‘82 FJ40 CA smog check question

[Otis]

Took my ‘82 in for a smog check. It would not hold a steady 15 mph on the dyno. Speed was only varying by around 0.4 mph but it was enough to cancel the test so I don’t even have emissions numbers to see what the problem could be. Truck drives great and there is no noticeable hesitation holding a steady speed on the road.

I’ve checked the egr and air injection systems following the factory manual and both check out okay. One plug looked a bit fouled and 4 were not very tight (it has been awhile since I checked…). Ordered new plugs, wires, and rotor since it is probably due anyway. Going to check timing and a few other things before taking it back to try the smog check again.

Any ideas on what the problem could be? Could the fuel cut off solenoid be cutting fuel as the tech backs off the throttle just enough to cause hesitation? Thanks!

 

[charliemeyer007]

Wow who expects 44 year old pollution controls to work?

 

[Otis]

California!

 

[bhsdriller]

take it to another shop if they're being that picky

fuel solenoid would not cause that

 

[Otis]

The tech was not being picky and was beyond his control. The smog test machine aborted the test, not the tech. The tech has been doing my smog as well as other club members for many years and knows Land Cruisers. He told me to come back next week. He has an idea what to do but does not want to perform back to back smog tests because it raises alarms with the state... He will not perform an illegal test though...

 

[fjc-man]

On a dyno? Isn’t it supposed be a static tailpipe test?

 

[firemanj92]

CA vehicles get both dyno tests and static after certain years.

 

[Otis]

California wouldn’t want to make it easy to pass! The test has seems to have gotten harder over the years….

 

[bhsdriller]

Just recently had my 84 60 smogged and they had it on the dyno. Whole process was probably an hour to go through everything

 

[Engineer8000]

I am looking through the emissions book and my test procedure for the 81+ emissions computer. The test is done with the truck up to temperature? What RPM is the engine running during your 15 mph test?

 

[Otis]

Test is run at temperature. Unfortunately, I did not pay enough attention to the rpm’s. I will next time.

 

[Engineer8000]

With the throttle open, the FCS should be energized no matter what. This is controlled by the vacuum switch. The vacuum switch should read closed with engine off, and open with engine running and throttle closed. The only other thing happening is the EGR VSV energizing around 1500 rpm.

Sometimes these computers can get cracked solder joints where the connector solders to the board, leading to unexpected results. This is an example of one I worked on recently, The owner reported issues with the decel fuel cut function.

 

[Otis]

EGR is functioning properly following the test procedures in the manual. I have not had time yet to test the FCS functions but will in the next day or two. If things check out then I will open up the computer and see if it looks good. Thanks!

 

[JMZ400]

I wouldn't be able to own my 81 if I had to do this in Florida. Wow!

 

[Otis]

I am getting very tempted to just register it with my son in Tennessee...

 

[Otis]

Sometimes these computers can get cracked solder joints where the connector solders to the board, leading to unexpected results. This is an example of one I worked on recently, The owner reported issues with the decel fuel cut function.

@Engineer8000, Other than being dirty, I think mine looks okay? I cleaned it with electronic cleaner but could not get the brownish stain off. It looks worse in the photo than in my hand... I tested the FCS following the manual and it appears to be functioning properly.

 

[firemanj92]

Supppper easy to register a vehicle here, average wait time thru completion of registration has been less than 10mins per vehicle, not the all day affair that I was accustomed to in CA.

 

[Otis]

Supppper easy to register a vehicle here, average wait time thru completion of registration has been less than 10mins per vehicle, not the all day affair that I was accustomed to in CA.

Much cheaper too! Here in CA it costs $155 year to register the 40 plus another $100+ for the smog check every two years... My son took my F150 to TN and it was a quarter of the cost to register it there compared to CA and no smog...

 

[Rocky_LC]

It’s cheap in Arizona to own a classic too, but I don’t think you want to get pulled over as a resident in CA and your vehicle has out of state plates….

With AZ, if you get inexpensive “Historical” plates, which are cheap, and you get collector’s insurance, there is no requirement for smog testing.

It’s a great deal. But I live here.

Rocky

 

[Spike Strip]

BAR 97 in Kalif requires vehicles 1999 and older to undergo the Dynamometer test. Be aware even Kalif has varying standards depending on where you live or where the vehicle is registered.

There are 'Enhanced Testing areas' which require the Dyno Acceleration Simulation load mode (ASM) at 15 and 25mph, and 'Basic Testing areas', which only require an idle test and 2500 rpm test - both with tailpipe analyzer.

It's my understanding the Dyno controls the speed. The dyno is to simulate driving conditions and is supposed to hold the vehicle at speed 15mph and 25mph with the tech just holding the throttle open (for pre-OBD vehicles). There's no time limit and speed variation is surprisingly wide. 0.4 variation should not cause you to fail the test, FAIK. There's something else the machine is seeing.

It's all ridiculously complicated (are there any regs in Kalif that aren't?)

None of this is particularly helpful to you, but if you want to better understand how you're being phvcked, here's some light reading: