Emissions Testing / OBD Reader

[calvynandhobbs]

I have been working on a 1994 Saturn SL2 in preparation of Chase going back to college at the end of next week. I have done brakes, changed the oil, replaced the air filter. According to Chase the spark plugs and everything were changed last year so I didn't mess with them since he doesn't put that many miles on the car. He brought it for its emissions test yesterday and failed miserably. His HC (PPM) count was 328 with a limit of 158 and the CO was 2.66 with a limit of 0.84. He's not throwing any codes, but I'm thinking that the bulb may be burnt out. Does anybody have a scanner and ideas of things I can do to get the car ready for re-inspection?

[zjchef25]

i do have an OBD2 scanner...... mine didnt throw code the front o2 sensor code but it was bad it only read the rear, but if you want i do have a reader

[zjchef25]

or you can go to autozone they have the tester... they do it for free as well

[calvynandhobbs]

I called Chase during lunch to have him run over to Autozone to have the car read. I think with a 94 his Saturn may be an OBDI rather than II. I don't remember the switch year for most vehicles. Hopefully it will give me a place to start.

[BlacXJeep]

before 95 on domestic and before 93 on imports were obd1

[rocket]

Ove got a PC based scanner that will read/display real-time sensor data; come on over. Also, if the ECU had any codes stored, they would show up on the report he got.

[calvynandhobbs]

Chase went over to Autozone last night and they couldn't read it because it is OBDI and they only have an OBDII scanner. I printed some information off the net this morning on how to use a paperclip to jump two circuits and then count the flashes of the light on the dash. If the light is burnt out it won't do me much good though.

Jeremy, you can read OBDI stuff. If my attempt after work today doesn't work I may be running out to your place.

[calvynandhobbs]

I used a paper clip across terminals A and B in the Saturn last night to pull codes. The only code that came up was 12 and that is the one that says the PCM checks out and everything is running fine. At this point I think I'm just going to run some fuel injector cleaner through it and put in new plugs and have him bring it back to see how it does.

Question on the CT laws though. His registration is good until May 2012, but his emissions were waived until November since he had the car in Indiana for school. If he's driving it back to Indiana next week and the car will probably never come back to CT should he even worry about the emissions test? I'm thinking he could just off the car out there after school next year. That's what he wants to do anyway.

[rocket]

Is it registered in ct?

[calvynandhobbs]

Yes, the car is registered in CT and the registration is good until May 2012, but the emissions is due in Nov 2010.

[Mr Rock]

If the car is not returning to CT then you will be fine. If you do try to renew the Reg in 2012 you will have to pay a $20 late fee to emmisions before you can renew.

I say don't worry about, and worse case run some seafoam through it, it has worked for me in the past.

[BlacXJeep]

Sea foam is great, used it to free up a sticking valve on my jeep.

[rocket]

there is a project in autoparts stores that guarentee passing emissions testing