Just got my 850 N/A back from an emissions test with a close fail. Problem was that the NO was slightly over the limit under load. Everything else was more than good. Talking to the mechanic, he said it could be a bad catalytic converter or EGR/PCV.

Anyone else have this problem, and where should I my bets?

Thanks

 

Do you have a CEL? If so, what is the code?

 

I do have CEL, but it disappears after 20 sec. Just to be safe, I plugged in the reader and there were no codes.

 

More of a question then a responce, but isn't excess NO production the product of the engine running a little hotter then normal?

Would excess fuel burning in the cat cause something like this?

 

Start the car and as soon as you get a CEL, turn the car off, plug in the reader, then turn the key to II. You should be able to read the code then.

 

The cat could be the/a source of the problem. And as for the codes, even the mechanic that ran the test didn't pick up any codes. On the test sheet he made a note of the CEL turning off, and no codes to go with it.

What I'm wondering is that perhaps could it be a bad PCV? There is a very faint smoke coming out of the dipstick, and I'm getting small amounts of fresh oil around the oil cap. But I'm not sure if a bad PCV would cause a high NO reading. I guess I should mention that the NO reading is just slightly over the limit.

 

bytown: do you know that you are supposed to replace the oil cap seal with every oil change? if it hasnt been replaced, then change it. Has the PCV system ever been done on the car? If not, it probably couldn't hurt to do it, and might mean the difference between passing and failing. While you do the PCV system you can clean out the EGR as well. Mine was so clogged up when I bought my car that I had to open up the tube off the intake with a drill. I'd try those things first, because the oil cap seal is something like 75 cents, and the pcv will set you back about a hundred bucks. both are a LOT cheaper than replacing a cat, and should be done anyway as standard maintenance.

As for the CEL, what rspi said was right on - you can go from there when you see what it reveals.

 

Thanks guys for the tips. As for the PCV, when I bought the car used, the records said the "breather system was cleaned". I'm assuming this is referring to the PCV. As for the oil cap seal, I've never changed it, so I will definitely do so. Finally, for the EGR, is it a clean-and-reuse part or should I buy a whole new one?

 

You can clean the EGR: I used carb cleaner to clear it out, and as I said, mine was so clogged that I had to use a drill to clear the tube to the air intake. new ones are EXPENSIVE.

"breather system was cleaned" doesn't sound as if anything was replaced to me. I'd go ahead and replace the whole system.

 

So I brought the car in to another garage for another emissions test, but I took advice from my old man's mechanic. I waited for the tank to be almost empty, say 10L left, then added 2 bottle of fuel line antifreeze (basically alchohol). I took a good long drive, then went immediately to the test. Sure enough, it passed with flying colors.

Kinda crooked, I know, but it'll keep me going until spring, when, unfortunately, I'll sell it.

 

using dry gas is not crooked at all.

The government making you jump through hoops to use an asset that you bought with hard earned money... thats Crooked...

 

LOL. Our state doesn't even have inspections or emissions test. One benifit of being back woods I guess.

Back to the EGR... I believe my R has an EGR, does it have a metal tube that connects under the throttle control? If so, I had to remove that to get my PCV system replaced.

As for the PCV system and P0440 codes. When I got the PCV system from FCP, the hose that connected the small tube near the turbo (the elbow) was to big to fit on the PTC valve. It would slide off all the time. I would put it back on about twice per month until I finally found the elbow I purchased from the stealer when I first purchased the car. I put it on yesterday, a tight fit. It'll probably stay for 5 years or so now.