Subject: SMOG Failure
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999
From: zdoc <zdoc@yosemite.net>

Eric, Doc here... you need to contact the ZONC members in your Sacto area to find out where they take their later EFI "Z's" for reliable service. I am in Mariposa, on the way to Yosemite and I can perform this operation, so I pray that you can find a reliable technician in your area with the know-how. I hope that this helps you.........
ZDOC OUT................ :^)............

"Zidenberg, Eric" wrote:

Doc, Eric here. One more question. You mention getting an EFI tune-up. Do you have anyone in the Sacramento area that you'd recommend taking her to for this?

Thanks,
Eric

Subject: Re: SMOG Failure
Author: <zdoc@yosemite.net >
Date: 5/4/99 10:42 PM

Eric, Doc here, it sounds like you have a dirty connection at the water temperature sender that is located under the upper radiator hose and is the ivory colored one. Take the connector off and clean the green stuff off and irrigate with WD40 and the connector side too. The other thing that is probably needed is to check the throttle switch under the cover and see if someone has bent the front contact to make it in the full enrichment mode at idle or just above it. There should be continuity between the center contact and the front one with the throttle at more than 1/3 travel. You may also need to have an EFI tune-up. This will set the calibration to the factory spec and not only make the old "Z" pass SMOG with flying colors, but get some much needed relief to your wallet in view of the fuel prices too!

Does this mean that you are tested as a Gross Polluter in the DMV Computer?

I hope that this helps you...........

ZDOC OUT

"Zidenberg, Eric" wrote:

Hello Doc,

I have a '77 280Z Zap, which just failed SMOG. We moved up to the Sacramento area this year and this is the first time I've had to get it SMOG'd in CA. We joined ZONC two years ago in anticipation of moving here. I'm looking for a couple of suggestions on what the problem may be and then if I can't fix it if you have any recommendations on a good shop in the Sacramento area.

My statistics are as follows:

RPM HC CO% NO
1624 312 5.05 439
2037 202 4.67 448

As you can tell I failed both the HC and the CO%. The CO% came in as a gross polluter. It seems pretty apparent I'm dumping way too much fuel, which would explain my very poor gas mileage (about 15mpg). I replaced the air flow meter a couple of years ago as well as the fuel injectors about 5 years ago. I rebuilt the engine about 20,000 miles ago and kept everything stock. I had problems with the car running rich even before I rebuilt the engine, but haven't been able to figure it out. If you're asking yourself, why did I rebuild the engine, the answer is because I had some spare time between other projects. It was running fine, with the exception of the rich fuel and I also had low compression in one of the cylinders. The car only has 103,000 original miles and isn't driven very much. Last year I only drove it about 1500 miles.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Eric Zidenberg
ezidenberg@orionsci.com