Failed smog again -- does it get any more ridiculous than this?

[124Fan]

IT PASSED! WOOOOHOOOO!!!!

I found another shop and told them the situation. They said that while most cars are tested in 2nd gear only, some require 3rd gear for the 25 mph test and that they'd be willing to do that. They allowed me to be in the shop and show them that all parts of the emissions controls (EGR, Air Injection, EVAP, etc) were present and functional.

They said most shops are "scared" of a car like this because the Bureau of Automotive Repair will sometimes send an "undercover" car that is not legal and then try to trick techs into passing it. So, their default mindset is to play it safe and send you elsewhere.

Man, what a hassle. If these guys were going to be around for awhile, I'd consider keeping it.

Thanks to this forum for the feedback and Mark in particular for the carb and smog advice.

Sonny

[RRoller123]

How long until you have to go through this utopian inquisition again?

[124Fan]

I have to do the smog test every 2 years.

Now that I have a "recipe", I think it might not be so bad.

For smog:
1. Enable EGR (use vacuum advance port on DFEV)
2. Enable air pump
3. Timing to 0 BDTC
4. Get cat nice and hot (it was new prior to the last test)
5. Idle to 850 ish rpm
6. New plugs and oil
7. Stock air cleaner

For no smog:
1. Disable EGR (unhook from vacuum advance port and cap both ends)
2. Remove air pump belt (primarily to prevent wear on the pump), remove air pump line from manifold and cap both ends
3. Timing to 10 BTDC
4. Leave cat alone
5. Idle to 1000 rpm (makes cold operation a little easier to handle)
6. Performance air cleaner

Even in "no smog" trim, the car lacks the grunt that my lightly modded '72 1608 had. That's ok though. Still fun to drive and it gets lots of compliments.

[KandJinmaine]

We ran into this when we lived in CA., the way it was then was you had to pay up to $500.00 to try to get it to pass....total scam. We ended up taking ours to a guy in San Ramon who specializes in Ferraris etc. He got it to pass and made the car run better than it ever had. If this is an option for you let me know and I will see if we have the paperwork that has his name. It was about ten years or so ago. I feel your pain.
Jeff