Failed Emmission Test

[Fiddledeede2]

Help! I have a 1994 ATX with 80K miles on it and I just failed my emmission test. The guy did not give me the report so I don't know exactly what I failed on. He said the engine seemed cool so I probably needed to drive around for 20 minutes straight and then come back.

I had pretty much been driving it all morning in stops and starts as follows:
10 minute drive
1 hour wait
10 minute drive
1 hour wait
5 minute drive
Test

What do you think, is it worth trying the drive the **** out of it approach? Any other ideas?

My husband hates my car. Every time there is something wrong with it, his standard response is "sell that P of S and buy a new car". I of course love it. This emmission failure may well be the final nail in the coffin for the car. I hope not!!

 

[93redATX]

My '93 failed the first time I took it in as well. I replaced the plugs and air filter, ran it for awhile to get it nice and hot, then took it in. Failed again. Third time was the charm, but all I did was take out the air filter shrug I dunno why that did it, but apparently it did. I'd say check out your plugs, and if they're in poor shape replace them. Then move on to the wires (especially if you have oil in your plug wells). Also, if you take the intake off to the plugs, clean it up nicely while it's off the car. That will also make a noticeable difference in performance.

While the things I said above sound pretty intense, it's actually not that difficult. The very first time I pulled an intake, it took me around 2 hours. Putting it back together took me less than 30 minutes, and now I can do one in 10-15 minutes. Check out www.shotimes.com for some really good in-depth information on the above procedures. Then you can decide if you'd even want to take a crack at doing it.

 

[KM92SHO]

Are you putting in like a chemical that helps it pass. Its called GTP emmisions i recommend not to put it in. My car wasnt passing cause i was putting that in cause i thought it was gonna fail. And i left my car at the insepction station over night in the grage and he inspected it right when it was dead cold and it passed. My NOX level would be to high. Since the station didnt give you the papers back you can screw them over for that. by law they have to so you know what is wrong so you can fix it. If you have anymore questions about that write back.

 

[Fiddledeede2]

Actually, the guy at the station didn't even finish the testing. Nor did he charge me. He just said that it's going to fail so drive it round and come back when it's nice and hot. i actually thought it was really nice of him.

So I drove it up and down the highway for 30 minutes and then they did the official test and it failed on CO 1.29 vs .61 The other stuff was fine. He suggested it may need a tune up or a new air filter. Any other ideas - I'd hate to get into the spark plugs and plug wires unless I really have to.

Thanks for all your help so far.