just barely flunked ca smog test due to slightly -- very slightly -- over-the-limit nitrogen oxide at idle (while o.k. at 25 mph). the technician (it was a "test only" facility) said he suspected the oxygen sensor needed replacement. everything else tested fine. any other thoughts out there before i start throwing money at it? many thanks. art
scott: yes, tested on rollers. guy tried it twice and just missed on the n.o. test. art, san fran
The good news is, aftermarket oxygen sensors for the early miatas are cheap, though you have to splice them in.
Leon
turned out it needed a new catalytic converter, second one in two years, with which it passed smog test. no one was quite sure why a cat would become ineffective after only two years. but...calif. has new equipment that, for the first time, tests for nitrogen oxide (which the miata had flunked, just barely). the new equipment makes it even harder for a car, especially an older one, to pass the smog test. the newly installed cat employs a different technology, also, which evidently does a better job with the n.o. hey, all ya gotta do is throw a few bills at it and the problem goes away. art
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.