the repair manual. The O2 sensor isn't hard to
replace on most cars, but mind the precautions so you don't slay it.
These are both usually somewhat comparable in techniques and difficulty
to removing and replacing spark plugs, just to take an example lots of
people are familiar with. The cat is in an awkward location, involves
some physical violence to remove and is by no means cheap... and
besides making sure it's realy the problem, you want to make sure the
upstream components are good so you don't just kill the new one.


Over to you...
--Joe

  #6  
Old November 20th 05, 09:48 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???


"skuba" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hi, I am trying to sell my 1992 Toyota Tercel, it runs good but has
> 200k miles on it.
>
> I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.
>


Sell it as-is.

> The emission problem could be o2 sensor, catalytic converter or EGR
> valve. Or even more than 1 of the 3. So this could cost me a lot.
>
> I was asking $1400 for the car. Now, I don't know if I fix and try to
> ask for more, if I should donate, etc...
>


$1400 would be out of the question even if it passed the smog check.

> Do you think I could replace the 02 sensor or catalytic converter
> myself? I amnot a mechanic. If the problem is in the 02 sensor or
> converter it wn't cost so much, but I believe the EGR valve costs
> around $200
>


Even if you do your own work you will never recoup the money
you spend on it.

>
>
> Some people are calling me and saying they will buy the car as is. But
> I am afraid of that, because without smog they can't transfer to their
> name.
>


Why would you be afraid of that? Unless the state laws specifically
prohibit title transfer you don't need to worry about this. And many
if not most states do not prohibit title transfer just because it fails
smog.
They prohibit REGISTRATION but titling a car isn't the same thing as
registering it. You should check
your state laws carefully. And another thing, even if your state
explicitly prohibits someone from titling a car unless it is smog checked,
you can easily sell it out of state to someone who does not live in
a state that has such Nazi laws.

If I modify a car to use for off-road racing or whatever, it will by
definition fail a smog check. So are you saying that in your state
that people are prohibited from selling ATVs, dragsters, and other
offroad vehicles? I think not.

>
>
> What do you suggest?
>


Sell it and make sure to get identification from the buyer, such
as their drivers license number, and verify that with their actual
license, and make sure to have their signature on a bill of sale or
some such that proves legally that you transferred ownership to
them. Once they own the vehicle, you cannot be held liable
for anything they do with it even if they never transfer the title.
By law they are probably required to transfer the title within 90
days of buying it from you, so if your still paranoid you can
call the cops if they don't do it.

Ted


  #7  
Old November 20th 05, 10:16 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Posts: n/a
Default Failed SMOG, now what???

Change the engine oil then go immediately to the testing station. Clean oil
is supposed to be a help in passing the tests. Maybe someone else can verify
whether this is true or not.

"Ted Mittelstaedt" > wrote in message
...
>
> "skuba" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> Hi, I am trying to sell my 1992 Toyota Tercel, it runs good but has
>> 200k miles on it.
>>
>> I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.
>>

>
> Sell it as-is.
>
>> The emission problem could be o2 sensor, catalytic converter or EGR
>> valve. Or even more than 1 of the 3. So this could cost me a lot.
>>
>> I was asking $1400 for the car. Now, I don't know if I fix and try to
>> ask for more, if I should donate, etc...
>>

>
> $1400 would be out of the question even if it passed the smog check.
>
>> Do you think I could replace the 02 sensor or catalytic converter
>> myself? I amnot a mechanic. If the problem is in the 02 sensor or
>> converter it wn't cost so much, but I believe the EGR valve costs
>> around $200
>>

>
> Even if you do your own work you will never recoup the money
> you spend on it.
>
>>
>>
>> Some people are calling me and saying they will buy the car as is. But
>> I am afraid of that, because without smog they can't transfer to their
>> name.
>>

>
> Why would you be afraid of that? Unless the state laws specifically
> prohibit title transfer you don't need to worry about this. And many
> if not most states do not prohibit title transfer just because it fails
> smog.
> They prohibit REGISTRATION but titling a car isn't the same thing as
> registering it. You should check
> your state laws carefully. And another thing, even if your state
> explicitly prohibits someone from titling a car unless it is smog checked,
> you can easily sell it out of state to someone who does not live in
> a state that has such Nazi laws.
>
> If I modify a car to use for off-road racing or whatever, it will by
> definition fail a smog check. So are you saying that in your state
> that people are prohibited from selling ATVs, dragsters, and other
> offroad vehicles? I think not.
>
>>
>>
>> What do you suggest?
>>

>
> Sell it and make sure to get identification from the buyer, such
> as their drivers license number, and verify that with their actual
> license, and make sure to have their signature on a bill of sale or
> some such that proves legally that you transferred ownership to
> them. Once they own the vehicle, you cannot be held liable
> for anything they do with it even if they never transfer the title.
> By law they are probably required to transfer the title within 90
> days of buying it from you, so if your still paranoid you can
> call the cops if they don't do it.
>
> Ted
>
>



  #8  
Old November 20th 05, 08:53 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Failed SMOG, now what???

