So HC limit is 180 and the guy tested it twice
first test: high speed rpm 2397 HC reading was 157. Low speed rpm 645. HC reading 241

Test 2. High speed rpm 2574. HC reading 173. Low speed rpm 657. HC reading 303

What the **** gives here? It passed back in february(the chick i bought it from showed me the passing slip), but fails after I fixed all the problems. No codes, no smoke or bad smell out of the exhaust, rides great and doesnt idle or accelerate rough. plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor were put on new after the headgasket swap.o2 sensors are only a couple days old. High HC means its running a bit rich and raw fuel is going out of the exhaust, but theres no symptoms to indicate that other than the test results. What now?

 

22 views and 0 insight???

 

http://www.smogtips.com/failed-high-hydrocarbons-HC.cfm

try this

 

how many miles are on the cat? it may be time for a new one.
I was barely failing as well and after a new cat I passed with flying colors.

 

I already ordered a replacement cat. I was just wondering if I may have missed something since very few miles were put on it since Feb. then again knowing my luck its no surprise another part tanked. I guess now I have an excuse to get new muffler now too

 

how close were the numbers in feb?
just cause your car passed a year ago doesnt mean you cat is in good shape always, it could have been on its last leg if your numbers just barely passed in feb.
my car at 140k started getting very close to the limits for standard e-test (this was before being turbo but ran perfect).
another 10k miles of being NA-T, the numbers were just above the limit 2 years later even though it was running great still.
Decided to install a new magnafllow high flow unit off ebay in the midpipe, car passed way below the limits and that says alot cause its far from stock.

 

Yeah had the feeling another part let go. I should have looked at the old smog numbers, but figured it would be fine since the car had sat for months before I bought it. oh well.

 

Well a little update: It appears my high hc readings/minor fuel smell were due to weak spark from the ignitor(icm). I started the car easily yesterday, let it idle for about 6-7 minutes then drove to work. Went to leave and the car wouldnt start. Went straight to the basics, air/fuel/spark. Gut instinct said spark, so i pulledd the wire going from coil to dist at the dist end since everything on that side is new and had a co worker crank the car. What do ya know? No spark from the coil replaced the coil and still no spark. The fact that it ran perfect before(not even a miss or hesitation) leads me to believe the ignitor gave up the ghost and not the ecu. according to my email the part should ship today and ill have it in next week. I will update at that time. Hope this helps some of you.

 

I know this an old thread, but do you have a update. Just did smog test today and my HC's are super compared to 2 years.

 

I pulled the y pipe off and saw that my cat was nearly gutted...also my vacuum issue isnt helping