Need car/smog advice
dragon1952
Posts: 4,899
My daughter who lives in California has a '94 Mercedes (gasoline engine) that she had to sit for somewhere between 1 1/2-2 yrs because she lost her job and was on disability and couldn't afford to keep insured/registered. The car was in good shape with a recent excellent rebuild from about 1 1/2-2 yrs prior to that. She had it towed and had all fluids flushed/refilled, new plugs, battery and serpentine belt. It failed smog miserably. She hasn't driven it around much but has had it out on the freeway and says it runs 'great'. So the question is, could the fact that it had to sit for that long be the reason and what would be the first things you would do? It has been suggested that she have the fuel injection system cleaned, new ignition wires for starters. Does she just need to drive the crap out of it and 'blow it out'?
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Post edited by dragon1952 on
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May I suggest SeaFoam, where you pure half down the brake booster vacuum line and let it stall. Pure the other half in the gas tank, and wait 5-10 mins. Start car and have fun, this will be smokey may I say do this where you can I find some woods.
Google it and find some Youtube video on it, it will clean it out.
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Seaform FTW!
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Yeah, the length of time it sat has a great deal to do with not passing smog.
Do you know what it failed for? That could help alot in telling you what the issue is.
But the fuel injection system should be cleaned. The tank should probably be drained too 'cause old gas can cause smog problems as well as sediment getting in to the fuel system. I know everyone is suggesting seafoam but honestly, don't bother with that just yet. Take it to a professional. If you throw a fuel tank additive in there now, everything old that is stuck somewhere is going to get loose and do way more damage and cost way more than just having a pro flush the fuel system and clean out the injectors and such.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Yeah, the length of time it sat has a great deal to do with not passing smog.
Do you know what it failed for? That could help alot in telling you what the issue is.
But the fuel injection system should be cleaned. The tank should probably be drained too 'cause old gas can cause smog problems as well as sediment getting in to the fuel system. I know everyone is suggesting seafoam but honestly, don't bother with that just yet. Take it to a professional. If you throw a fuel tank additive in there now, everything old that is stuck somewhere is going to get loose and do way more damage and cost way more than just having a pro flush the fuel system and clean out the injectors and such.
+1; think of the money she saved by not having to drive it for so long. Taking an aolder car like this to a professional to have the proper work done instead of the quick fix is well worth it IMO. It shouldn't be astronomical either. Just the peace of mind of it being done right is worth it.Shawn
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I don't see how wires could cause smog problems unless there was a misfire.
Whole fuel system need flushing, since modern gas goes bad really fast.
It's a wonder it ever started up again. The car may come back to near normal with driving,
but I somehow doubt you'll be that lucky. I vote for a good mechanic to look it over.
Too many things to look at here, only good home mechanics are going to find them all.
a 94' may not even be worth the effort."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Settle down Jackie Chan. I'll buy you a beer @ Polkfest. :razz:
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Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
No, you won't.
Why not? Don't drink beer? How about a soda perhaps? I think you folks call them soda's. -
I don't know what the situation is in the town you live in, Dragon, but in this berg you can get a wheelbarrow with a flat tire and broken handle Safety Inspected for an extra $50, and an Emissions Test for an extra $75. And passed.
Just sayin'.Sal Palooza -
mrbigbluelight wrote: »I don't know what the situation is in the town you live in, Dragon, but in this berg you can get a wheelbarrow with a flat tire and broken handle Safety Inspected for an extra $50, and an Emissions Test for an extra $75. And passed.
Just sayin'.
Yeah, I know places you can buy an inspection sticker in NJ too. But he honestly has a problem and if it doesn't get it fixed, it's going to turn in to a much bigger and more expensive problem. A clogged injector leans out a cylinder and engine goes BOOM. Then you have a bill that is several thousand instead of several hundred.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Bottom line- get diagnosed and then fix. Or throw random parts at it and hope for the best.
Fuel system cleaning DIY style leaves something to be desired. The seafoam through the brake
vacuum line doesn't do anything for injector cleaning. If you feel frisky, DIY kits
can be had for about $200. Tank additives aren't likely do get the job done here.
Sitting for 18 months causes problems that day to day driven cars just don't have.
Most likely though is it's a combo problem. Injectors, crud on a sensor, EGR valve
etc."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
CA has gotten pretty strict on smog inspection stations. I guess it is possible to fudge the results, but probably isn't worth the risk. Now the test results are transmitted to the DMV as the test is run.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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Well she does have a friend that knows someone that can fudge the inspection but I'm with Jstas on this. She has a problem that needs to be addressed or else it can cost in the long run (or even short run). She initially had all the fluid systems drained and flushed including gas/coolant/transmission/oil...I'm assuming brakes. I just gave the OK for the next round which will include the fuel injection system and whatever they didn't do the first time. They were just trying to get it safely running and didn't know about the smog test. Of course I'm paying for all this :^ /
BTW, she's in S. Cal....I'm on the Oregon coast and we don't have to smog our cars here :^ )2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones -
Another vote for Seafoam. I put some in my Mercedes S550 and it's a different animal. Swear to God when it hits 5th gear it sounds like a Lion.Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!
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dragon1952 wrote: »She had it towed and had all fluids flushed/refilled
My thinking with this the fuel tank was flushed out and refilled. Right?
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disneyjoe7 wrote: »My thinking with this the fuel tank was flushed out and refilled. Right?
"She initially had all the fluid systems drained and flushed including gas/coolant/transmission/oil"2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones -
Cat is probably screwed up from sitting for 2yrs, It needs to cycle a few times to get any buildup cleared off of it.
Did she have it flushed after it sat? Did she change the plugs and wires? They all sat for a couple of years and aged. The wires are probably dry rot and the plugs have 2+ year old carbon on them.
It may just need a good tune up and some running time to clean up. -
mrbigbluelight wrote: »I don't know what the situation is in the town you live in, Dragon, but in this berg you can get a wheelbarrow with a flat tire and broken handle Safety Inspected for an extra $50, and an Emissions Test for an extra $75. And passed.
Just sayin'.
Surely you are not suggesting that the young lady break the law.If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money. -
dragon1952 wrote: »My daughter who lives in California has a '94 Mercedes (gasoline engine) that she had to sit for somewhere between 1 1/2-2 yrs because she lost her job and was on disability and couldn't afford to keep insured/registered. The car was in good shape with a recent excellent rebuild from about 1 1/2-2 yrs prior to that. She had it towed and had all fluids flushed/refilled, new plugs, battery and serpentine belt. It failed smog miserably. She hasn't driven it around much but has had it out on the freeway and says it runs 'great'. So the question is, could the fact that it had to sit for that long be the reason and what would be the first things you would do? It has been suggested that she have the fuel injection system cleaned, new ignition wires for starters. Does she just need to drive the crap out of it and 'blow it out'?
curious ... what emissions test specification did the Benz fail on ?
