Philsphan

I was wondering if anybody lives in Williamson county with a TPI c4 or just any place and has had to pass emissions? How do you manage to have passed... I passed the CO and CO2 readings the hydrocarbon reading was 313 with a limit of 220... I talked to the mechanic who I've had do minor things to it... he said the exhaust wasn't hot enough and that my car is running rich? Said to just drive the **** out of it let exhaust get super hot put premium and an octane booster in it.. Said that tune port motors always run rich.. There's gotta be more to it then that?? Any advice on this forum from those who run rich managed to pass emissions or just passed emissions in general would be appreciated.

antfarmer2

I would change the o2 put lucas gas treatment double dose high octane run it hard. Would not bother with the octane booster

ovrebo1

if your car doesn't have the compression to burn high octane gas, you are wasting your money.

John A. Marker

Sending PM

Philsphan

Change the o2 sensor? could a bad o2 be why its running rich?

antfarmer2

It is a maintenance item that is neglected they get old and slow.

Philsphan

I appreciate the responses a lot of different ones... Its frustrating this car has a brand new cat new ypipe and new mufflers... amongst a rebuilt smog pump and other things...emissions wasn't a problem when I lived in florida lol

HAD2HAV2

Good God, I thought North Carolina was the auto police state other than California. We have only yearly inspections that require the smog pump, sensors, and Cat. to be on the car for 35 years.

odxr

It is possable for the car to be running cold from a stuck open thermostat or a lower opening temp tstat installed.This will cause the ecm to stay in open loop/warm up mode and ignore the 02 sensor.Also do not not let the car cool off before running the test.1/2 hour of steady highway driving is best for a warmup.

antfarmer2

Becarefull around Dickson the cops there like to live up to the name

Patsgarage

On my 89 I also have the high HC problem for inspection. What I do to pass is take a good rip down the parkway right before I go to the inspection station, and I also turn the idle screw on the TB out 1-1 1/2 turns. It has worked for the last three times I have had to go through, I have to do it again next month.

Sleazy Rider

had the same problem with my 89' a few years ago. finally replaced the fuel regulator and it passed.

Philsphan

See from my vantage point it could be a number of things bad o2 sensors, or timing ive been told my timing could be off with the rough start issue I had... I use to have to really fight with the car to start it... but since replacing the cat,ypipe and mufflers... Hardly ever have to turn it more then once anymore... I was disappointed I didn't pass ever since replacing all the above mentioned the car feels strong way stronger and runs in the 180-190 range when it was in the 212-220 range...

Silver96ce

You cant try to get some of the excess carbon out of the engine. Smog it with a can of Seafoam - directions are on the can. Afterwards (after the smoke clears), take it for a highway run then change the oil. Oil gets contaminated during it's life in the engine. So always have it inspected right after an oil change. Check spark plug gap and condition - change if any question. If the O2 sensor is old, change it also as previously suggested.

A sticking or faulty EGR valve can also cause high HC. However, with TPI, it may be hard accessing it to test.

After you get it to pass, you may want to think about getting antique plates since Tennessee won't check emissions after registering. But I don't know how often you drive it.

Good luck.