308 Emissions

There is a 3mm allen screw to the right of the fuel distributor. The screw is not visible but there is a small hole from which you access the screw. Counterclockwise to lean, clockwise to enrich the mixture.

I understand that the amont of turn needed is so small that a gas analyzer is a must.

I had this done from a "reputable" service station (same problem as yours) and they really screwed thing up big time. $ 150.00 to wrongly turn the screw maybe 1/16 of a turn.

 

The little red thing you see, is a rubber cover I put in place of the original F. cover to seal the hole. You probably have a metal cap. You will not have the red thingy.

In that hole, maybe an inch or so below lives the adjustment screw. There is not a "tube" leading to it so you will have to carefully "fish" for it with the Allen wrench.

 

Oops! Here it is!

 

Dear CoolyO,

Clean that engine! Your 308 is trying to tell you something

 

Here is a diagram of the fuel distributor. The picture depicts a slotted screw but (at least in my 81' gtsi) it is a 3mm Allen.
I think I remember reading NOT to tweek the screw while the engine is running. I think this is in the manual.
You really have to "feel" for the screw hole with your Allen wrench.

Maybe someone more experienced in this procedure could add something.

 

http://www.auto-solve.com/mech_inj.htm#MFI09

This is good reading.

 

I would add that without a CO sniffer to check your readings...you are really adjusting this "blind".....and we have all heard that a small adjustment can make a huge change in the readings.

 

if all else fails (stay with me here), add some alcohol to your gas. the alcohol will create a lean condition and with the right amount added may help with your emissions. i have done this one my RX-7 turbo which is far from street legal and gone in failing pretty bad. changed the plugs and failed barely. then added alcohol and passed by a good bit. plus it really does not matter what gas you use, 87,89,92. best bet is to run a bottle of chevron techron fuel cleaner. new plugs. and some alky in your gas. if that doesnt get you to pass then you need more adjusting. dont knock it till you have tried it.

 

Well, I'm sorry but all the alcohol in the world will not correct the fact that your cars fuel system is out of adjustment.
And I would not go turning any screw if I didn't know what I was doing... there could be something else causing the problem that you have overlooked.
The "Only" way to set the proper air/fuel mixture is with the right tools.
If you do not have, or do not know how to use emissions testing equipment properly, Then please take your car to someone qualified so you don't burn a hole in a piston while you are guessing.

 

I hate to come off sounding like a pompus ass but,
I would hate to be one of your cars.

 

2 bottles of Heat and a bottle of injector cleaner in a 1/4 tank is not a good idea. run that stuff thru, or drain the tanks and start fresh.

 

Cooly0,
In spite of your getting around the emmisions test, you do understand that your car is running poorly, and way to rich, and STILL needs to be correctly diagnosed and repaired????

I guess I have to agree with Dave here...

 

jbrosseau - Love the avatar.

"Just gotta get on the right track."

 

all i know is that i can get my brothers 84' mazda glc with 250,000 miles and a half blown out catalytic converter to pass smog with the right mixture of gas and alky. if that tired ol' terd of a car can pass then im sure a ferrari with a 1/6 the miles can pass. and if you melt a piston you know you added to much.

 

Is your car equipped with catalytic convertors? If not, you may never pass. Leaning your engine out excessively could result in a detonation and catstrophic engine failure. Get it in for a tune up.

 

I forgot to add that engine fuel analyzers are available from J.C. whitney for a reasonable price. The probe must be inserted upstream of the convertors to give the proper reading and ferraris have small test pipes for that reason welded onto the headers. They are a must for twin injection cars like a boxer to get both systems in-sync.

 

Not sure about other States, but here in Texas you can get an exemption from the emmisions test .. but it's got to fail first.

a) Take the emissions test.
b) Fail
c) Spend at least $100 (?) trying to fix it.
d) Go back and fail again
e) Go to the Government testing facility
f) They will test the car again .. and probably fail it.
g) Present the invoices for the $ spent trying to fix it, plus proof that you don't drive the car more than 2500 miles / year ... get the exemption.

The mileage proof is something like your insurance policy (mine's limited to 2500 miles/year), or the current emissions/safety sticker ... I think it has the mileage written on the back, the last time you took the test.

Ofcourse all this trouble may not be worth it if you have a friendly garage who will lean the car out for the test then retune. Probably still cost the $100 though.

All details are on the Texas DOT website.

 

This might help, then again....

http://www.halmeter.com/