Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
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New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
I have an '88 f150, 4.9, manual. All of the regular tuneup stuff done (cap,wires,plugs,fuel filter,pcv) I disonnected the vac. going to the EGR valve, the truck runs great with it disconnected. Just started getting an occasional "check engine" flash this past week or so. I do have an exhaust leak behind the muffler which I'm sure they will notice. Should I take the truck as-is to the facility? Fix the exhaust leak before I go? What about the EGR? I don't have the time or mechanical ability to troubleshoot. Where should I start? I don't want to get the run-a-round.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air, MD
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
Do they look under the hood, exhaust if not don't
worry about it. I'm in Maryland we have pretty
tough emission laws here. No smog stuff. no cat.
I did a really good tune up, still didn't run like
it should have. I bought this stuff called
"Guaranteed to pass emissions" it was $8 bucks
at Advanded Auto Parts I guess it cleaned the
fuel tanks/system/carb. because since I did
this, my truck has never ran better.
Good luck
worry about it. I'm in Maryland we have pretty
tough emission laws here. No smog stuff. no cat.
I did a really good tune up, still didn't run like
it should have. I bought this stuff called
"Guaranteed to pass emissions" it was $8 bucks
at Advanded Auto Parts I guess it cleaned the
fuel tanks/system/carb. because since I did
this, my truck has never ran better.
Good luck
Freshman User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
Wisconsin emmissions regs are pretty damn tough. But luckily the people they have working there are low wage dimwits.I have had some bad exhaust leaks go unnoticed. Most of them can't drive stick,they have to get a manager.once they forgot to turn on the cooling fan for the dyno part,just about ruined my car.
I would make the egr 'look' pluged in just incase they look.We don't have a yearly inspection ,maybe you do then you will have to fix the pipe.
I would make the egr 'look' pluged in just incase they look.We don't have a yearly inspection ,maybe you do then you will have to fix the pipe.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver WA
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
I'd go and spend a few bucks on some muffler tape and just patch up the exhaust leak before you take it in. It won't last for a long time, but it should at least help cover up the sound of the leak, and maybe they won't notice.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
>I have an '88 f150, 4.9, manual. All of the regular tuneup
>stuff done (cap,wires,plugs,fuel filter,pcv) I disonnected
>the vac. going to the EGR valve, the truck runs great with
>it disconnected. Just started getting an occasional "check
>engine" flash this past week or so. I do have an exhaust
>leak behind the muffler which I'm sure they will notice.
>Should I take the truck as-is to the facility? Fix the
>exhaust leak before I go? What about the EGR? I don't have
>the time or mechanical ability to troubleshoot. Where should
>I start? I don't want to get the run-a-round.
Based on decades of tests here in Kalifornia, don't worry about the tailpipe. The EGR will flunk you. Why is it disconnected? Go to Autozone and get the computer codes read out from the "check engine" flashes.
The tuneup stuff you did is good. A few other tips. Do not go with full gas tanks, use premium gas and do an oil change if it is almost due. Go to the test after a good highway run so that the engine is hot and not loaded up from extended idling.
Jim
>stuff done (cap,wires,plugs,fuel filter,pcv) I disonnected
>the vac. going to the EGR valve, the truck runs great with
>it disconnected. Just started getting an occasional "check
>engine" flash this past week or so. I do have an exhaust
>leak behind the muffler which I'm sure they will notice.
>Should I take the truck as-is to the facility? Fix the
>exhaust leak before I go? What about the EGR? I don't have
>the time or mechanical ability to troubleshoot. Where should
>I start? I don't want to get the run-a-round.
Based on decades of tests here in Kalifornia, don't worry about the tailpipe. The EGR will flunk you. Why is it disconnected? Go to Autozone and get the computer codes read out from the "check engine" flashes.
The tuneup stuff you did is good. A few other tips. Do not go with full gas tanks, use premium gas and do an oil change if it is almost due. Go to the test after a good highway run so that the engine is hot and not loaded up from extended idling.
Jim
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Mount Prospect, IL
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
IDOT doesnt check under the hood, and they probably wont notice the exhause leak either. They are checking emmissions, and I recommend you burn a tank of injector cleaner before your test, just to be sure. I also read in another group that filling up with premium before your test will help get a cleaner burn.
a fellow illinois resident.....
Drew
a fellow illinois resident.....
Drew
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Campbell, California
Help!! Illinois emission test this month....need pointers
Don't know if they do this in your state, but California has two tests. The first check emissions from the tail pipe, the second is a visual inspection. They pop the hood and make sure all your smog stuff is hooked up and working. First thing they check is the function of the EGR valve. If your EGR valve is not hooked up or not working for some reason, you fail the test regardless of your emissions. Cat been removed, you fail regardless of your emissions. If they do a visual inspection as well as emissions test, I would be more worried about getting the EGR valve up and running. Also, consider clearing any codes out of the computers memory after you hook the EGR valve back up.
