Volvo 740 won't pass California smog test

I just had my 1986 740 wagon smog tested (California) after receiving a
notice to have it tested at a "test-only" center. I think I read on one of the
forms related to the notice that this make/model is designated by the state as
having a "High Emissions Profile" and I assume that's why the test had to be
performed at a test-only center.

Unfortunately the car, which I'd just had repaired (something very minor) by
a Volvo specialist just before the test, and which my mechanic said was in
suprisingly good mechanical condition, failed the test.

At my mechanic's suggestion I then had the oil changed and a "3-step" fuel
injection service done (not by the mechanic mentioned above but elsewhere as
he'd recommended, so he had no financial incentive for recommending it) andthen
drive it 50-60 miles to see if that would improve the car's performance on a
re-test.

Again, however, the car failed and is deemed a "gross polluter," which means
I have a couple of months more to get it serviced somehow so that it can pass
the next smog test or else . . . I won't be able to register/drive the car in
California any more!

As I write this I'm looking at the results printout of the 2nd test and here
are the results:

at 15 mph:
CO2 % as measured: 14.11
O2 % as measured: 0.48
HC (PPM): 113 (maximum is 133)
CO %: 0.73 as measured (maximum is 0.82)
NO (PPM): 1794 as measured (maximum is 1125)
RESULTS: FAIL

at 25 mph:
CO2 %: 12.96 as measured
O2 %: 1.55 as measured
HC (PPM): 183 as measured (108 is maximum)
CO %: 1.02 (0.62 is maximum)
NO (PPM): 2005 (maximum is 955)
RESULTS: GROSS POLLUTER

As can bee seen from the above, a big area in which the car is failing is in
NO, which at 25 mph is actually double of the maximum allowed.

I would love to hear from anyone who's familiar with ways to get old cars
such as my 1986 Volvo to the point where they can pass stringent smog tests.

May I say in conclusion that I find it so very ironic that I, a U.S. citizen
and professionally-trained licensed driver who has always been so meticulous
about keeping his automobile insurance paid-up, his vehicle registration
up-to-date and paid for etc. etc. as well as being an admitted "fanatic" about
car safety {I drive a Volvo, don't I } and would never, ever drive under
the influence, am now under threat by the State of California for losing my
means of transportation while, at the same time, literally millions of
unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured and often drunk illegal aliens drive old
beat up smoke-spewing cars unmolested by State officials.
I'm all for clean air and for protecting the environment but why do those in
power in government pick on ME while allowing all the illegal aliens to
flagrantly break every law on the books about driving? It's unfair..

 

| I just had my 1986 740 wagon smog tested (California) after receiving a
| notice to have it tested at a "test-only" center. I think I read on one of
the
| forms related to the notice that this make/model is designated by the state
as
| having a "High Emissions Profile" and I assume that's why the test had to be
| performed at a test-only center.
|
| Unfortunately the car, which I'd just had repaired (something very minor)
by
| a Volvo specialist just before the test, and which my mechanic said was in
| suprisingly good mechanical condition, failed the test.
|
| At my mechanic's suggestion I then had the oil changed and a "3-step" fuel
| injection service done (not by the mechanic mentioned above but elsewhere as
| he'd recommended, so he had no financial incentive for recommending it)
andthen
| drive it 50-60 miles to see if that would improve the car's performance on a
| re-test.
|
| Again, however, the car failed and is deemed a "gross polluter," which
means
| I have a couple of months more to get it serviced somehow so that it can
pass
| the next smog test or else . . . I won't be able to register/drive the car
in
| California any more!
|
| As I write this I'm looking at the results printout of the 2nd test and
here
| are the results:
|
| at 15 mph:
| CO2 % as measured: 14.11
| O2 % as measured: 0.48
| HC (PPM): 113 (maximum is 133)
| CO %: 0.73 as measured (maximum is 0.82)
| NO (PPM): 1794 as measured (maximum is 1125)
| RESULTS: FAIL
|
| at 25 mph:
| CO2 %: 12.96 as measured
| O2 %: 1.55 as measured
| HC (PPM): 183 as measured (108 is maximum)
| CO %: 1.02 (0.62 is maximum)
| NO (PPM): 2005 (maximum is 955)
| RESULTS: GROSS POLLUTER
|
| As can bee seen from the above, a big area in which the car is failing is
in
| NO, which at 25 mph is actually double of the maximum allowed.
|
| I would love to hear from anyone who's familiar with ways to get old cars
| such as my 1986 Volvo to the point where they can pass stringent smog tests.
|
| May I say in conclusion that I find it so very ironic that I, a U.S.
citizen
| and professionally-trained licensed driver who has always been so meticulous
| about keeping his automobile insurance paid-up, his vehicle registration
| up-to-date and paid for etc. etc. as well as being an admitted "fanatic"
about
| car safety {I drive a Volvo, don't I } and would never, ever drive under
| the influence, am now under threat by the State of California for losing my
| means of transportation while, at the same time, literally millions of
| unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured and often drunk illegal aliens drive old
| beat up smoke-spewing cars unmolested by State officials.
| I'm all for clean air and for protecting the environment but why do those
in
| power in government pick on ME while allowing all the illegal aliens to
| flagrantly break every law on the books about driving? It's unfair..
|

