'91, smog question

just barely flunked ca smog test due to slightly -- very slightly --
over-the-limit nitrogen oxide at idle (while o.k. at 25 mph). the technician
(it was a "test only" facility) said he suspected the oxygen sensor needed
replacement. everything else tested fine. any other thoughts out there
before i start throwing money at it? many thanks. art

I am just curious, are you in an area that requires the newer testing,
the one that places the rear wheels on rollers?

Art McGinn wrote:
> just barely flunked ca smog test due to slightly -- very slightly --
> over-the-limit nitrogen oxide at idle (while o.k. at 25 mph). the technician
> (it was a "test only" facility) said he suspected the oxygen sensor needed
> replacement. everything else tested fine. any other thoughts out there
> before i start throwing money at it? many thanks. art
>
>
>


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scott: yes, tested on rollers. guy tried it twice and just missed on the
n.o. test. art, san fran



"Scott" > wrote in message
...
> I am just curious, are you in an area that requires the newer testing,
> the one that places the rear wheels on rollers?
>
> Art McGinn wrote:
> > just barely flunked ca smog test due to slightly -- very slightly --
> > over-the-limit nitrogen oxide at idle (while o.k. at 25 mph). the
technician
> > (it was a "test only" facility) said he suspected the oxygen sensor
needed
> > replacement. everything else tested fine. any other thoughts out there
> > before i start throwing money at it? many thanks. art
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
News==----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
Newsgroups
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=----

"Art McGinn" > wrote:

> just barely flunked ca smog test due to slightly -- very slightly --
>over-the-limit nitrogen oxide at idle (while o.k. at 25 mph). the technician
>(it was a "test only" facility) said he suspected the oxygen sensor needed
>replacement. everything else tested fine. any other thoughts out there
>before i start throwing money at it? many thanks. art

The good news is, aftermarket oxygen sensors for the early miatas
are cheap, though you have to splice them in.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

I have had luck with removing the O2 sensor and cleaning it good with
anhydrous alcohol, let it dry out good after cleaning and reinstall.

Jerry Randolph
'90 Red w/ Lights and Siren
"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote in message
...
> "Art McGinn" > wrote:
>
> > just barely flunked ca smog test due to slightly -- very slightly --
> >over-the-limit nitrogen oxide at idle (while o.k. at 25 mph). the
technician
> >(it was a "test only" facility) said he suspected the oxygen sensor
needed
> >replacement. everything else tested fine. any other thoughts out there
> >before i start throwing money at it? many thanks. art
>
> The good news is, aftermarket oxygen sensors for the early miatas
> are cheap, though you have to splice them in.
>
> Leon
>
> --
> Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
> http://www.dommelen.net/miata
> EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

turned out it needed a new catalytic converter, second one in two years,
with which it passed smog test. no one was quite sure why a cat would become
ineffective after only two years. but...calif. has new equipment that, for
the first time, tests for nitrogen oxide (which the miata had flunked, just
barely). the new equipment makes it even harder for a car, especially an
older one, to pass the smog test. the newly installed cat employs a
different technology, also, which evidently does a better job with the n.o.
hey, all ya gotta do is throw a few bills at it and the problem goes away.
art