Q failed smog today, and more bad news....crap

[Q45dude]

94 q45

So, I go in for a smog check and the guy says it didn't pass. According the reading the recommended I clean the EGR/EGR canister, solinoid, etc..I'm planning on pulling the TB and EGR (yes, I know I'll get the gaskets before) and clean thoroughly. What other things in this relation (Emisson related) you guys recommend I clean while I'm at it???Is there a way of cleaning the canister?? I assume it is the black cylinder thing near/above the oil filter??

Then, to ad more to my perfect day, on the way home while at stop signs/signals I notice smoke from front passengar side , I pull in my driveway and oil is just leading from under (can't really tell from where yet). I open the hood and the entire engine bay is just soiled with oil. It's not engine oil as suspected (I gotta do the valve cover gaskets soon) but it seems like power steering fluid. As recommended, I had been putting AT fluid for power steering fluid. Its dark now so I just left to go under until morning time. Is there a power steering or similar hose in the passengar side of the engine? I doubt it could be transmission related? I just don't think anything related to the transmission will be shooting up the engine bay area!!!!!Any help/suggestion would greatly be appreciated. thanks

[qship96]

Most likely power steering hose, but check carefully as the in-radiator transmission coolers and the external transmission filter are also located in that general area and use rubber hoses also.

[goody90q45]

Which emissions part of the test did you not pass? Did you pass alll the visual parts? Post the numbers? I just got done doing the 90Q and passed.

[Victor]

The state of California will give you $500 to get your gross polluter off the road if you failed at a test only smog test station. You have to be able to drive it under its own power to the place you turn it in at. Figure what your car is worth as is, and repaired, compared to the $500 you can get for it right now. A 1994 with problems might not be worth much more than $500.

[maxnix]

Well, if it's ill maintained and eaten up by rust, maybe.

Otherwise, bullfeathers.

I would suspect your high pressure hose.

[Victor]

If it is the high pressure hose there are lots of shops in California that can make a new hose for you a lot cheaper than what an Infiniti dealer would charge you for it.

[Q45dude]

Mike,

This is where it failed: NO (PPM)MAX AVE MEAS679 150 1113683 136 1193

Is there a way to clean the canister??Also, I thought the high pressure hose is the short one going from the PS pump to the reservoir??

[Infinitiguy19]

Hey if you want I have a carbon canister, You can experiment cleaning that one, if it fails then you know yours is in good shape.

Also have a spare EGR and Solenoid for it.

[Q45dude]

Will some body answer the question please??

Can I clean the canister? if so, how?Is there a high pressure PS in the passengar side of the engine bay?If it is the hose, how much at dealer? aftermarket?

[Infinitiguy19]

First of all calm down, You won't get a response in 2 seconds like Google sometimes around here.

But NO you can't just clean the canister.

There is NO way to clean it.

Just search if you don't believe.

I think your EGR is clogged or dirty.

For the power steering hoses: zerothread/307781

[3Q Jay]

check for the leak in daylight. the pass side hose is low pressure (rack egress).carbon canister? doubtful.did you pass the evap portion (that's the new test started in 2008).

EGR is plugged===> high NOx.14719-w7001 gasket.rooter out the pipe that goes down the exhaust mani.you know the rest of the cleaning drill, right?

[subtle_driver]

so you failed nox? you didn't fail hc? hmmm, i would suggest going through and testing the egr function, and all the vacuume lines and hoses that go with it. if you fail nox that basicly means your combustion temps are too high, i believe besides egr, it can also caused by lean mixture and engine temp too high. but EGR affects it the most.

first check to see if the egr valve is working. suck on the vacuume line going to it and see if it makes the engine stall or stumble (pass if it does, no cleaning needed. fail, if idle doesn't change much; clean it), then if it does, check to see if it holds vacuume(good if holds vacuume, if not, fail! get one that works). then check the transducer? does this have one? its too cold to go outside and check my car. many times the exaust backpressure rubber hose is broken and leaking. then check the functionality of the solenoid. there are three passages, i think.... you ad power to the unit, and it will *click* and one passage will close and open for the other side. basicly a valve that opens/switches electronicly when the ecu tells it to. you should also have a vaccume source that is not leaking or weak to the solenoid.

why did he tell you to clean the egr canister? what is that? there is a canister that is for fuel evap.

if you take your car to a 'Test only' station, don't take them too seriously. because they never fix cars to pass smog. it is illegal for them to do that. they lack experience. if your car is gross polluter, you can take it to Gold shield station. they fix your car for up to $500. or take it to a repair station. they know more and can diagnose it. if you want to do it yourself. make sure you have a vacuume gauge, and a troubleshooting guide. the vacuume gauge will tell you if your egr system is accuating or not. a good test after doing repairsl; install the gauge on the egr valve line and see if the tool shows vacuume when the egr is supposed to open, i think when you warm it up so the ecu is in closed loop, then rev the engine untill you see movement in the needle. or you can rig it to watch when you drive.

