So after driving my new car for a week I took it for an e-test today.
It passed on everything except HC ppm while running, reading was 81 and the limit is 66.
I'm thinking that it needs a new o2 sensor.
Thoughts? Advice?

I drove the car on the highway for about 25 minutes before the test, it has new plugs, previous owner replaced the exhaust including cat a while ago and the car wasn't driven since. I think it's been sitting for a long time.
I'm running 87 octane petro canada gas.

 

How old is the cat exactly ,because Rotary engines have higher exhaust temperatures and Eat Cats faster than a piston engine..I went through the same Crap in a different Pile(loosely put..LOL)..I sent you a pm with some info I found while Tryin to pass myself..Others will post Too,be rest assured,you are not the only Owner that hasn't passed the E-Test..As a matter of Fact,I think you did rather well,considering this is your First crack at Rotary engines(Golf clap!!)

 

When my o2 was shot, it was wayyyyyyyy more off than that, but my 88 needed an airflow meter to make it pass, i was very close like you, so i would try that first. also, make sure your tps is good and set, that should help too

 

high octain would help to, not for power, but for the lower amount of bunk in the fuel

 

along with high octane u say the emissions were to high while at idle?... just lean the mixture out and it will pass ... same thing happined with my 87.5 ......

 

everything passed by a fair margin at idle, and everything passed by a fair margin while running except the HC ppm.

 

Ahh, i had the EXACT same thing on my TII. Now, what i did to pass was Go to crappy tire get the "Guaranteed to Pass" stuff. Run you car till almost emety. put in about a 1/3 of a tank of any Supreme gas (i personally used Sunoco 94). And then pour that stuff in. Run for about 10 minutes. And immedately go for your test and KEEP THE CAR HOT. (if your gonna wait keep reving and what not (call ahead like how i did and make sure the spot is open and ready for ya)). Also when running your prevous gas out take the car on the highway and drive it hard, get it all nice and hot. That worked for me and i passed with flying colours.
PM me if you need any more help.

 

I used some camping alcohol in about 1/4 tank of gas on my 84 that I sold 2 years ago, passed like a prius. Just make sure to go to the gas station and fill the tank up to dilute the alcohol after the test.

The camping alcohol that you can get in Canadian tire is 99.4% pure alcohol. Works like a charm. Just be carefull.

Adam

 

I put a new O2 sensor in today at lunch time, back for the second test tomorrow AM at 10!

 

Well????..How did it go?..Did you pass?

 

Still no luck.
Got rid of the 10W30 that was in there, put the proper 20W50 in and will drive it for a few days to get rid of the 10W30 that is lingering. Test again on Thursday.

 

It works, and it's cheap.

 

20w wont do a thing, other than cause extra drag on all oil lubed sufaces.

 

I have to agree with Adam on this one.(..camp fuel,methyl hydrate..denatured alcohol..J-Rat's Recipe).Post your results..let's have a look at what your readings were ..

 

do (slow) 2nd gens like yours have air pumps? I routed the air pump of my SE directly into the cat when I failed the first time. they didn't look under the hood, and passed me no problem it aced everything the second time!!

I have most of the hoses still if you need them...

 

Yes there is an air pump and air tube to the cat. I'm going to spend some time tonight going over everything with a fine tooth comb.
There is only one cat on the car too... Aren't there supposed to be two pre cats?

 

Well... failed for the 3rd time today.
Here are my results:
Test #1 running
HCPPM: Limit 66, reading 81 FAIL
CO% limit 0.37 reading 0.23 PASS
NO ppm limit 757 reading 123 PASS
test #1 idle
HCppm limit 200 reading 74 PASS
co% limit 1.00 reading 0.10 PASS

Test #2 running
hcppm limit 66 reading 100 FAIL
co% limit 0.37 reading 0.29 PASS
NO ppm limit 757 reading 133 PASS
Test #2 idle
hc ppm limit 200 reading 118 PASS
co% limit 1.00 reading 0.10 PASS

Test #3 running
hc ppm limit 66 reading 144 FAIL
co% limit 0.37 reading 0.30 PASS
NO ppm limit 757 reading 200 PASS
test #3 idle
hc ppm limit 200 reading 197 PASS
co% limit 1.00 reading 0.17 PASS

It keeps getting WORSE not BETTER

Forgot to say that the tank was almost empty and I put a gallon of camp fuel in before going to the test.

 

well there is always the bootleg etest option ... atthis rate all the money u are spending on little dodads to make it pass u could have had a bogus one already lol thats what i did with mine

 

Go for the conditional pass! You must make as many repairs combined up to $450 to pass. You need the 1st E-Test, a diagnostic test and a 2nd e-test to prove that you failed. For me it said that I needed a new Cat (>$400) and 02 sensor (>$400 from mazda). In other words it cost about $200 to get a conditional pass. The 2 tests and diagnostic are included in that $450 max cost.

 

no conditional pass for me, I just bought the car a few weeks ago so it has to pass.

 

Forgot to say that the tank was almost empty and I put a gallon of camp fuel in before going to the test.[/QUOTE]


That's odd. It worked for me on my 85 gs. HC were super high on first test, second test with the alcohol the HC's were almost nothing.

This may have been covered, but another trick is to install a hose that dumps the air coming out of the air pump directly into the cat, by passing the stock system. This will dilute the exhaust enough with clean air and help the cat to burn the HC's. This may or may not work, sometimes they measure the dilution. It also makes your cat run hotter than a mo fo.

 

I heard that unhooking the linkage from the throtle to the oil injector pump will help pass on the running test.
Does anyone know if this will damage the motor?(it should still get same oil as at idle)
I might need to get one tested this saturday

 

Ya, I've heard of that. Should help, but it sounds like his problems are more major.

Fried air pump?
Dead cat?
Worn oil seals?

Hope you have better luck with your next test.

 

Sounds like a tired cat. My 85 had no air pump and 10% alcohol in the tank was enough to pass it using a brand new cat.

 

Well it failed again yesterday.
I checked the cat and it had a small crack inside, so I replaced it.
The idle tests were cleaner, the HC running test went down compared to the last test but not enough to pass.
The CO% running test went up, and it failed on that now too.
This is getting very frustrating.

Can I adjust the TPS to lean the mixture out (less than 1K ohm when closed) ? Any other ways to adjust the mixture?