From: "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 3:26 AM
Subject: Re: Calif Smog Issues

> Ideally, the CO should be well under 1.0%.

Well, the "standard" for the Smog II test is .94 and .74 so I guess I can't
dispute that.  But, since the "spec" for the Federal Vanagon is 1% +/- .5%
essentially California has set these vehicles up to fail even if *every
part* of the engine is to original spec.

> Excessive CO is due to insufficient O2.

Typically expressed as the fuel air mixture is "too rich."

> The mixture adjustment is not going to have any effect
> at speed, something is wrong.

If you're talking about the basic air/fuel mixture adjustment procedure
contained in Bentley, then the mixture adjustment of course *does* have
effect at speed.  My numbers at speed improved considerably after I went in
and tightened the spring and then took the vehicle to the VW dealer to have
the mixture set.  The question I asked, the one I'm trying to get answered
is:  since the smog test is "at speed" but you set the basic mixture "at
idle" how the hell do you ever know if you're going to pass "at speed"
without going back and forth between adjusting the mixture and then taking
the test, maybe several times?

> Check the ignition timing, make sure it is
> not over advanced and that the advance mechanisms are working properly.

They're fine.

> Is the EGR valve intact and working? This will help.

It's there and working.  Since the EGR is there for NOx I don't think this
is relevant.

> Check the injectors
> for spray pattern-balance. Last resort is to adjust the spring tension
> in the air flow meter.

I've already done that.  At this point I don't know, and can't know without
a dyno, whether I have enough adjustment left with the mixture screw to get
the engine lean enough or if I have to go in and tighten the spring again.

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Tom Young
Lafayette, CA 94549
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