Emissions Trouble at Idle. Air Injection? Smog pump?

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muelbeedle

muelbeedle

10 Year
Joined
Dec 5, 2015
Threads
4
Messages
13
Location
Reno, NV
My '86 FJ60 has been failing California smog with HC and CO at idle over 3X the limit (CO2 11.3%, O2 0.4%, HC 493ppm and CO 5.39%).

I figure it's an air injection system problem. Working through the emissions service manual, it's the "Check VTV and ASV" test on page 3-21 that gets me. I don't notice any difference in flow coming out of the bypass hose whether or not the VTV is connected... seems to be a super low flow of air coming out either way (I can't even feel it unless I hold the hose up right against my face).

My smog pump spins just fine, but it makes a sort of "clacking" sound. I can hear it from the driver's seat, and when I disconnect the air pump inlet hose from the air cleaner, it's real loud "clack, clack, clack, clack..." Is it usually noisy like this? Would a busted smog pump cause the issues I'm experiencing?

I've been back and forth through the emissions manual a few time... Haven't gotten way down into the nitty-gritty, but I can't find any vacuum leaks, all the routing seems correct, etc. Just did a bottom end rebuild on the engine: reground crank, new camshaft + lifters, new bearings all around. Truck runs and idles great otherwise, bucks a bit when cold, but mainly I'm just struggling with emissions.
 
Should also mention, I'm running a new aftermarket cat from SOR. Still have the original cat, but it's pretty rattly. Last I tried smog with the original cat was before the engine rebuild, emissions results were better then than they are now, but it still failed. Since everything's been torn out and put back in, it's hard to say whether that makes the difference... unless these aftermarket cats are known to be total garbage?
 
Is your cat made to be CA compliant or is it for the other 49 states?
 
At 5 % CO your carb is dumping too much gas,check your mixture screw if it's still sealed if not screw it all the way in and don't force it really soft needle then back it out 2.5 turns and get a reading from your smog guy to see if it drop. Just my 2 pennies.

If you need a rebuild take to Mark Algazy in Burbank,he owns a small shop and only works on LC and Carbs. @65swb45 here on mud.
 
Pull the Smog pump off and open it up. Its very easy and the noise you are hearing is probably because something inside it failed. When in by pass mode you should feel a good amount of air flow.
 
@ScottT @vipergrhd Sounds like a carb rebuild is in my future. I did the lean drop per the fsm and my mix screw is turned out about 3.5+ turns. Thanks for the tips. Going to learn more, possibly reach out to Mark if I feel like I'm in over my head, thanks for the tip.

@cruiserfj45 I'm going to pull out the smog pump while I'm in there too, the sound is definitely unnerving. Are these straighforward to rebuild, or would I be better off looking for a replacement at that point?
 
Taking it apart and putting it back together is very straight forward, however finding new veins if they have gone bad is not easy. You can find the big bearings if they have gone bad. Inside there are 2 of one type of vein and 1 of another (3 total). I have lots of the ones that there are 2 of but no extras of the single. If you need let me know and I will dig through my stash. What part of CA are you from? I have lots of experience smogging these and can help if needed.
 
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