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Failed Emissions!!

Reply #15 –
Quote from: 5.0willgo
Okay so my car was due for it's test and here are the results.
Hydrocarbons
state limit  1.4 GPM
my results  5.2 GPM  FAIL

Carbon Monoxide
state limit 30 GPM
my results 15.2 GPM  PASS

Oxides of Nitrogen
state limit 2.5 GPM
my results 4.6 GPM  FAIL

Tampering Inspection
Fuel Cap: Pass
Catalytic Converter: N/A

They looked under the car with a mirror to check the exhaust system but it didn't matter that I don't have catalytic converters because they weren't part of the emissions test requirements. So now I have until September 14th to spend $450 on emissions related stuff so I can get a waiver. Yay.


Well, what happened?  I am curious because my hydrocarbons on After were at 3.0.

I've been searching around and I found some posts where people have claimed passing emissions without cats.  Is it possible for a stock 5.0 SO to run without cats while still maintaining an emissions level below those posted in this thread?

I also have a "rich" smell and I'm wondering if that is from the hydrocarbons.  If it is, I'm wondering if it is due to bad cats or something else.  The O2 sensor voltage levels seem to indicate they are working and some other things have been checked too.  I'm wondering if replacing the cats will fix the problem or just cover the problem.  If it covers the problem, I'll be replacing the cats again in a few years and I don't want that.
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
[size=-2]Click on paw print \/[/size]

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #16 –
Any of you guys in California?  If you aren't and you still aren't passing, then you have some very dirty cars.

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Cougars 2 go
Well, what happened?  I am curious because my hydrocarbons on After were at 3.0.


So After failed as well huh.
So here's whats been going on. I've worked on the car a lot since it went in when I posted but it still hasn't passed.
Here's the changes

Hydrocarbons
5/11/05 reading 5.2  11/16/05 reading 3.4
Carbon Monoxide
5/11/05 reading 15.2  11/16/05 reading 11.4
Oxides of Nitrogen
5/11/05 reading 4.6  11/16/05 reading 3.5

I have cleaned all my sensors and stuff, everything is functioning properly with the exception of the emissions air system which I removed most of. The car doesn't have cats on it and I'm pretty much set now that because of this the car won't pass. I've been researching a lot and everything I find says the car car will not pass without cats.
I'm positive if I get cats on the car, I might be able to pass. The problem is that I don't have the money just to throw at them. I have more important things to pay than to buy cats for a car that I don't even drive every day.

I talked to the people at emissions and heres the deal.
-Once it fails once, you are allowed one free retest.
-If it fails the retest, each test after that will cost $14.
-If you fail again, you are given 1 month to bring it back and give them another $14.
-If you fail again, you are given another month and so on.
From what I gather and what the guy told me, there is no limit on how many times you can take the car in.

I've been going around with mine for a year now since I got my initial notice.

So I took my car in Sept. 14th, got my free retest and failed.
I had to go back by Oct. 16th, which I paid $14 and failed.
Now I have to go back again by Nov. 15, pay my $14 and fail again because I don't have the money to put into the car.

Now interesting enough for some reason during the last treadmill test, two spark plug wires came off. I don't know why but all I do know is that the car ran like  until I could pull away from the emissions lane and take a look at it. Now I'm mad...
Apparently all this "Clean the Air"  in MD is nothing but BS. All they want is their money so that is what they are going to get. I'm going to go to emissions possibly tomorrow and just pay the $14 fee. I refuse to put my car on that treadmill again. I know it's going to fail and I don't need them to destroy my car anymore than it already is. I'm sure the knock in the motor has something to do with them testing it.

Quote from: Cougars 2 go
I've been searching around and I found some posts where people have claimed passing emissions without cats. Is it possible for a stock 5.0 SO to run without cats while still maintaining an emissions level below those posted in this thread?


I really can't tell you. When I got my car it had it's original SO motor and the factory y-pipe with no modifications. When I looked at the emissions form from the previous owner, the car just barely passed and that's with everything hooked up correctly.
I guess it is possible to pass without cats if the car has a really good tune. No hiccups allowed. What I think I'm going to do, again when I have the money to do so, is get and old H-pipe with cats from a Lincoln or Mustang to hold onto just for emissions purposes. Hopefully it will pass then but if not, I don't know what I'll do with it.

Here's to the wonderful great state of MD:cheers:

Oh, also in January 2008, our cars will be 20 years old being '88s. As long as Mercury doesn't bring back a Cougar before then we will be able to get Historic or Hot Rod plates which means no more emissions. If Mercury brings back the Cougar by then, we will be, or atleast I will be, doomed with this emissions  until 2013.:(

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #18 –
No way you're passing without cats.  You're just going to have to bite the bullet and get some put on there.  It's almost cheaper to keep paying the $14 a month for a couple years!
-Jim
1987 Cougar LS 5.0

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #19 –
Quote from: jkirchman
No way you're passing without cats.  You're just going to have to bite the bullet and get some put on there.  It's almost cheaper to keep paying the $14 a month for a couple years!

