New Project 5.0 Smog Emissions

93Vertang

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Mar 15, 2017
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Hello I have a rebuilt motor with non smog heads. Previous owner assembled fuel injection intake and it was running rich and gave up. My question in order to pass emissions do I need the smog manifold hooked up to pass? The car has an x pipe but most emissions items unhooked. So if I hook the smog stuff up without head tube will it matter when taking it to the inspection station? Thanks.
 
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The head tube really comes into play during warmup. The smog pump pumps air to the heads, which in turn feeds the first pair of cats on the H-pipe to maximize the conversion process. Once the car is warmed up, the valve switches to sending the air down to the main cats.

You don't have the first pair of cats, so plumbing up the head pipe is moot.

What you'd want to do is complete the plumbing to the main cats, and make sure the car is nice and toasty when you go in for the test. If these are new 3-way cats, you may not even need the air pump setup at all.

If your EGR has been deleted, you'll want to get that reinstalled as well as it does affect part throttle emmissions.
 
How to pass emissions testing:

High NO - high combustion temps - retard timing, check EGR for operation.
High CO – Rich condition - fuel pressure too high, check O2 sensors, replace air filter, Clean MAF element.
High HC – Lean misfire, vacuum leak, common misfire due to worn or weak ignition system components. On rare occasions, an overly rich mixture may be the cause. Do the ethanol/E10 fill up as suggested.
High CO & HC - Cat converters, smog pump, and smog pump controls. Make sure the smog pump has good air output at 1200-1700 RPM

How to pass emissions testing:

1.) Make sure all the emissions gear the car was made with is present and connected up properly. That includes a working smog pump and cats. The smog tech will do a visual check to make sure that all the original equipment is present and connected up.

2.) Make sure that you have fresh tune up with spark plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, fuel & air filters. An oil & filter change is a good idea while you are at it.

3.) [Dumping the computer diagnostic codes on 86-95 Mustangs

Revised 26-July-2011. Added need to make sure the clutch is pressed when dumping codes.

Codes may be present even if the check engine light hasn’t come on, so be sure to check for them.

Here's the way to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great. You watch the flashing test lamp or Check Engine Light and count the flashes.

Post the codes you get and I will post 86-93 model 5.0 Mustang specific code definitions and fixes. I do not have a complete listing for 94-95 model 5.0 Mustangs at this time.

Be sure to turn off the A/C, and put the transmission in neutral when dumping the codes. On a manual transmission car, be sure to press the clutch to the floor.
Fail to do this and you will generate a code 67 and not be able to dump the Engine Running codes.

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If your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

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The STI has a gray connector shell and a white/red wire. It comes from the same bundle of wires as the self test connector.

89 through 95 cars have a working Check Engine light. Watch it instead of using a test lamp.

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The STI has a gray connector shell and a white/red wire. It comes from the same bundle of wires as the self test connector.


WARNING!!! There is a single dark brown connector with a black/orange wire. It is the 12 volt power to the under the hood light. Do not jumper it to the computer test connector. If you do, you will damage the computer.

What to expect:
You should get a code 11 (two single flashes in succession). This says that the computer's internal workings are OK, and that the wiring to put the computer into diagnostic mode is good. No code 11 and you have some wiring problems. This is crucial: the same wire that provides the ground to dump the codes provides signal ground for the TPS, EGR, ACT and Map/Baro sensors. If it fails, you will have poor performance, economy and driveablity problems

Some codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Dumping the Engine Running codes: The procedure is the same, you start the engine with the test jumper in place. Be sure the A/C is off, and clutch (if present) is pressed to the floor, and the transmission is in neutral. You'll get an 11, then a 4 and the engine will speed up to do the EGR test. After the engine speed decreases back to idle, it will dump the engine running codes.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

Your 86-88 5.0 won't have a working Check Engine Light, so you'll need a test light.
See AutoZone Part Number: 25886 , $10
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Alternate methods:
For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see Actron® for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is about $30 or so at AutoZone or Wal-Mart.

