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Question: What year did you have to start putting the smog pump on the camaro for it to pass inspection?  Would I need to put a smog pump on a 327 small block out of a 66 Chevy Chevelle if i put the motor in a 1979-81 Chevy Camaro.

 

Answer: Depending on the "specific" Chevy engine you use... you'll have to use the emissions components that model was originally equipped with. Many things will come into to play; was the engine originally manufactured for California use? What size and year is the engine? And whether the engine was built to be used in an automatic or standard vehicle? Only after these questions are answered can we determine exactly which emissions components the engine requires.

 

 

Question: I bought this air pump for my 99 GMC Suburban 1500 and it is very noisy. It is louder than my engine at low to mid rpm. It sounds like a shop vac, it turns on as soon as i start the car then turns off soon after. Then it turns on and off intermittently as I drive. Not sure if I have a defective part?Also, my check engine light (malfunction code p0410) goes on and off. I also changed the relay.Before I installed the air pump my check engine light was on all the time. My original air pump never made so much noise.

 

Answer: Sounds like a defective smog pump. Although this pump is an aftermarket model it should not make any signification noise. The on-off turning during engine warm up sounds normal however. This is typical of an air pump. The P0410 looks like it will be due to a restriction in the pump. Replace the pump... preferably with a factory model and re-inspect.

 

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Question: I sure hope you can steer me the right way! This is what's going on. I purchased a 1981 Ford f 600 bucket truck from the Tucson area last week and drove it home. After looking at it closer I noticed that many things have been Jerry rigged on the truck mainly electrically by who ever has owned it before. The truck needs misc things repaired and  worked on which for the most part I can do myself. My plan was to try and get the title changed over in my name but also to file a non opp on it so I can do the repairs it needs. There is no point in registering the truck and taking out insurance if it's going to be in my driveway for a while.
 
Now, this is what's got me worried. I guess over the years the previous owners have disconnected or unplugged / jerry rigged./ or sabotaged  some or all of the emission devices. I know this because I removed them because they were not even hooked up to anything and a couple of devices were broken. In other words, I need to have someone do a visual inspection to tell me what's missing so I can some how get the right smog stuff back together under the hood and make it correct again. I don't have a schematic to follow that shows me right from wrong. I want to do this the right way but I'm sure at this time the thing would ever pass the way it's sitting. It needs a new exhaust system since it's leaking at the manifolds so it smells bad under the hood. I don't believe it had a smog pump because the manifolds are not designed for any injection tubes. It has two canisters mounted to the fender well with a few vacuum lines coming off into misc in line devices that I don't recognize. This engine is a Ford 370  2  V Lima engine. Anyway, is there anyway I can have someone look at it that will know what it will need as far as emission devices? if so, how do I go about this in  San Diego?

 

Answer: Your vehicle was designed in both a two barrel carburetor and 4 barrel carburetor configuration. The 4 barrel carb engine design requires an EVAP system. This is probably the two canisters you mention noticing near the fender. These canisters need to have proper vacuum line connections to the engine's intake and gas tank. Both engine models need to be equipped with a AIR (pump style) injection system, as well as an EGR (exhaust recirculation valve), Air Cleaner Pre-Heat tube (AIS) and PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system. No CAT (Catalytic Converter) or O2 (Oxygen sensor) are required. For proper routing instructions I have to refer you to a Haynes repair manual which you may be able to purchase at a local auto parts store.

 

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Question: 1987 fleetwood moter home. This motor home has a 454 with headers do i need need air injection pump or is it exempt.

 

Answer: The 87 GM 454 requires an Air Injection, via a smog pump.

 

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Question: I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MY SMOG TEST WELL I HAVE A 1996 CHEVROLET S 10 BLAZER    4.3 L ENGINE 6 CYLINDER I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE SMOG CENTER AND I GOT A NO PASS
AND I WAS WONDERING IF MY WATER PUMP , THERMOSTAT AND BATTERIE CAN BE THE CAUSE OF THE NO PASS TEST AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A WIERING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES FROM TIME TO TIME DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVISE FOR ME I WOULD REALLY APRICIAT IT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

 

Answer: It will be extremely difficult to say without actually inspecting these components. In general... a bad water pump or thermostat will cause overheating which will in turn cause high NOx. A bad battery may cause your vehicle to operate under a greater load then necessary, resulting in increased emissions all together.
 
