Failed Emissions

[SHO GoDz 89]

I just took my SHO to get inspected and it failed for emissions. I've been trying rigorously the past month to get it to pass (fixing exhaust leaks and such).

One thing I've always noticed since I've had the car is that it always has white smoke coming out of the exhaust. It is consistent white smoke, doesn't happen when you start the car, but more like after 30 seconds it comes out. It doesn't pour out either, just a light white smoke.

My car isn't overheating and there isn't any water coming out of my tail pipes so that rules out possible head gasket failure.

I was told by the previous owner that the valve stem seals might need replacing.

Anyways, I'm trying to get some insight into the issue before I start tearing things apart.

Here are the readings from the inspection station.
(State standard) [reading from inspection]
NO2 (879) [2747] FAIL
HC (117) [268] FAIL
CO% (0.65) [1.19] FAIL


My engine has 246k miles on it, and I do burn off quite a bit of oil, more than usual.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Pull the spout and try again.

 

[rubydist]

Pulling the spout connector is unlikely to make that much change, its more likely that you will need to change the cats. But, trying the spout first is a good idea only because its so much less money....

 

[hawkeye18]

I agree, I don't think pulling the SPOUT is going to change HC and CO that much, but I would very much give it a shot. Otherwise, you're looking at either changing the valve stem seals (major PITA) or the cats ($$$$).

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Based on the fact that you failed all 3 dude, it sounds like the cat's aren't doing their job. It seems like its running decent across the board so I'd say it isn't really engine related (unless the seals are really that bad, but I don't remember your car being bad at all the thign ran great). If you want... nvm I lied thats on my car, ok well try to get a stock y pipe and put that on. The stock cats are much better then the high flows you have on there and will give you the best chance of passing, and maybe pull the spout too just for the **** of it.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Pull the spout, see where its at before you throw any parts at the car. Jeez. My old red 95 failed worse than those numbers, then passed with the spout out. If it still fails, replace cats and try again.

 

[SHO GoDz 89]

If it turns out to be my cats, I think I'll be ordering a y-pipe from SHO source. This sho shop y-pipe cost me over $100 in repairs already because it rusted out so badly. Good possibility the cats are just as bad as the rust.

I've been wanting to get a nice equal length Y-pipe but I didn't want cats.


Where is the spout anyways? and what does it do again? I know brian explained this to me already but I forgot.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

How to pull spout connector with pics

 

[tardboy21]

My NO2 levels were around the same and mine passed last fall after pulling the spout. (And that was with a bad oxygen sensor)
Not sure what the other levels were at.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

If it turns out to be my cats, I think I'll be ordering a y-pipe from SHO source. This sho shop y-pipe cost me over $100 in repairs already because it rusted out so badly. Good possibility the cats are just as bad as the rust.

I've been wanting to get a nice equal length Y-pipe but I didn't want cats.


Where is the spout anyways? and what does it do again? I know brian explained this to me already but I forgot.

My cats in my shoshop y pipe died at like 96k miles, and obviously that was not the original pipe to the car, so odd's are yours are done too dude. My pipe was no where near rotting out, my guess is you have no cats left or they are getting very bad. Did you look in the pipe when you had it off for repair? did it sound like anythign was rattling around in there when it was off?

 

[SHO GoDz 89]

My cats in my shoshop y pipe died at like 96k miles, and obviously that was not the original pipe to the car, so odd's are yours are done too dude. My pipe was no where near rotting out, my guess is you have no cats left or they are getting very bad. Did you look in the pipe when you had it off for repair? did it sound like anythign was rattling around in there when it was off?

I wasn't there to check. The cats didn't even cross my mind until now. If that's the case I'll be ordering a new y-pipe next week. I'll pull the SPOUT first to see if the white smoke goes away. If it does then I can give it a shot, but either way its looking like my cats are done and I'm gonna need to invest in some equal length goodness

 

[hawkeye18]

Personally, if it came from the SHOShop, I would simply assume that it doesn't work. Just sayin'.

 

[SHO GoDz 89]

Personally, if it came from the SHOShop, I would simply assume that it doesn't work. Just sayin'.

I always used to think that the old SHO shop was good but lately I've been hearing other wise. I'm to young to be familiar with their reputation.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

SHOSHOP made some really awesome stuff, I have owned probably 50% of their catalog easy along my way so far, and I have loved a lot of it. There are a few things though that were soso (cam grinds, their linear springs, y pipes with crappy cats), and it was more that they lied about parts and such when selling then all the parts being crap. I have a LOT of stuff from shoshop on my car and I love it. Also a biggie was the crank pulley separating, I don't blame shoshop one bit as far as workmanship, that pulley was not made by them. I do however believe they knew there were issues with them but sold them anyway because they were able to get them discounted. This is by no means fact, but just what I believe based on what I have heard from various sources.

 

[jon93]

SHOShop is hit or miss. They got parts out to the public (not that they were the only ones) and I think they deserve a little more respect for that. They did have an owner that was a horrible tuner and not a good businessman. I like alot of parts shoshop sold...heck you can't even get a quarter of the stuff they sold new right now. I mean guys back then waited months for parts and were sent the wrong pieces and the story goes on.

Sorry to hijack the thread Jon, just trying to voice my opinion so some of the newbs reading this know that not all shoshop parts are bad just like Nick was saying.

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=85389&highlight=failed+emissions

I had a similar issue and it turned out my cats were gutted and I didnt even know until i had new ones welded in.