Removing some smog stuff

[LukeZ]

So I drove to my local royal farms and back. The service engine soon light was on for about 30 seconds after starting it, and then it went away (that's actually pretty normal for my car). I don't feel a difference in the drive, and it doesn't sound different. I don't smell a difference in the exhaust either. So all in all the car runs as expected and now my engine bay is just that much less cluttered.

I ran into a new problem tho (of course). My right blinker does not want to work correctly. The left is fine. But the turn indicator in the dash is now permanently on, and when I signaled right, it just stays solid and the outside does not work (headlight or tailight). That's when I have the headlamps on. With them off, the taillight will signal right but the headlight signal will still not work. Anyone have an idea what this may be? The only wires I touched in the ENTIRE process today was the two wires straight from the battery (I took it out and painted the tray) and the two plugs that were in the smog pump (electrical taped the ends to keep them clean). I don't know why my right turn signal is malfunctioning.

 

[ed1948]

Do you have the factory service manual? You can also download a PDF version off the net which contains wiring diagrams.
Firstly check that there are no loose or disco'd ground wires to the fenders or other metal body parts and that the lamp unit connex are good. I can check the wiring tomorrow off my pdf manual if you're still in the dark.

 

[LukeZ]

Do you have the factory service manual? You can also download a PDF version off the net which contains wiring diagrams.
Firstly check that there are no loose or disco'd ground wires to the fenders or other metal body parts and that the lamp unit connex are good. I can check the wiring tomorrow off my pdf manual if you're still in the dark.

Thank thank you for you help, it's much appreciated. Where could I find a PDF of the service manual? Just google 86 El camino service manual I guess? I assumed it would be harder to come by than that..

 

[LukeZ]

Ok I found a manual. Going to try to fix the turn signals. Wish me luck

 

[foxtrot]

My guess would be a bad bulb, socket or the blinker switch inside the column. The DVM will be your friend in this debug effort.

 

[jiho]

I don't plan on getting a cat that even has a spot for the air tube to hook up.

This should be enough to give you a headache, I know. Here in California, this kind of BS is about all I've been getting done on my car for some years now. I'm currently trying to just reorganize the other stuff I've got piled up waiting to do.

I'll be real interested to see how you do at smogcheck time. If you don't have the dyno test and only have to pass the 2-speed idle test, who knows, you might wedge in under the wire.

However ....

You still have a problem in how the computer adjusts the mixture. Without air from the smog pump, the cat won't have enough air to burn excess HC and CO, no matter which kind of cat you buy.

You're talking about buying a three-way cat. But with no air tube from the smog pump, a three-way only works right when the motor has a computer that adjusts the mixture so the cat gets extra air in the mixture instead of from the smog pump.

Not only does your computer NOT do that (it assumes the air tube), it DOES adjust the mixture to send EXTRA FUEL so the cat will reduce NO (oxides of nitrogen). The air from the smog pump is SUPPOSED to enable the cat to burn that extra fuel -- but you're removing that air.

 

[LukeZ]

This should be enough to give you a headache, I know. Here in California, this kind of BS is about all I've been getting done on my car for some years now. I'm currently trying to just reorganize the other stuff I've got piled up waiting to do.

I'll be real interested to see how you do at smogcheck time. If you don't have the dyno test and only have to pass the 2-speed idle test, who knows, you might wedge in under the wire.

However ....

You still have a problem in how the computer adjusts the mixture. Without air from the smog pump, the cat won't have enough air to burn excess HC and CO, no matter which kind of cat you buy.

You're talking about buying a three-way cat. But with no air tube from the smog pump, a three-way only works right when the motor has a computer that adjusts the mixture so the cat gets extra air in the mixture instead of from the smog pump.

Not only does your computer NOT do that (it assumes the air tube), it DOES adjust the mixture to send EXTRA FUEL so the cat will reduce NO (oxides of nitrogen). The air from the smog pump is SUPPOSED to enable the cat to burn that extra fuel -- but you're removing that air.

I suppose if I notice a problem that I could lean out the carburetor by hand? I dont know much about how to do that, but Im sure theres a million youtube videos on it. Also, I went to an exhaust shop today. Ill most lilely be getting new exhaust (and cat) in late december or january.

 

[jiho]

I suppose if I notice a problem that I could lean out the carburetor by hand?

Don't count on noticing a problem. You can't smell 150 ppm of HC, which is all it takes to flunk (ppm = parts per million). You won't notice a problem in how it runs either, unless you mal-tune the carburetor. If you lean it out enough that the computer can't outwit you, you'll get stumbles and surges, probably flunk NO, maybe overheat and knock or even detonate. And if the computer can outwit you, you won't accomplish anything.

 

[LukeZ]

Don't count on noticing a problem. You can't smell 150 ppm of HC, which is all it takes to flunk (ppm = parts per million). You won't notice a problem in how it runs either, unless you mal-tune the carburetor. If you lean it out you'll get stumbles and surges, probably flunk NO, maybe overheat and knock or even detonate.

Ill take that as "dont mess with it." Thanks brother

 

[LukeZ]

Also, does anyone know what this little tube going from what looks like the valve cover to the air cleaner is? I was going to remove it and put a little plate over the hole like I did on the front of the air cleaner, but I didn't know what it went to. Not even sure if its emissions related or if it is vital to how the car runs. I assume the GM engineers put it there for a reason, so...

And, notice how you can now see the floor in absence of the smog pump.