Failed smog today

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Mr. 81

Apprentice
Mar 25, 2013
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Downey, CA
Today I took my car in for a smog check(CA :?) so that i could finally complete the registration process of my 3.8 N/A Regal. Before i bought the car, it had been sitting for almost two years. Since buying it, I've filled it with new gas and changed the plugs and wires. Unfortunately for me, It still failed. Everything was within range except for the hydrocarbons. It barely skated by with 89 ppm at 15mph which is the max for that speed, but failed at 25mph with 14 ppm over the max allowance. I plan to change the oil and pcv valve this weekend, anything else? I really need to get this thing over with. Thanks in advance.

p.s. Keep it legal, please, the DMV is making me go to a strictly monitored STAR station.

UPDATE: So after changing the plugs, wires, oil/filter, fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve and this time running it for about 40 minutes and leaving it running until the test, IT STILL FAILED. This time the HCs were fine at 15mph, but it only went down to 10ppm over the max allowance at 25 mph. Both a friend of mine and the smog guy suggested leaning out the air/fuel mixture. My budget is tight, so I'm going to try leaning the mixture out myself, but I've never worked on a carb before. Is this something fairly easy to do? It's just the standard 2bbl.
 
Thank you, guys. I drove it for about 10-15 minutes before the test, and before then only about three 10 minute runs earlier in the week due to the registration status.
 
you need to run it longer than 10-15 minutes, dive it for 1/2 hour before the test and don't shut it down if you have to wait to have the test done
 
Thanks for the advice, pontiacgp, i'll try to keep it running next time. It's been stalling sometimes when i put it in P or R though. I need to do some research because i have no experience whatsoever with carbs.
 
I'd get the car running good before you go for another test. It sounds like the car has been parked for a while so a good long drive might smooth it out. The additives in the fuel will leave a layer of varnish in the carb if it sits long enough
 
pontiacgp said:
I'd get the car running good before you go for another test. It sounds like the car has been parked for a while so a good long drive might smooth it out. The additives in the fuel will leave a layer of varnish in the carb if it sits long enough

Yeah, I've been trying to drive it more, but its been stalling when I first start it and sometimes when i put it in park or reverse. I know nothing about carburetors yet, are these simple adjustments to make? I usually pump the gas before i start it and then rev it a little bit, but it still stalls sometimes.
 
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