Failed Emissions Test, need help quick

[Nickb1907]

So failed the test, I need to try and pinpoint what to fix quickly since i have 15 days to get it back or I have to pay another $40


I failed the NOX

High speed
Max 1380
festiva 2059

Low speed
Max 1527
festiva 2640

Any suggestions, there is a new muffler on there and the cat looked fine, but I only looked at the front side of it. Replaced the waterpump recently so had to take timing belt off and put it back on. Runs just like it always did so I think timing is good.

Please help me with this quick as I will have to do this repair afterwork.

It does have a bad gasket leak, think its the valve gasket, and the engine is has grease/oil all over it. It has been like that since I bought it.

[phyaz91]

move to florida where we dont worry about emissions.

[milehighbear]

What year is your car and is it carbed or efi would help knowing?

[Nickb1907]

What year is your car and is it carbed or efi would help knowing?

93/efi manual tranny

[milehighbear]

I have a 93 also and mine failed emissions when I first got it and I had to change my catalytic converter and 02 sensor. If you get on the computer and type in nox emmissions, check out couple of the paragraghs that come up and couple of them will tell you what to look for. That at least will give you a start.

[woodyvw16v]

have you checked your timing? fuel flow? injectors?

iirc advanced timing and lean running will both cause high Nox. id have to get the books out to double check but thats a theory to start with

o2 sensor and manifold leak will also cause the car to run lean

[TominMO]

Start with a complete tuneup, esp. air filter, and a can of Guaranteed to Pass. And retard the ignition timing a few degrees from stock.

[25Horseplay]

catalytic converter

[brickdog2000]

Could it be a gasket? Then again I would imagine you could hear the exhaust leak.

[woodyvw16v]

Start with a complete tuneup, esp. air filter, and a can of Guaranteed to Pass. And retard the ignition timing a few degrees from stock.

^this

start with the least expensive fixes first.

[NABEF9]

I must thank Sasquatch for this invaluable tool. It worked great on my car. It cleans out your whole system...my car, which had been sitting for two years before I bought it, passed Aircare with flying colours

[Nickb1907]

Start with a complete tuneup, esp. air filter, and a can of Guaranteed to Pass. And retard the ignition timing a few degrees from stock.

o2 sensor is less than 1 year old, did air filter, cap, rotor, plugs, wires

what is a can of guaranteed to pass?

I can do alot of mechanic things, but timing is something I have never messed with so I really dont know where to start or how to check it.

And for the comment on being in an emmisions free state, the county next to mine is not an emmisions county and the line is in my neighbor's back yard.

[TominMO]

o2 sensor is less than 1 year old, did air filter, cap, rotor, plugs, wires

what is a can of guaranteed to pass?

I can do alot of mechanic things, but timing is something I have never messed with so I really dont know where to start or how to check it.

Guaranteed to Pass is some alcohol-based stuff you pour into the gas tank. Follow the directions. A new (or recently-vacuumed) air filter will help too.

[bravekozak]

Seafoam Ingredients
CAS # Wt.%
Pale Oil 64742-54-7 40.00 - 60.00 N/Av >15000 mg/kg >5000 mg/kg
Naphtha 64742-49-0 25.00 - 35.00 N/Av >5000 mg/kg N/Av
IPA 67-63-0 10.00 - 20.00 17000ppm 4720mg/kg 12890mg/kg

Seafoam will absorb small amounts of water. What it will not fix is E10 that has phase separated.
PALE OILS are light coloured, non-staining naphthenic oils refined from specially selected wax-free crude through the use of severe hydrogenation. This process produces oils of excellent initial colour and colour stability while maintaining their compatibility with most synthetic elastomers. With a flash point of 330 degreee F or more. E10 flash point is around -40 degrees F. Diesel is around 143 degrees F by the way. Have you ever wondered why Seafoam will stall your gasoilne engine unless you rev the hell out of it. Well now you know; the stuff does not want to go BOOM.
Naphtha flash point is a little lower then gasoline. If you want to buy Naphtha go buy some Coleman Stove Fuel.
Seafoam has a flash point of 55 degrees F and gasoline is -40 degrees F. That is why when you pour it in a carb the engine wants to die.

OR,
You can just decarb your engine by misting some water into the intake while revving the engine.
It saves a lot of money and you won't believe how clean it will be on the inside once you have finished.

[1988festivazoom]

To retard the timing loosen the 2 dist. Bolts and rotate the dist. Forward. It should make the car idle down a bit. Don't go too far or it will fall on its face and have almost no power. My buddy sold me his festy after he had emessions done on it bc it was running like crap.... turns out they just retarded the timing way back.... his loss my gain