ratty Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Hey all. I've been trying to buy this 88 Comanche for a couple of months and he hasn't been able to sell it to me because it won't pass California smog. He's replaced the O2 sensor, sparkplugs, wires, catalytic converter, MAP sensor, dist cap, fixed manifold gasket, adjusted the tps, and still won't pass. I don't have the numbers right now but I'll add them later when I get it. Any thought would be helpful. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolwind57 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 14 minutes ago, riot said: Hey all. I've been trying to buy this 88 Comanche for a couple of months and he hasn't been able to sell it to me because it won't pass California smog. He's replaced the O2 sensor, sparkplugs, wires, catalytic converter, MAP sensor, dist cap, fixed manifold gasket, adjusted the tps, and still won't pass. I don't have the numbers right now but I'll add them later when I get it. Any thought would be helpful. Thanks. Don't quote me, but seems like Indiana had this thing where if you couldn't get a vehicle to pass smog despite a list of applicable replaced parts and work-done that you could get an exemption. Seems you had to prove with receipts and/or confirmation from a automotive repair business. I might be completely wrong on this, but this seems to be bouncing around in my brain housing group. If you hadn't already, you might consider calling the BMV and asking what your options are. If you're California, then they may laugh at you. Worth a try, I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 When you get the numbers and know why it failed look at this https://www.smogtips.com/failed-emissions-test.cfm Maybe EGR? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyleinreallife Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Second the egr, also, the smog guy should be able to give you an idea, based on results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I ring in 3rd on EGR. Make sure the EGR is not clogged with soot, also make sure the vacuum lines are hooked up right for the EGR, and finally that the EGR switch is working right. I have seen them stay on and choke a engine out, also seen them just not come on at all. A bad egr that is clogged or does not come on will cause your NOx levels to climb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omega_rugal Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 any tighter and not even EVs will pass CA emissions... consider moving ANYwhere else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 10 hours ago, omega_rugal said: any tighter and not even EVs will pass CA emissions... consider moving ANYwhere else All it takes to pass the California smog test is to have all the original, factory installed equipment working correctly. BUT, if any part of that original equipment is removed - that is an automatic failure and the smog test is terminated at that point. The O.P. does not have that problem. The issue with the truck he wants to buy is a failure of 1 or more OEM parts. California law makes it the responsibility of the seller to provide a clean smog test anytime a vehicle is sold. Failing OEM parts are an issue with our now 25 to 30 year old trucks. 4 years ago my problem was cracks in the exhaust manifold. 2 years ago my problem was an Oxygen sensor and this year a failing fuel pump right on the dyno caused me to fail my latest smog test. Each time, once the failed OEM part was replaced - the truck passed its emission test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 17 hours ago, riot said: Hey all. I've been trying to buy this 88 Comanche for a couple of months and he hasn't been able to sell it to me because it won't pass California smog. He's replaced the O2 sensor, sparkplugs, wires, catalytic converter, MAP sensor, dist cap, fixed manifold gasket, adjusted the tps, and still won't pass. I don't have the numbers right now but I'll add them later when I get it. Any thought would be helpful. Thanks. Frankly, if the smog station told him to do all those things and it still doesn't pass, I have 2 thoughts: First the truck has way too much deferred maintenance and I have to wonder about the condition of the rest of the truck. Second, the seller should take his truck to a competent smog shop and pay for a proper diagnosis. Clearly, just throwing new parts randomly at the problem is not the solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I remember back in the day, I had a old 1981 in cali that failed when station in camp Pendleton. I found a guy that works on vehicles and does smog test. It cost be like a 100 bucks but he got it to pass. Now I bet it was illegal, however it passed. California smog laws are total bs and are really about getting new vehicles on the road and trashing the old ones. I know California will allow you to register if you spend 500 dollars in repairs. That is just crazy. I know they have this stuff called CRC. it will lower numbers to help pass. I have a friend who does it here in Texas on a 1995 and it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 2 hours ago, johnj92131 said: All it takes to pass the California smog test is to have all the original, factory installed equipment working correctly. BUT, if any part of that original equipment is removed - that is an automatic failure and the smog test is terminated at that point. The O.P. does not have that problem. The issue with the truck he wants to buy is a failure of 1 or more OEM parts. California law makes it the responsibility of the seller to provide a clean smog test anytime a vehicle is sold. What are the standards with your new diesel MJ with no OEM emissions parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 diesels engines exempt in California before 1998. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 1 hour ago, HOrnbrod said: What are the standards with your new diesel MJ with no OEM emissions parts? 1 hour ago, Noriyori_Kudo said: diesels engines exempt in California before 1998. Noriyori has it right, but he means "exempt from smog tests" for annual registration. While the 1986 factory diesel Cherokee and Comanche were not sold new in California because of emissions, any federally compliant diesel with 7500+ miles on it could be registered in California back in 1986. California will not approve a gas to diesel conversion anymore, even if it includes replacing an older gas engine with a fully compliant later model diesel engine. The key to getting my 86 TDI diesel registered in California is the VIN number. The VIN says the 86 was an OEM factory diesel, so with that - I am "golden". Now, with the 91 Comanche, I have to get a smog certificate every 2 years. And I have failed the first try each of the last 3 times. Always because of failed factory parts that need to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 do they still say you have to spend 500 dollars on repair, and you can get a pass on smog testing for california? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 43 minutes ago, Noriyori_Kudo said: do they still say you have to spend 500 dollars on repair, and you can get a pass on smog testing for california? Yes sir. Still a $500 limit for a waiver. Also some financial assistance is available for low income households. Not sure how the $500 limit works: I "assume" you have to spend the money with a qualified smog station and the smog station will have some paperwork to complete. Would also guess that a Do It Yourself type repairs would not qualify for a waiver. My March 2018 smog check cost me $475 to diagnose and replace a fuel pump failure cause by crappy workmanship by the last shop that replaced my previous fuel pump. This pump was cable tied to the fuel sender and the fuel hose was not installed properly - nor was the fuel hose properly clamped onto the metal fuel line. But the days of paying the inspection station to sign off are LONG GONE. Smog test equipment is hooked to Sacramento by modem and reported/recorded in real time. Results are reported by the machine directly to Sacramento. Every couple of years, one or two shops busted for trying to fake smog test results. Then the shop gets closed and people get a couple of years for a felony conviction. One last thing - Pre 1975(?) cars are exempt from any smog tests, but still subject to tickets if they are belching smoke like a house on fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 On April 5, 2018 at 4:12 AM, johnj92131 said: All it takes to pass the California smog test is to have all the original, factory installed equipment working correctly. Exactly, this is what a 29 year old MJ with 250K miles, new cat and new O2 sensor can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomeizter Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Changing the engine oil and filter will help clean emissions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronManche87 Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 I had to replace all vacuum lines and rollover valves as well as the grommets and passed with flying colors afterwards. Might be worth doing a smoke test.Sent from my LGMS210 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 If it's an 88, the bad grounds and dirty C101 connector will cause one or more sensors to read incorrectly. Up to 4 of them actually. If he used an O2 sensor other than an NTK, that could be an issue also. http://cruiser54.com/?p=24 http://cruiser54.com/?p=44 http://cruiser54.com/?p=19 http://cruiser54.com/?p=35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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