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Mazda 626 with smog check problems
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 13, 2006, 3:38 PM
Post #1 of 4
(3406 views)
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Mazda 626 with smog check problems
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I have a 1990 Mazda 626 2.2L automatic sedan.
It is due for a California smog check. I took it to a Smog Check mechanic that ran it through the machine prior to entering it in the computer; to see if it would pass. He tells me the car is polluting and will not pass.
Although I am not sure if the mechanic's diagnosis is true or not; I did see some smoke coming out of the exhaust while the car was running on the dynamometer.
I do not have any money to take the car to a mechanic.
Can anyone give me any tips or secrets on preparing a car to pass a California Smog Check?
Or is there some part or parts that need to be inspected and changed?
Some background info on the car: the engine oil was still relatively new and clean, the spark plugs and plug wires are not that new but they are supposedly ''premium" Bosch plug cables and platinum spark plugs; but the air filter was dirty.
I put in a new air filter (after the smog run), would this make a difference?
I would appreciate any help.
Thank you.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 13, 2006, 4:31 PM
Post #2 of 4
(3402 views)
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Re: Mazda 626 with smog check problems
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Why didn't the smog check mechanic give you some suggestions? If the car has no check engine light on spark plugs could help, heavier viscosity oil would reduce any smoke which just seeing it would fail the car. Have the car fully warmed up when you go in. CA like MA will give you a grace period if not obsenely bad -- here it's 60 days. If you fail again here but not too bad you can get a waiver for a year but then it's all over. No car is legal to drive with a failed safety problem, T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Nov 13, 2006, 6:07 PM
Post #3 of 4
(3399 views)
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Re: Mazda 626 with smog check problems
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Hey Tom,
Thanks for responding to my post.
The mechanic would not give any suggestions for a combination of reasons. Most prevalent is that this mechanic is greedy as hell and doesn't want me getting any of my own ideas on how to "fix" the car.
(he offers to do the ''repairs" himself)
The relatively new oil in the engine is already a heavy viscosity : 20W50 if my memory serves correctly.
The smoke coming out of the exhaust was not blue-oil smoke, but rather black-like smoke.
The car was as warm as it gets by the time the car was put up on the dynamometer.
The car hasn't officially failed the smog test yet, as it was not entered into the state's computer system. This buys me some time.
What exactly is it that smog mechanics do to coax a car to pass a smog check? I've seen them pass previously-failed vehicles by merely tinkering with certain points in the engine bay. Although it is highly difficult to understand or decipher what is it that they adjusted. To make matters more muddled, every car's engine bay is different.
There must be some specific details pertaining to a car's emissions that can be readily readjusted. (I think)
Again, thanks for the response and I look forward to more insight.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 13, 2006, 9:40 PM
Post #4 of 4
(3397 views)
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Re: Mazda 626 with smog check problems
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In a 1990 you still don't have much to adjust. The black is indicative of too much fuel and a host of things could cause that. It can and will kill your converters if left unfixed and may be a dumb as a vacuum leak.
This is a case of a "stich in time catches nine" so don't wait if you want to keep this car. Check for vacuum leaks as they are usually cheap and easy to fix. Use (sparingly) carb cleaner at suspect areas and if englne idle changes you found one, T
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