Ted, true if it is fuel contaminated especially, in respect to hyrocarbons
only.
"KC" > wrote in message
...
> Change the engine oil then go immediately to the testing station. Clean
> oil is supposed to be a help in passing the tests. Maybe someone else can
> verify whether this is true or not.
>
> "Ted Mittelstaedt" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "skuba" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>>> Hi, I am trying to sell my 1992 Toyota Tercel, it runs good but has
>>> 200k miles on it.
>>>
>>> I failed the smog test and now I don't know what to do.
>>>

>>
>> Sell it as-is.
>>
>>> The emission problem could be o2 sensor, catalytic converter or EGR
>>> valve. Or even more than 1 of the 3. So this could cost me a lot.
>>>
>>> I was asking $1400 for the car. Now, I don't know if I fix and try to
>>> ask for more, if I should donate, etc...
>>>

>>
>> $1400 would be out of the question even if it passed the smog check.
>>
>>> Do you think I could replace the 02 sensor or catalytic converter
>>> myself? I amnot a mechanic. If the problem is in the 02 sensor or
>>> converter it wn't cost so much, but I believe the EGR valve costs
>>> around $200
>>>

>>
>> Even if you do your own work you will never recoup the money
>> you spend on it.
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Some people are calling me and saying they will buy the car as is. But
>>> I am afraid of that, because without smog they can't transfer to their
>>> name.
>>>

>>
>> Why would you be afraid of that? Unless the state laws specifically
>> prohibit title transfer you don't need to worry about this. And many
>> if not most states do not prohibit title transfer just because it fails
>> smog.
>> They prohibit REGISTRATION but titling a car isn't the same thing as
>> registering it. You should check
>> your state laws carefully. And another thing, even if your state
>> explicitly prohibits someone from titling a car unless it is smog
>> checked,
>> you can easily sell it out of state to someone who does not live in
>> a state that has such Nazi laws.
>>
>> If I modify a car to use for off-road racing or whatever, it will by
>> definition fail a smog check. So are you saying that in your state
>> that people are prohibited from selling ATVs, dragsters, and other
>> offroad vehicles? I think not.
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What do you suggest?
>>>

>>
>> Sell it and make sure to get identification from the buyer, such
>> as their drivers license number, and verify that with their actual
>> license, and make sure to have their signature on a bill of sale or
>> some such that proves legally that you transferred ownership to
>> them. Once they own the vehicle, you cannot be held liable
>> for anything they do with it even if they never transfer the title.
>> By law they are probably required to transfer the title within 90
>> days of buying it from you, so if your still paranoid you can
>> call the cops if they don't do it.
>>
>> Ted
>>
>>

>
>
>




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  #9  
Old November 21st 05, 10:12 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Default Failed SMOG, now what???


"Shep" > wrote in message
...
> Ted, true if it is fuel contaminated especially, in respect to hyrocarbons
> only.


Yep, I should of asked if it just barely failed or not, as there's tricks to
getting it to pass.

I myself has a '84 Celebrity and it just barely passes on HC's. Sometimes
it fails. The engine is the 2.5 with the GM computer-controlled Varajet
carb, the engine probably has about 260,000 miles on this carb (the
engine has been rebuilt) The converter was replaced once by a former
owner and is probably close to being shot again.

I'm kind of cheap so what I do when it fails is just go to a differnet
testing station. The last time I had to take it in, it failed HC, so
that same day I drove to another test station, which was about 15
miles away, out in a rural area. I basically drove 70Mph on the
highway to get there, then the test station is right off the freeway
exit, and nobody was in front of me, so I got it tested within
minutes of coming in off the highway and it passed.

The test devices are supposed to be recalibrated periodically
but I think there's enough variation that this trick works if
it's a borderline fail. Also the testing stations I used were
at different elevations.

Aother thing you can do is just try testing it on a different day
that has a different barometric pressure.

Most people focus on fuel modifications to try to get borderline
engines to pass, but air modifications are often more effective
since a lot more air is going through the engine than fuel. The
idea is that different densities of air may change the pollution the
engine puts out. With computer controls of course the engine
tries to compensate for this, but it's not perfect. And older
cars without engine computers are particularly easy to trick.
My father had a station wagon once that would pass if you simply
removed the air filter before going in to have it tested.

Ted


  #10  
Old November 20th 05, 04:27 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
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Posts: n/a
Default Failed SMOG, now what???

Taking the EGR valve off and cleaning it costs nothing.
Only do it if the Nitrogen (NO) reading on the test was too high.
There is a writeup on checking cleaning the EGR valve on my car on my
website (see below) under "Cars".

 




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