Still not passing California smog
#1
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Computer not remembrring and setting all codes
Lots of electrical guessing
If it does not pass smog...
New plugs
Mass air meter
Fuel filter
Coolant and oil change
Battery
Runs like a jag should smoothly
Powerfully
Will not pass smog does not populate memory and reset sold random misfire code
Driven only 180 miles since new battery
Your thoughts?
1999 xk8 4.0
Lots of electrical guessing
If it does not pass smog...
New plugs
Mass air meter
Fuel filter
Coolant and oil change
Battery
Runs like a jag should smoothly
Powerfully
Will not pass smog does not populate memory and reset sold random misfire code
Driven only 180 miles since new battery
Your thoughts?
1999 xk8 4.0
#2
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Would be nice to see the test results. HC readings, CO readings. My guess, car running too cool. If so, its not going into closed loop or it's coming out of closed loop during the test. Running too cool points first at a possibly stuck open thermostat. Are you saying it has new plugs? air meter, fuel filter and an oil change? Do you mean not resetting rather than setting ? Explain "sold" random misfire code.
#3
#4
#5
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May or may not be related but there is a real issue with the new smog protocol that affects people who (1) have recently changed the battery and (2) don't drive a lot.
Last year my mom was in a panic when she took her 2004 Mercedes for a smog check and she didn't pass. The smog check guy didn't do a good job of communicating what the problem was but, rather, told her to drive a lot and come back. She asked me if I understood this so the first thing I did was google terms like "smog check" and "need to drive", etc. and came across a bunch of results of others with this issue.
It turns out the new smog checks here omit the usual hooking up of the car to an analyzer and running it at various speeds. All they do now is plug into the OBD port and take readings that are stored on the computer. If you recently changed the battery all of the previous readings are presumably lost and it takes a decent amount of driving to store the new required data.
My personal feeling has always been that this whole smog check thing is just another one of those typical government boondoggles that are no longer needed or justified given how clean the computer controlled cars are since the mid-1990s. Of course try and get rid of a government-mandated program, no matter how obsolete.
Doug
Last year my mom was in a panic when she took her 2004 Mercedes for a smog check and she didn't pass. The smog check guy didn't do a good job of communicating what the problem was but, rather, told her to drive a lot and come back. She asked me if I understood this so the first thing I did was google terms like "smog check" and "need to drive", etc. and came across a bunch of results of others with this issue.
It turns out the new smog checks here omit the usual hooking up of the car to an analyzer and running it at various speeds. All they do now is plug into the OBD port and take readings that are stored on the computer. If you recently changed the battery all of the previous readings are presumably lost and it takes a decent amount of driving to store the new required data.
My personal feeling has always been that this whole smog check thing is just another one of those typical government boondoggles that are no longer needed or justified given how clean the computer controlled cars are since the mid-1990s. Of course try and get rid of a government-mandated program, no matter how obsolete.
Doug
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It's up to you whether you want assistance or not.
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#12
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I know I posted the codes in another thread on here. but essentially I have no check engine light...the engine shows ramdom misfires on all cyl and it must be a "soft code" yet to be reset when the car begins to populate and remember,which means a drive cycle which is now many miles or how many starts? Nobody knows.
I have replaced coil packs, plugs, mass air flow etc...fuel filter...the random misfire code came before i changed the battery which is only a week and 190 miles so i just need to drive the car more i suspect... thanks for all your help,it's not fuel or mechanical so it must be electric and i think the new battery will eventually sort it out????
I have replaced coil packs, plugs, mass air flow etc...fuel filter...the random misfire code came before i changed the battery which is only a week and 190 miles so i just need to drive the car more i suspect... thanks for all your help,it's not fuel or mechanical so it must be electric and i think the new battery will eventually sort it out????
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#15
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Drive cycle is something like this-
start from cold, idle 7 minutes.
Drive normal for like 10 minutes.
Drive steady throttle at 55-60mph for at least 15 minutes no slowing, no braking
Drive steady throttle at 35-39mph no braking, no slowing for about 3-5 minutes
Drive 55-60mph another 10 minutes or so
Works for me every time. I would also replace the battery as a matter of course if it is older than a year.
start from cold, idle 7 minutes.
Drive normal for like 10 minutes.
Drive steady throttle at 55-60mph for at least 15 minutes no slowing, no braking
Drive steady throttle at 35-39mph no braking, no slowing for about 3-5 minutes
Drive 55-60mph another 10 minutes or so
Works for me every time. I would also replace the battery as a matter of course if it is older than a year.
#16
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Please list the HC readings and CO readings from the test report. Does it fail at idle or higher RPM? I think the random mis fire code is a history code, not current because you say no check engine light stays on. The temp gauge is not entirely accurate. You need to verify with an infra red thermometer if its in fact, getting to 195/205 degrees F.
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I don't believe the OP has had a tailpipe sniffer test, the smog station is reading the OBDII port, and finding codes as well as monitors not set. If so, he can drive to the moon and back and the problem will not go away until the underlying fault is cured.
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Doug