I'm trying to pass CA smog once again. After failing twice and having my NO numbers in Gross Polluter territory, I'm suspecting my EGR system.

I've cleaned everything out with carb cleaner including the little metal tube that feeds the BPT valve. I've also replaced all associated vacuum hoses. The EGR solenoid appears to be working; vacuum is present at the BPT when I rev the motor.

My question is: When free-revving the motor while in neutral, does your EGR valve move?

If I put my fingers up underneath the EGR valve while I rev the motor quickly and hold it at about 3000 RPM, I can feel the valve move up, and then come back down quickly, and then remains stationary.

Can someone (who has passes CA smog) check their EGR valve while revving it in neutral? Does it just blip up and then fall back down, like mine? Or does it move up and stay up with the RPM increase?

Somehow, I think the EGR is behaving normally, and doesn't operate fully while free-revving. Since the BPT (Back Pressure Transducer) operates on back pressure in the exhaust by bleeding vacuum that feeds the EGR, a lack of back pressure (as in the case of no-load engine revving) would mean lots of vacuum would be bled off before hitting the EGR, thus it doesn't activate.

I should really pick up a vacuum gauge and tape it to the windshield and see what the valve is doing while actually driving...

Thanks

-patchy

bumpety bump

-patchy

IMHO the easiest way to pass emissions without "paying" someone is to run 1 gal of E85 with 2-3 gal of 87 or 93 gas. Now you'll have to make sure the car runs in closed loop on the test but it will pass with flying colors. E85 dropped my HCs from 180-200 down to 45, and my NOx from over 1100 to 45-75. If I can pass with C2s + 3in exhaust, 3in cat and all my EGR and BPT connected you can too.

Thanks, but there's obviously something that isn't working quite right with the emissions systems. I'd really like to try to fix it as properly as I can.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure where I can get E85 around these parts though.

-patchy

if you snap the throttle you should feel it plunger up and then back down quickely.

Sounds like that's what my car is doing.... Normal then.
Hmm..

-patchy

See my post at the bottom of this thread:
http://www.sr20forum.com/showthread.php?t=62575&highlight=egr+emissions

change all gaskets on intake manifold concering EGR

also buy new iacv sensor gasket take the sensor off an clean it well with carb cleaner...

also check all the hoses are not cracked connecting to charcoal canister...


last but not least..... if u fail again.. check o2 sensor for shittyness.