I changed about a half-dozen parts to try and get my van to pass SMOG.
 I also took it to Fred's Garage in Redwood City twice (not really
satisfied with the service there).

In the end, I put a brand new catalytic converter on and got it real
hot by driving on the freeway, then went to the SMOG tester.  It
passed on the third attempt.

Stuff I swapped out that had no effect on the emissions, but might be
the source of a problem on your vehicle:
  - 4 spark plugs
  - 4 injectors
  - new set of plug wires
  - distributor rotor and cap
  - set timing
  - set valves
  - adjusted fuel-air mixture on AFM
  - 2 lifters
  - oxygen sensor

I suggest you try a new cat.  I will probably buy a new cat before my
next SMOG check even before I fail.   Other people have passed SMOG
with just a timing adjustment.

Would be easier if there were an cheap way to buy an exhaust analyzer
for home use.

BTW, the nice people on the vanagon list is the only reason that the
my van still moves.  The vanagon community is as much value to me as
the van is at this point.  I had no idea of what I was getting myself
into when I bought the vehicle.   It's kind of fun to keep it running,
possibly in the same way that running a marathon is kind of fun but
also kind of painful.

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:34:38 -0700, Joseph Fortino
<fortino1@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Hello all maybe someone can help with my failed smog test and some things
> that I can do to maybe get to PASS.  He said it was rich?
>
> Nevada State:  85 1.9l van
>
> Numbers Below.
>
> (HC ppm)                                                ( CO% )                                  CO2          O2%         RPM
>                   <-  Limit   Reading                 <-                Reading               result        result        result
> 2500 + 300      220      220     FAIL             1.20            8.44   FAIL            18.10         0.3          2604
> Idle 775+425   220      560     FAIL             1.20            8.82   FAIL            16.10          4.5          948
>
> Thanks Much
> Joe
>