im just wondering if leaky injectors could cause the HC's to be high like this... also i put 14$ in gas in the car last night (roughly half a tank) now it's dropped to a little under a 1/4 .. and i drove a total of maybe 40 miles today IF THAT... so im thinking it's something to do with the fuel, but knowing me, i pick the top 10 hardest things to trouble shoot before i even think of the simplest things.. im trying to avoid a tear down at this point.. ive spent 3 solid weeks working on the car.. had no sleep.. so im wanting to get it just narrowed down at this point

 

You know if your O2 sensor wire is not sending signal to the computer, it defaults to full rich mode? That can mess with all sorts of things. Fuel economy and emissions most of all.

Vince

 

i put in a new o2 sensor.. but i thought that only effected cruising fuel econ, not the type you would have at idle getting smog tested

 

Can you explain how the coolant temp. sensor would effect emissions? (I too just failed the test).

 

How can you test this?

 

ECU runs the car richer when cold. If CTS is not working and registering -40 degrees, the car will run rich all the time.

 

how would you go about checking the cts to see if it's working? *broke* how much do they cost to replace?

 

well im bout to go to sleep, gonna trouble shoot it all tomorrow when i get up, if anyone can give me any last minute suggestions, and tell me a quick easy way to check the CTS i would be very gratefull

thanks,
alan

 

I get mostly 12 mpg 9 on a bad day, but before it ran like crap i passed emissions, I replaced the cts myself and it didnt help one bit, it was like 18 20 bucks i think..check the air temp sensor, thats one thing i didnt get too yet and it could be a problem, I need to get a ohm meter and check all that stuff, the ats is on the drivers side of the Upper intake manifold, also sounds silly, But make sure your intake pipes are all tight and the clamps are on good, Ill let you guys know when i find out whats wrong with mine if you do the same with me, I am having a hell of a time trying to get back up too 17-18 mpg like it used to be, But i think my cat is a factor, get back to you later

 

Yeah, when the sensor fails or gives a reading that is outside of a preset perameter, the ECU substitutes in preprogram value. For the coolant sensor, that is -40 which is the lowest temp it can register, and a value that will cause the ECU to schedule the most fuel. ECU does the same thing if the O2 sensor or air intake temp sensor value is lost or incorrect.

 

well, to teast the cts, first see if there is voltage from the reference wire in the first place. Look in the FSM for spec numbers, but i'm pretty usre our cars use a 5V ref. Anyhoo, after that, test the signal voltage from when the car is started until it warmes up. It should start at a low voltage and slowly go up as the coolant heats up.

Just think of it from the cars perspective. I know it sounds dumb, but it helps me when i'm trying to diagnose things. I'm dumping a lot of fuel into my chambers. Why? Cause i think it's cold.... or I think the air coming in is real cold/ i'm always taking in a lot of air. Or my oxygen sensor keeps telling me im lean, so i keep dumping in more fuel. Think of all the components related to the fuel delivery, and check them.

 

hey man save about 300 too 500 bucks pay some guy under the table , thats what i do!! good luck

 

sounds good, thanks for the help everybody... i got a nice list of all the things i need to check out tomorrow, i'll let everyone know what i find, be a good future reference for anyone having trouble passing emissions, because i am going to check EVERYTHING that could effect it, taking common sense, old threads, this thread, fsm's, etc and doing a full check up.. maybe i can beat this problem once and for all.

thanks for all the help,
alan

 

you know what i just decided... im gonna break out my FSM, my Digi cam, and spend the next few days doing an Emissions/Fuel Econ write-up... checking everything i can check, replacing things i can replace... well, unless it rains *shakes fist towards the sky*

 

I ran into same problem with the smog test. After 4 tries, I watched the tech hook up the car and program the smog computer. He was selecting the 4 banger and not the rotary engine 1.3l. It passed when he entered the correct engine code "r" at the bottom of the list.

 

The factory service manual has a procedure. Manual can be found in the FAQ.

 

well, i just replaced the sensor on the water pump housing... i looked at it and said to myself 'how the hell did Aaron know' it was broken almost completely off, hanging on by some brittle plastic... replaced it with a spare i had in a parts car, im just hoping it's gonna make a difference emissions wise