Failed CA Smog HC too high
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
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Failed CA Smog HC too high
1990 F250 Heavy Duty 5.8 with ZF 5-speed.
1) Check engine light is burned out. How is it accessed?
2) HC too high at 25 mph (135 ppm vs allowed 108 ppm).
The idle HC was right at the limit. NOX and CO were fine.
The truck is not driven regularly and has a camper on it.
I bought a new O2 sensor and will run a couple of tanks of fuel through it.
The CAT is original I don't want to change it unless I have to.
Any other suggestions?
Thank you!
1) Check engine light is burned out. How is it accessed?
2) HC too high at 25 mph (135 ppm vs allowed 108 ppm).
The idle HC was right at the limit. NOX and CO were fine.
The truck is not driven regularly and has a camper on it.
I bought a new O2 sensor and will run a couple of tanks of fuel through it.
The CAT is original I don't want to change it unless I have to.
Any other suggestions?
Thank you!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 2
From: Asheville, NC
Was the check engine light on all the time before it died? You might have to remove the speedometer/gauge assembly to access the light, if you can't get to it from below the dash. You might try feeling around up under there for it. Find a pic view of your speedometer cluster and see if you can figure which light is bad.
If you need the cat, they aren't that expensive to replace, compared to what the dealership charges for theirs.
If you need the cat, they aren't that expensive to replace, compared to what the dealership charges for theirs.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,693
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From: Menifee, CA
Was the check engine light on all the time before it died? You might have to remove the speedometer/gauge assembly to access the light, if you can't get to it from below the dash. You might try feeling around up under there for it. Find a pic view of your speedometer cluster and see if you can figure which light is bad.
If you need the cat, they aren't that expensive to replace, compared to what the dealership charges for theirs.
If you need the cat, they aren't that expensive to replace, compared to what the dealership charges for theirs.
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More Turbo
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OK. Check engine light bulb was ok but the little plastic holder wanted to be unscrewed then re-screwed into the cluster. Not too bad of a job, but the cluster does need to come out for that.
Light goes on with key on then off when running. Part one complete.
The O2 sensor doesn't look easy.....it's soaking in PB Blast.
Hope I don't need a CAT.
I heard that juicing with ethanol helps. Don't sound legal though.
Light goes on with key on then off when running. Part one complete.
The O2 sensor doesn't look easy.....it's soaking in PB Blast.
Hope I don't need a CAT.
I heard that juicing with ethanol helps. Don't sound legal though.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,187
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From: Lynnwood Wa.
Ethanol will help it burn cleaner. You can also go to your local parts store and get a can of guarantee to smog stuff.
On another note when your truck is upto running temp where is the temp gauge? I know it's a stupid question but on my dad's old 90 460 4x it ran so cold they had to put a piece of card board in front of the radiator to get it warm up enough of run leaner. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see with my own two eyes.
Where are you located
On another note when your truck is upto running temp where is the temp gauge? I know it's a stupid question but on my dad's old 90 460 4x it ran so cold they had to put a piece of card board in front of the radiator to get it warm up enough of run leaner. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see with my own two eyes.
Where are you located
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More Turbo
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It runs pretty cool I think. After it's warmed up, the gauge fluctuates from about 1/3 when the thermostat lets some water circulate then it drops to 1/4 or less, then the process repeats. Timing is correct at 10 BTDC, and it runs fine, so I'm hoping that sitting for months at a time is part of the problem.
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T-stat is a good lead, as too cold leads to too rich as the engine computer thinks you are warming up.
Ethanol may or may not get you to pass, but won't fix a rich mixture situation that you will want fixed anyway.