Or for a nicer scanner see Equus - Digital Ford Code Reader (3145) – It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $30.


Dumping the Engine Running codes: The procedure is the same, you start the engine with the test jumper in place. Be sure the A/C is off, clutch depressed to the floor and the transmission is in neutral. You'll get an 11, then a 4 and the engine will speed up to do the EGR test. After the engine speed decreases back to idle, it will dump the engine running codes.
Cylinder balance test
Warm the car's engine up to normal operating temperature. Use a jumper wire or paper clip to put the computer into test mode. Start the engine and let it go through the normal diagnostic tests, then quickly press the throttle to the floor. The engine RPM should exceed 2500 RPM's for a brief second. The engine RPM's will increase to about 1450-1600 RPM and hold steady. The engine will shut off power to each injector, one at a time. When it has sequenced through all 8 injectors, it will flash 9 for everything OK, or the number of the failing cylinder such as 2 for cylinder #2. Quickly pressing the throttle again up to 2500 RPM’s will cause the test to re-run with smaller qualifying figures.
Do it a third time, and if the same cylinder shows up, the cylinder is weak and isn’t putting out power like it should. See the Chilton’s Shop manual for the complete test procedure



4.) Post the codes and get help to fix them. Don’t try to pass with codes not fixed. Clearing the computer just temporarily removes them from memory, it doesn’t fix the problem that caused the code to be set.

5.) Be sure to do the testing on a hot engine. Drive for 15-20 minutes prior to taking the test to get operating temps up into the normal range. Do not shut off the engine while waiting for your turn on the test machine. An engine up to full operating temperature puts out fewer emissions.
 
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Thanks I am in Colorado I will look into what cats are hanging out down there also. Cheers
I'm in Colorado as well, Lakewood to be specific. And I had the same problem. But with a lot of help from the people here, especially jrichker, and some research on my own, I was able to get my stang to pass emissions.
 
Thanks for the info. On the egr heads, is the hole a tube gallery or just a hole in the sidewall? I would look but I don't have the egr heads but I have the equipment. :) Thanks again.
 
Yes the hole should be at the back of the head :) sidewall was a relative term for what's there- a flat wall or galleries that would would need to be there. I would just drill a matching hole but don't want to mess with destroying the head.
Cheers again
 
Egr tube enters the back of the head.
If you had a hole in the side wall you'd have a flat head.
Get it? Flat head? :rlaugh:
Now that's funny
Maybe not


That tube at back of heads has nothing to do with EGR. That tube is from air pump to supply fresh air to the exhaust ports in order to feed the pre cats and make the conversion process more efficient
 
Now I'm really confused.
@Mustang5L5

the hole in the back of the head has nothing to do with the EGR. It is for the thermactor tube that goes down to the cats. That is where you will see on my heads I installed the bolt. The EGR port in the head is located in the center of the head on the side facing the intake manifold. Look at the bottom head in the picture. It's ok not to try and respond to every single post. Better to give out proper advice.

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To the OP- don't start drilling holes in your heads. If you want emmisions compliant heads then buy them.
 
Thanks for clearing that up, did you read the post from the begining? From the description at the start I think he is dealing with the thermactor pipes and calling it an egr. My mistake.
Maybe he can post a pic of what he is try'n to do.
 
Sorry I was thinking it was egr crap.
If I tap in thermactor tube holes in the back of my heads to mount the air injector tubes would I hit anything. These are not gt40
 

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If you have those heads there should be provisions for the tubes, I thinking the heads are installed and in the car so stick your fingers behind the head and feel for two holes, one larger than the other. I will try to get a pic
 
Sorry I was thinking it was egr crap.
If I tap in thermactor tube holes in the back of my heads to mount the air injector tubes would I hit anything. These are not gt40

The thermactor tube only pumps air at cold start up to the heads. My opinion is for smog purposes you plug the holes in the back of the head, hook up your smog pump, hoses, etc, and just bypass the thermactor tube with no ill effect other than a code being triggered. If you must pass a visual, you will need to have the head drilled and tapped for the thermactor tube.
 
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