I know but it's easier to put down $14 a month that I have and can spare than say $150 that I really don't have for two new cats right now.
I know it's not a lot of money to some people but to me that is. It just doesn't exist and when it does, I need it to pay something else.
I get an extra pay in December so I hope to do something by then.

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #20 –
Yeah I failed mine the first time through by half a point.  It sucked, but I just took it to the shop to have it leaned out, and it passed with flying colors.  Good luck with whatever route you go.  All I know is that this is the last time I am going to have to pass emissions because after your vehicle is 20 years old you can get "historic vehicle" plates, that allow you to skip emissions.  I think there may be some strings attached though, but I still have some research to do.

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #21 –
Quote from: DakotaEpic
after your vehicle is 20 years old you can get "historic vehicle" plates, that allow you to skip emissions.  I think there may be some strings attached though, but I still have some research to do.


To get historic plates here the car must be 25 years old OR 20 years and a discontinued model. They have mileage restrictions and a nice little form to fill out stating the car will be used for show and parade purposes and not for daily transportation. Big deal, as long as you stay within the mileage restriction, you're fine.

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #22 –
if you want ill take the car from you for free then you dont to worry bout it anymore no tests in minnesota anymore the relized that they didnt work

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #23 –
Well, my car was throwing 34 so I took it to the mechanic and he found some sort of difference between the EGR valve, and the EGR sensor which resulted in voltage levels being out of range enough to throw a code.  The parts were the correct parts but he said he has seen this before on these Ford 5.0 engines.  Anyway, he fixed the problem and cleaned the EGR stuff out so I go back to the emissions and rather than failing one category, I failed TWO!

I told the guy at the Maryland emissions station about the EGR repair and how my last test only failed one category and he said that means my problem in definitely cats.

I have a new H-pipe with cats on order but what I don't get is I've heard people say how they can get through emissions without cats.  Either they have some lax states, or there is still something else wrong with my car.

It also has this obnoxious rich/lean smell, like gas is not being completely burned.

Anyway, I got a waiver but I still want to fix these problems.  I'm wondering if my car isn't running hot enough.  My temp and oil gauges both read fairly low all the time and I have just disregarded it as "characteristic" as others have concluded but maybe I should check that out somehow.
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
[size=-2]Click on paw print \/[/size]

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #24 –
Wich car is it Karl?
One 88

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #25 –
Karl, it looks like you are having the same problems I've been having. It's obviously dang near impossible to pass in MD without cats. How people manage to do it... I don't know. For all the modded mustangs I see of this vintage that seem to pass fine, it's all beyond me. They each have their ways, I'm sure. To either putting on a pipe with cats for emissions or paying people off.

My car has the strong smelling exhaust, runs fairly cool meaning the temp guage almost never gets into the center of the norm range. It is usually between two and three rectangles on the digital display. I don't have any codes so it has to be the cats.

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #26 –
Quote from: 5.0willgo
Karl, it looks like you are having the same problems I've been having. It's obviously dang near impossible to pass in MD without cats. How people manage to do it... I don't know. For all the modded mustangs I see of this vintage that seem to pass fine, it's all beyond me. They each have their ways, I'm sure. To either putting on a pipe with cats for emissions or paying people off.

My car has the strong smelling exhaust, runs fairly cool meaning the temp guage almost never gets into the center of the norm range. It is usually between two and three rectangles on the digital display. I don't have any codes so it has to be the cats.


What I'm wondering though is if new cats will just cover up the symptom of the true problem.  Then in a few years, I'll be replacing cats again because the real problem ruined my new cats and I'm back in the same boat.  I've also been around cars without cats and they don't smell like After does.
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
[size=-2]Click on paw print \/[/size]

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #27 –
Pull out the spout connector before the test..
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1974 maverick lsx powered turbo car SOLD
1973 maverick Tijuana Taxi Tribute
1957 chevy LSX Turbo project (race car)
Owner of Joe Dirt Fabrication
 

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #28 –
So its after thats having the problem?  My Se is running a bit rich, I blame it on leaky injectors.  When I have the time I'm going to get new ones or flow clean these.
One 88

Failed Emissions!!

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Cougars 2 go
What I'm wondering though is if new cats will just cover up the symptom of the true problem.  Then in a few years, I'll be replacing cats again because the real problem ruined my new cats and I'm back in the same boat.  I've also been around cars without cats and they don't smell like After does.

I'd like to have a sniff:giggle:
My car does smell bad, but so do many of the late 80's-93 mustangs I see (both with and without cats). I have worked on mine and cleaned every possible thing I could. It has a new egr, new injectors (yes I paid Ford's price for them:yuck: ) and I've replaced all the various sensors on top of the manifold and so on. I've had the car looked at and nothing can be found. It doesn't seem to run really rich or really lean, it just has a strong odor about it and it got much worse after I pulled the cats and installed the h-pipe.