Smog Test Blues

So the smog test didn't go as planned, California is definitely not a smog friendly state. I have no check lights, new 02 sensors, but was just a few points shy of passing. Long story short I need Stock Cats as mine are 44K miles old. I don't want to purchase high performance cat's & risk possibly a SECOND fail. If anyone out there has "SUPER GOOD" condition stock cat's laying around I can borrow for the smog test I will pay for the round trip shipping and a few extra ponies for your time. It's unfortunate but it is - what it is. I'm in the city of Los Angeles :-( :-( :-(

edit: 95 2.7 355 spider
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Give me a call at the shop
310 937 6700

 

I'll be curious to see how this is resolved as I have a similar problem with the CT test with my 95 2.7 spider I just bought in May. It was shipped for CA and it had passed the CA test a few hundred miles before I got it.

Please post the resolution as I can not find anything wrong with my car. It measured high HC and was 0.04% over the limit on CO.

 

Not sure if 348 cats will fit, but I have a set pulled around 28k miles.

Mobilized reply by David

 

My cat's are 44K miles old. Just a matter of replacing them & running a pre test before the actual test before it registers a second fail. I have new 02 sensors, replacing my plugs this weekend. I'm reading through the archives doing my research. Ill keep us updated.

edit: the plan is replace cat's, plugs, 100 octane, pass smog, sell the car

 

Sell the car???

 

Yup. In the research stages for a late model 2 seater. Smog test are good for 90 days in Ca. Will be priced aggressive for a quick sale.

 

Keep the car, but move to Arizona.

 

Keep the car and move to Washington State... it'll save you the 12%+ state income tax!

 

Booo.... you will be back the 355 has to much personality to stay away to long.

 

Whats aggressive pricing ? and you can PM me that if you wish

 

What temperature does the coolant run at once the car has warmed up?

If the car is running too cool it won't get out of the secondary enrichment fuel mapping, which continues to add extra fuel to the mixture after initial warm up. This is bad for the catalytic converters, headers, and emissions if it continually runs rich. So make sure your car runs at over +176°F consistently. If it doesn't, replace the thermostat, other wise you run the risk of ruining new cats, and your headers. Have a read of my experience with this same subject on my 348 from last year. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/technical-q/385608-348-thermostat-removal.html

 

^^^^^^
I had it running at the parking lot for this exact reason, in addition to the already hot weather here in socal.

 

Will do Craig.

 

I wonder if there would be any difference from letting it idle to warm up as you did or warming it up and then taking her for a proper Italian tune up before the test? ie, giving her a good and thorough clean out.

Just wondering ...
Pete

 

It does take a while for the cats to come up to operating temp. Also, check the diagnostics codes. You may have a bad coolant temp sensor which could result in a rich mixture (code 1112) on one bank.

 

I'd do an Italian Tune Up and try it one more time before taking any drastic action.

 

Italian tune up?

 

Test the rev limiter a few times.

 

I went for a smog check today. No dice. I was getting a CE light on for like for the last year. Due to the crap PROSPEED Cats I had installed. So knowing that they would for sure cause a fail I re-installed the original CATS last Sat. Went to my smog guy today. No dice. Needs more "drive cycles". Stay tuned.

 

I'm goig out on a limb here - thermostat. That is what Ernie was eluding to. It is possible that your cats are shot due to driving around too long in a rich state. Then you have to figure out how that happened. Back to the thermostat. You can replace your O2 sensors 'til the cows come home - won't fix the cause. Goth believes that this situation can also lead to the cracked headers 355's seem to encounter. Also pretty sure 348 cats are not interchangeable.

 

my fans kick in at the 190 mark. Is it safe to say the thermostat; coolant temp sensor & coolant transmitter are working? I have no coolant warning lights.

 

I small exhaust leak before the first 02 sensor can cause Hi HC
02
Weak cat
Plugs
Wires
Low Compression
Retarded exhaust cam timing

Many things
Most of the time its something silly,

Mine just squeaks by on HC also with new cats

Make sure they are really hot when you take the test, if it's taking too long on the dyno abort the test so it dont go to MV

 

Run it hard and in the upper rev limits the way Enzo intended

 

The problem is if the thermostat is stuck open. Does your can take a long time to come up to operating temp? You want the coolant and engine to run at it's optimal temp. I think its about 192-195 on the gauge. If it looks low to you after it should be warm, that is a sure sign. Water temp isn't supposed to migrate with your drive. Its supposed to remain fairly consistent after it comes to temp. A cool motor is going to run rich. This may not be your issue but we have seen an awful lot of cars that had issues related to a faulty or bad theromstat.