This is amazingly similar to a posting by "Tom Renzi".

 

<


As I write this it's approaching 8:00 pm and I gotta tell ya, this gave me
the biggest laugh I've had all day! I'm still laughing!
Indeed, I didn't realized I'd already posted the IDENTICAL message under my
other AOL screen name. Your innocent astonishment above ("This is amazingly
similar . . ." ) is hilarious.
I can see how someone who'd read the same post I'd made under "IISergioII would
wonder if they'd been hit by a Mack truck full of deja-vu.
Sorry for double-posting but thanks for the giggles!


| I just had my 1986 740 wagon smog tested (California) after receiving a
| notice to have it tested at a "test-only" center. I think I read on one of
the
| forms related to the notice that this make/model is designated by the state
as
| having a "High Emissions Profile" and I assume that's why the test had to be
| performed at a test-only center.
|
| Unfortunately the car, which I'd just had repaired (something very minor)
by
| a Volvo specialist just before the test, and which my mechanic said was in
| suprisingly good mechanical condition, failed the test.
|
| At my mechanic's suggestion I then had the oil changed and a "3-step" fuel
| injection service done (not by the mechanic mentioned above but elsewhere as
| he'd recommended, so he had no financial incentive for recommending it)
andthen
| drive it 50-60 miles to see if that would improve the car's performance on a
| re-test.
|
| Again, however, the car failed and is deemed a "gross polluter," which
means
| I have a couple of months more to get it serviced somehow so that it can
pass
| the next smog test or else . . . I won't be able to register/drive the car
in
| California any more!
|
| As I write this I'm looking at the results printout of the 2nd test and
here
| are the results:
|
| at 15 mph:
| CO2 % as measured: 14.11
| O2 % as measured: 0.48
| HC (PPM): 113 (maximum is 133)
| CO %: 0.73 as measured (maximum is 0.82)
| NO (PPM): 1794 as measured (maximum is 1125)
| RESULTS: FAIL
|
| at 25 mph:
| CO2 %: 12.96 as measured
| O2 %: 1.55 as measured
| HC (PPM): 183 as measured (108 is maximum)
| CO %: 1.02 (0.62 is maximum)
| NO (PPM): 2005 (maximum is 955)
| RESULTS: GROSS POLLUTER
|
| As can bee seen from the above, a big area in which the car is failing is
in
| NO, which at 25 mph is actually double of the maximum allowed.
|
| I would love to hear from anyone who's familiar with ways to get old cars
| such as my 1986 Volvo to the point where they can pass stringent smog tests.
|
| May I say in conclusion that I find it so very ironic that I, a U.S.
citizen
| and professionally-trained licensed driver who has always been so meticulous
| about keeping his automobile insurance paid-up, his vehicle registration
| up-to-date and paid for etc. etc. as well as being an admitted "fanatic"
about
| car safety {I drive a Volvo, don't I } and would never, ever drive under
| the influence, am now under threat by the State of California for losing my
| means of transportation while, at the same time, literally millions of
| unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured and often drunk illegal aliens drive old
| beat up smoke-spewing cars unmolested by State officials.
| I'm all for clean air and for protecting the environment but why do those
in
| power in government pick on ME while allowing all the illegal aliens to
| flagrantly break every law on the books about driving? It's unfair..
|

This is amazingly similar to a posting by "Tom Renzi".