HELP!!! Failed Emissions Beyond Belief

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Okay the problem with the whole illegal to sell without smog is gonna be difficult seeing as how I paid under the table for the vehicle. I bought it for 7k cash but push 4k on the titel transfer. If not for that I would have gone after the guy. I'm gonna install the new h pipe and hpe that it fixes the problem. Now here's the question. The shop that smogged said they would do an inspection for $85. Do you think I should just swap h pipe, check plugs, and seafoam or go through with their full inspection first?
 
full inspection? more like full BS, they will stick the car on the lift, stand under it for a few minutes, then charge you a hour of labor for two guys to act like theyre doing work.

do the H-Pipe, Seafoam, new plugs, then check to make sure emission stuff is working, then for ****s and giggles stick a can of "Guaranteed to Pass" in it. and run the piss out of the car before sticking it on the rollers. if they let you, tell them to run the car for a few minutes under load to get the cats nice and hot, they work better when theyre hot.

oh and its really not your fault if you plead ignorance and the seller puts 4k on the title. its his job to put the correct amount on the title for registration purposes.
 
Judging by the noise I'm getting durring acceleration I definately think the problem lies in the h pipe whether it be the cats or a leak. If the egr was not working there would be some kind of code right? All I pulled was bank one catalyst and it sounds like a leak or f'ed cats. I'm gonna have Jon aka Smeech if hecould spot an obvious leak noise cuz I'm still unfamilar with mustangs and what kind of noises I should and shouldn't be hearing. Thanks for all the help guys.
 
You posted a thread a while back in which you admitted that you might be hearing an exhaust leak. Then without looking into fixing that possible exhaust leak, you decide it would be a good idea to try and pass a smog test??.

The smog guys told your car was running rich because it probably is. If you have an exhaust leak that is pulling in (deducing) atmosphere, the O2 sensors are going to interpret that as an overly lean condition and add fuel.

Get your exhaust leak fixed.
 
Ok so I'm going over a list of things to do for the new smog. I have the stock h pipe Smeech gave me sitting in the garage right now. I will be installing that shortly but I wanted to get an idea of a few other precautions while I'm already working on the car. I hear that high NOx readings can be caused by a faulty egr valve. How would I go about testing the egr? Also, what parts would fall under a tune up? I know your basic spark plug, filter replacement but is there anything else for these mustangs that may help emissions? I will be running seafoam through the car once I get the stock h pipe installed and then replace the spark plugs. Did I miss anything?

Another thing I just read was that lower octane gas will help emissions. Is this true? As a last precaution I will most likely use that Guaranteed to pass stuff just in case.
 
You posted a thread a while back in which you admitted that you might be hearing an exhaust leak. Then without looking into fixing that possible exhaust leak, you decide it would be a good idea to try and pass a smog test??.

The smog guys told your car was running rich because it probably is. If you have an exhaust leak that is pulling in (deducing) atmosphere, the O2 sensors are going to interpret that as an overly lean condition and add fuel.

Get your exhaust leak fixed.

100 percent right..

that exhaust leak needs to be fixed that po420 code is a cat code for bank1

this car will pass smog with a stock h put back on and the exhaust leak fixed, most likely the exhaust leak is related to this hacked h-pipe that is on your car.


BTW the cats will also effect the NOX emmisions since they aid in NOX reduction, I doubt you have a egr blockage sine you would be throwing a p0401( egr flow insufficent )
 
Thanks for the help. Waiitng to put the stock h pipe back on. Raining out here in Cali so haven't had the chance to work yet. By the way are there any gasket from the manifolds to h pipe? I know one size has a ball shape and the other is a oval flange. Parts store had no gasket for the part of the exhaust.
 
So, I finally got around to installing the new h pipe on the car. Finished the seafoam treatment the day before which didn't real show a huge improvement but did prove a few of your points about the leak. Turns out there was a small leak in the driver side header to h pipe connection. Anyways after tackling the front header bolts myself I finally managed to get it out to find a few interesting things.

Here are a few pics of the ghetto welded cats:
View attachment 402633
View attachment 402635

And finally the kicker......

Hmmm, something seems to be missing in this picture:
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Oh yeah thats right, the previous owner decided to sell me the car with gutted cats. Then ofcourse said the car had flows when really it was stock mufflers with no cats. I'm very pleased to find this out since this totally explains the high smog numbers. The car is way quieter now that the real cats are on and the smell is so much better. All thats left to do is install the new spark plugs and run a bottle of Guaranteed to pass just in case. Thanks for all the help guys.
 

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Just added the Guaranteed to pass stuff in a full tank. Should take about 1.5 weeks to get it back down to empty. Then its off to smog. I was hoping to switch the plugs but the more I hear about this blow out issue, the more I lean toward leaving it the way it is.
 
All I know, is that my car with gutted cats, (welded the right way BTW) shot the same numbers at a NY testing facility when I went there not too long ago.

BTW the gasoline smell inside your car when your driving isnt aftermarket mufflers.

Your car will sound a hell of alot better with some Magnaflows or Flowmasters....
 
Yeah its definately weid driving now with it being so quiet. It won't last too long tho. Once I pass the emission I will be ordering my UPR X with the SLP LMII's. Basically all my mods have been halted due to this smog test. It really sucks buying a car and then having to dish out money to return it to stock before you can start modding. Teh Lame.....
 
Yeah its definately weid driving now with it being so quiet. It won't last too long tho. Once I pass the emission I will be ordering my UPR X with the SLP LMII's. Basically all my mods have been halted due to this smog test. It really sucks buying a car and then having to dish out money to return it to stock before you can start modding. Teh Lame.....

How are you going to pass smog with that stuff on next time? You going to take it off every two years?