[Q45dude]

ppastos, YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN

I'm not requesting a response in 2 minutes

[subtle_driver]

i was assuming you are in california.... cali smog is ghey

[Q45dude]

Thank you so much for your post (subtle_driver). Greatly appreciated.

[Infinitiguy19]

ppastos, YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN

I'm not requesting a response in 2 minutes

Dude what the **** did I do?

All I did was try an help you out and by the way I recommended you clean the EGR first but no thanks for me I guess.

I didn't even make fun of you for asking "Can i clean my evaporator canister"

Actually I am not looking for a thank you just a little respect because I donate my time helping you and i see what I get that retarded *** post that's quoted above.

I doubt I will waste my time helping you.

I was'nt trying to start an argument but I won't back down from one either.

[Q45dude]

[Q45dude]

Victor,

What kind of shops should be looking for in this case? What would it average do you know?

[maxnix]

Try http://www.jerrytucker.net

You need the expertise of an Infiniti Senior technician, very expensive in LA.

Why would you want to refill and evaporative cannister when it is common to just replace it?

[Q451990]

I have never heard of a carbon canister failure on a Q. Not to say it's never happened, but I haven't heard of it. I think I would concentrate on cleaning and getting the EGR system to work properly and then go from there.

Heath

[Q45dude]

Victor,what kind of shops? what kind of price range am I looking at ?

[maxnix]

Victor,What kind of shops should be looking for in this case? What would it average do you know?

Victor,what kind of shops? what kind of price range am I looking at ?

If you need to pad your post count, try General Chat.

[jks7188]

Hi all,

First time poster. I failed a smog test today because I failed the functionality component of the test, not the emissions part. For some reason, the O2 sensors, Catalytic Converter and EGR were all "pending," or not ready, during the test. Any idea what the problem is? Something computer-related?

[slybydesignq45t]

Wow, it seems like Cali Q's aren't doing so well these days. I have tried twice for my car to pass smog. Man, I thought Cali cars where more desired do to the dry weather conditions.

[maxnix]

Surely your car has some stored codes?

[Jesda]

If you need to pad your post count, try General Chat.

There's LOLCATS galore!

[jks7188]

The only code that appears on the scanner is U3FFF, which a mechanic thought was a body code. That could make sense because the keyless entry system on the vehicle is only functional from very short ranges.

As far as the "pending" sensors, I was told to drive the car around town and on the freeway so that it could complete a drive cycle and be ready for the test. After about 75 miles, it has yet to work.

I should note that the check engine light appears for maybe a half of a second when the ignition is turned, instead of its normal 1-2 seconds. Is that a significant problem, maybe something to do with the computer?

[BadQ45t]

For our two failers...when my car has issues what I do is get it to a mechanic that is either a smog tester themselves (who you know and is honest) or one that has a system to at least be able to know.

To the guy in Glendale, there is a great Nissan shop in Venice. I know that is sorta far but Richard at Z Expert is the best when it comes to smog. I have an 84' Z trust me doesn't ever want to pass smog. I just drop it off with him, tell him to get it to pass at the least amount. If you tell him Jeff Leeds sent you he'll take care of you.

To the Stanford dude with the 97', I have a 97' Q and that thing passes with its eyes closed. Call up Richard's Auto Repair in San Mateo, tell Barry I sent you. He has the equipment, he's VERY honest. He'd rather make a new customer than fleece an new one.

Unless your an expert in this stuff and your time is worth money, just get someone that can handle it for you. These shops are the best for me and have my Z on the road 25 years later with minimal stuff replaced (catty, EGR and a few other smaller goodies).

[BadQ45t]

For our two smog failers...when my car has issues what I do is get it to a mechanic that is either a smog tester themselves (who you know and is honest) or one that has a system to at least be able to know and a smog tester they work with.

To the guy in Glendale, there is a great Nissan shop in Venice. I know that is sorta far but Richard at Z Expert is the best when it comes to smog. I have an 84' ZX trust me it doesn't ever want to pass smog. I just drop it off with him, tell him to get it to pass at the least amount. If you tell him Jeff Leeds sent you he'll take care of you.

To the Stanford dude with the 97', I have a 97' Q and that thing passes with its eyes closed. Call up Richard's Auto Repair in San Mateo, tell Barry I sent you. He has the equipment, he's VERY honest. He'd rather make a new customer than fleece someone once.

Unless your an expert in this stuff and your time is worth money, just get someone that can handle it for you. These shops are the best for me and have my Z on the road 25 years later with minimal stuff replaced (catty, EGR and a few other smaller goodies).

[maxnix]

The only code that appears on the scanner is U3FFF, which a mechanic thought was a body code.

I'd be going elsewhere because I am not sure this guy can even read or use an OBD II analyzer.