83 Ranger Smog Issues!

[Lee_533]

Ok. So I live in Communist California where you pretty much get taxed for farting because it destroys the ozone. I have an 83 Ranger with a 2.3L engine that's due for smog. Last time I smogged it the guy was cool about it and helped me tune it up before we tested and it passed with flying colors. I tried to smog it the first time and the emissions passed beautifully like always. Then he tested the EGR system (no one has ever tested this on my truck before) and found it wasn't getting vacuum so he failed me. I replaced the ported vacuum switch and the EGR started getting vacuum. So he tested it again and now it's a gross polluter. It started burning rich at idle, so I readjusted the timing and leaned it out a little. It started doing better on emissions but now misses and runs bad. As it sits right now it runs perfect and clean at 2500 rpms (with a slight miss but emissions said it's fine) but once it sits at idle for a little bit the hydrocarbons go above the legal limit. Everyone keeps telling me that the idle air control doesn't make a difference at high rpms but when I would mess with it, it would control both at idle and high rpms. I can't seem to find the trucks sweet spot for running "clean" in california. I only pulled one spark plug and it is burning perfectly, air cleaner is pretty dirty though. Could it be the O2 sensor? I only have one right before the catalytic converter, but could it be throwing random info making my carb jump all over the place? I don't have a computer on the truck as far as I know but I do have this little automatic fuel adjuster on the side of my carb that the O2 ties to. Could that be my issue? I really need help fast because the smog is due by the end of this month and now I have to take it to a referee or star certified station to get it smogged. Any help is appreciated...

And no I don't want to sell my truck to California so they can crush it. I hate seeing old vehicles destroyed because people are too lazy to put some time in to them to keep them going. I am overly attached to my truck.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

That has the feedback carb correct my schematics call it the fuel control solenoid on the carb it controls the air bleed to the low and high circuits using the oxygen senser.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mercur...Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d35b6ec4b&vxp=mtr
I believe this the part, the idle speed is controlled by the pcm so the proper way to adjust engine idle is bring the engine up to temp first and then disconnect the idle control motor. Adjust the idle air needle for the highest possible rpms or vacuum pressure then connect the idle control motor the engine should return to the proper idle speed. Just do that a few times and at the same time monitor the feedback solenoid on the carb. Put a screwdriver on the solenoid and put your ear on the handle you should hear it clicking. There are two connectors for the solenoid one is full time hot and the other the processor sends a pulsing ground if the oxygen senser sees it is running rich the pulses increase to allow more air into the mixture leaning it out. So did you say it passed the sniffer but the tech failed you because he couldnt get the EGR to open? I bet he was real polite as he asked you to bend over too.

 

[Lee_533]

Ok, I'll look in to it. I didn't see an idle control module. My carb only has one electrical component on it and that's the fuel solenoid. I'm going to change the o2 and see if that helps clear it up. And yes, I'm surprised he didn't fail me for low tire pressure while he was at it. I don't understand if the truck was running perfectly clean without the egr...why would California require it? All the other smog techs over the years have over looked it, probably because they knew it didn't work. One said I have engine issues because my truck has a slight miss (because I've been trying to get it to run to their standards) and said it's not a carb issue. Weird he said that since my truck only needs spark and fuel to run and the engine was rebuilt 20k ago. I don't think my carb needs to be rebuilt yet, I may just clean it and change the o2 and tinker with it a bit more. I just wasn't sure if I was missing something. I can make any truck run no problem, but this smog crap is garbage.