Going for the emission/smog this Friday.

[Errtt]

Calif... every 2 years, and last time my work car (98 Rav), max'd on HC at the higher speed test.
Fresh oil change, recent plugs, new PCV, filters etc. EGR working - no check engine light ever. No black in the tail pipe.
Crossing my fingers as I don't know what else to do. If it don't pass, I have to determine what my limit is for any fix as it's old, almost 180k, but has always been reliable (never once let me down), gets 30mpg / about 95% freeway now for my work commute.
Recent paint job, well maintained, no interior tears/stains.
If it don't pass, could be a hard thought of how much to sink into it before getting something else - been so reliable day in & day out.
Hate the thought having to get another vehicle for to/from work & play. Guess I hate vehicle shopping, but maybe if I get lucky, I'll get another couple years out of it.

 

[spasm3]

Run the tank down and add a good bit of denatured alcohol test on this, then fill up afterwards. Or some e-85 if you have it.

 

[eagle23]

Is CRC's "Guaranteed to Pass" sold in CA? It's on Amazon and other sites, and maybe in auto parts stores there. If not, go Amazon.

 

[The_Jeff]

That car is still worth $7k in Maine with its non rusty pedigree. Make a road trip to the northeast, sell it, fly home.

 

[MarkStock]

If you have time, add some Techron concentrate to a less than half full tank, top up the tank, and then run the tank down prior to you test.

 

[GMBoy]

Move to a more car friendly state.

 

[Chris142]

Whats causing the high HC's? Might just need a cat or something. No reason to throw away a good car over a $1000 cat.

 

[Errtt]

Just talked about it with wife over dinner (she grilled a nice rib-eye plus loads of side mmmm).
Add - very nice condition, well maintained (all maintenance done on time or sooner - everything), use's no oil (5k and still full on the stick), 3-5k OCIs, clean inside/out & under hood, no leaks, everything works....

Guess if it doesn't pass, then it would be worth to sink up to a few k (which it shouldn't) to keep it on the road rather than get another used one.

^ I guess I'll run some cleaner in the tank this week, although a few months ago it got the full fuel system cleaning service among other maintenance items, plugs, filters, plus new tires, rotors, brakes & brake line flush, transmission flush, few months earlier battery, full cooling system flush/fill, new belts/hoses etc etc - Like I said, it gets the maintenance and has been well kept so it's been totally reliable in the years I have had it.
We take it over the Sierra's to Reno etc instead of the Escape because I have no concern and the mpg is much better. I guess as much as I drive it, I'm used to it. So better do what it takes to take care of it smog wise.
So if no pass, then I'll take it to a specialty Toyota shop (rave reviews and I know them well), and tell them fix it and make it pass.
Just weird how well it runs, clean tailpipe, never check engine light. And plugs always looked good on all 4, although they get changes before 30k on them. She been good so I'll take care of her rather than trade her in. But I'm curious.
So I'll run some cleaner, burn up 2 tanks this week and in she goes Friday for the sniffer machine.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Just smog tested my S2000 a week ago, it passed with flying color.

Two years ago it had the first smog check, I drove fairly short distance about 6-7 miles to the smog test station, waited about 40-45 minutes because of 3 cars ahead. By the time it was my turn the engine was stone cold and it barely passed the smog test.

This year I drove a good distance to do some errands, when I arrived at smog test station I drove more than 20 mostly highway miles, I had second key and watched for the car ahead of me about to be done I start the engine and let it idle for 4-5 minutes before the test. Everything was almost zero, way below maximum allowed.

 

[Cristobal]

If you are around El Monte, call Mike's Muffler. They told me I can get a new cat for around $300.00, maybe $200.00, on a thirty minute wait with an appointment. But I am going to try some of that "guaranteed to pass" stuff next September before I smog. It is a gamble but worth it if I pass smog in October 2013. My cat is on its last legs. The cat from Mike's will be not a Toyota cat but an after-market one. Try to stay away from the stealerships. I just want to squeeze two more years out of the cat if I can get away with it.

 

[Cristobal]

O'Reilly Auto Parts in Temple City sold me two bottles recently.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Just smog tested my S2000 a week ago, it passed with flying color.

Two years ago it had the first smog check, I drove fairly short distance about 6-7 miles to the smog test station, waited about 40-45 minutes because of 3 cars ahead. By the time it was my turn the engine was stone cold and it barely passed the smog test.

This year I drove a good distance to do some errands, when I arrived at smog test station I drove more than 20 mostly highway miles, I had second key and watched for the car ahead of me about to be done I start the engine and let it idle for 4-5 minutes before the test. Everything was almost zero, way below maximum allowed.


This. Get everything good and hot, then test it. The cat convertors work best when they are up to temp.

 

[JavierG]

Took my '95 Legend in for the dreaded CA smog test last month. Poured a bottle of CRC Guaranteed To Pass in a near empty gas tank the week before (then filled it up of course). Ran it to near empty, then filled up again with 76 premium (or was it Shell?). On the day of the test I took it out for a 40 mile highway drive and then straight to the smog test station. Only waited around 5 minutes. Passed with flying colors.
By the way, they sell CRC at Walmart for around $9. Pep Boys and O'Reilly's price is around $12-13.

 

[MarkStock]

Originally Posted By: JavierG
Took my '95 Legend in for the dreaded CA smog test last month. Poured a bottle of CRC Guaranteed To Pass in a near empty gas tank the week before (then filled it up of course). Ran it to near empty, then filled up again with 76 premium (or was it Shell?). On the day of the test I took it out for a 40 mile highway drive and then straight to the smog test station. Only waited around 5 minutes. Passed with flying colors.
By the way, they sell CRC at Walmart for around $9. Pep Boys and O'Reilly's price is around $12-13.


This product has 25%-35% PEA in it. So it's the same as Techron Concentrate, Redline, Gumout Regane & All In One. But at a higher price.

 

[The_Jeff]

Is Cali's setup one where they hook the sniffer up and let it idle, when it warms up and the HCs drop below the threshold it "clicks in" and passes?

This could have been how you squeaked by last time.