We recommend spending the well worth-it diagnosis fee and learn the actual faults causing your vehicle's smog check failure.

 

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Question: I recently bought a 1978 MGB.  The seller did not include a smog cert.  I’m missing a lot of the parts and have been looking like crazy for them.  Any ideas for some replacement parts like from other engines?  Smog pump, injector rail, gulp valve, egr valve, etc.

 

Answer: You have two options. You may want to contact the State Smog Check Parts Locator.
 
(Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays)
 
The State's Part Locator helps motorists locate hard-to-find emissions parts that are needed to bring their vehicles into compliance with state law. If the parts are not available, the they may be able to issue you a "Limited Parts Exemption". In most cases the needed parts are found. You may contact the State Smog Check Parts locator by calling (800) 826-3566.
 
If they are unable to help you, you may seek assistance from the state smog referee’s office in the form of a waiver.

 

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Question: I have 1997 Prelude. It has new belts, seals, tune up, wires, cap, water pump etc. It's in great shape and runs very well but... It passed all Smog but the idle test. High carbon something or other. Highest allowed (here in Lompoc California) is 100... tested at 120. I have since cleaned the ERG valve and thoroughly cleaned the ports also... before that had PO420 (CAT) and PO401(EGR). Now no codes but I'm afraid to retest.

 

Answer: High HC. There are potential ignition concerns. The diagnosis for this failure should include close inspection of your vehicle's ignition system. HC faults (if not related to fuel mixture problems) are most often due to improper fuel ignition. If after all Emissions Components are inspected and no fault found, or fault/s found and repaired (yet vehicle still fails test), consideration should be given to the CAT.

 

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Question: I am upgrading my 1988 Chevrolet G20 van from a 305 cid engine to a 454 to use to tow my travel trailer, if I use an older engine how do I find out what smog equipment I must have to pass in California? Is it just a smog pump? Any help you can give me would be greatly appreaciated.

 

Answer: When rebuilding an engine, it must be rebuilt to the original equipment specifications. However, if you do decide to change the engine, these guidelines must be observed to ensure that the vehicle will be eligible for smog certification or registration. Mixing and matching emission control system components could cause problems and is generally not allowed. Engine and emission control systems must be in an engine-chassis configuration certified by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The engine must meet or exceed the requirements for the year and class of vehicle in which it is installed. No internal or external engine modifications (cams, pistons, intakes, etc.) may be performed unless the parts are ARB-exempted or EPA-certified for use in the installed engine. Use the database on this site to search for aftermarket parts covered by ARB Executive Orders.

 

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Question: I've got a couple of good questions for you today. I'm in the military and stationed in Japan. I'll be moving to San Diego this summer, North Island, and will probably be bringing my vehicle. It's a 1992 Chevy C1500 pickup, 350ci. It does not have the air injection on it, didn't come with it when it was manufactured. I'd like to get my truck smog tested here in Japan so I know whether or not I'll need to do any modifications (adding the air pump, exhaust manifolds, piping, ect..) prior to exporting it from Japan. So is there a set limit to the smog levels for each type of test? And if so, could you send me the limits so I can be prepared prior to leaving Japan?

 

Answer: Vehicles from other countries are less likely to meet U.S. specifications. Vehicles that were not built to meet U.S. specifications must be imported as gray-market vehicles. This can be extremely expensive and time consuming.If you are considering importing a foreign vehicle, you should review what the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has to say on this subject, as CBP controls what vehicles may be brought into the United States. Your intended vehicle must clear customs before it can be registered in any state. The costs for a laboratory to modify and certify the emissions and safety equipment on a gray-market vehicle are considerable. You may also wish to contact the California Air Resources Board for its brochure on gray-market vehicles. The ARB number to call is (800)242-4450.