Greetings All! I've been lurking for a bit, thought I'd jump in with a question of my own. I'm looking at a 2002 F-250 with very low miles <30,000, and the owner has disclosed that it's failed smog test twice. Those years between the tests (every 2 years) the truck was driven only 400 miles and 1100 miles. My question is two fold. Could the lack of driving cause the smog test failure? Or could it be other problems? And could the lack of use have caused other issues I should be aware of?
Thanks for your thoughts!

 

What engine does it have in it?

 

Could have severely clogged injectors, fouled o2 sensors, gunked valves, clogged cat, rotted exhaust, particularly at the manifolds. Just because it’s low miles is no indicator of lack of wear or corrosion.

My own 2001 had 34k on it when I bought last year, and it has been very trying to get it back to a state of good repair. Yours might be much better, but I regret making that purchase

 

MisterCMK, it has the 5.4
FractureCritical, interesting. Thanks for your remark. That is what my gut is saying, but I'm not mechanical, I'm a get in the truck and go, take it to someone if there is a problem sort of person. So not so sure of trusting my gut. :-)

 

Why did it fail smog?

 

I don't know why it failed.

 

There are many different reasons that it would fail a smog test. You need to know why it failed before anybody can do much more than spitballing.

 

Even with the very low miles, rubber (valve seals, for example) can still dry out. Give it a full tune up and run it for a few days, see if you get any CELs, then work from there. Just too much to guess on with smog tests.

 

If you dont know why it failed and the owner doesn't know why, I would ask someone you know that wrenches or call up a shop and ask them this very question as to why this make, model and engine with this mileage would fail an emissions test.

The problem your going to have is this, the guy that is selling it is obviously NOT or has NO interest in putting money into fix it s it will pass an emissions test. If you buy it and you will have to have it emissions tested, they YOU are going to have to figure out how to fix what is wrong so it will pass or have a shop fix it so it will pass. Basically that burden will go to you if you purchase it.

Depending on the price of the truck, you are going to need to figure out what it will cost and what parts need to be replace to get it to pass. There lies the problem, you would need to take it to a dealer or a shop that can tell you what the problem is and what it will cost you to fix it, unless you can diagnose it yourself

So basically you need to have this inspected before you buy it, and a shop to tell you why it is failing the emissions test. You need a shop or someone to tell you what the truck needs done and what it will cost and figure that into what this truck costs, if no one can tell you whats wrong but they are going to give you a could be, might be, should be then that could get expensive quick

 

Have you seen the truck in person? Heard it run? Driven it? Can you notice any issues while driving, running rough, missing, stumbling, poor or no idle? Are there any codes now or check engine light (CEL)?

This thing could be failing emissions due to a bad sensor, or some other minor thing. I think on the "new" emissions (you don't say what state you're from), if the vehicle has ANY fault codes when they scan it, it fails. So even a bad charging system may cause it to "fail".

It could just be failing because the owner never changed the plugs or air filter. It could also be failing because the engine swallowed a valve and blew a hole in a piston top, causing high emission output and failing for that reason. Think of it this way, if it was a cheap or easy fix, the owner would have fixed it already. So why hasn't he fixed it? Easier to sell a truck with no known issues.

You're looking at a 15 year old truck that has spent most of it's life sitting. Everything on that truck (that you don't have proof via receipts) is 15 years old. Seals, gaskets, filters, fluids, oils, all are suspect. Crawl over and under it, looking over every square inch for leaks. Oil pan? Front and rear main seals? Front and rear trans seals and pan? Any or all of these can be leaking. A leaking pan gasket is inconvenient to replace. A rear main seal (or front trans seal) is a huge pain in the @zz to replace. And if you don't do your own wrench work, we're talking $$.

Not trying to talk you out of this truck. But you need to go in there with your eyes wide open. Especially if you need to hire out any shop work. Most of these fixes are not expensive in parts cost, but can get very expensive in labor charges.

For me, if the truck isn't DIRT CHEAP, and just immaculate in appearance inside and out, I would pass. It's pushing 16 years old (new '18's are arriving soon I believe). But that's just me, I'm here, and you're there. Try to use your best judgement and remember there are literally 100's of trucks for sale right at this exact moment in time.