You are right -- I think I'll just retest again when there is no line....I mean even the first time, I waited in for the test for about 8-9mins, but I held rpm at 3000 while I was waiting.

I'll warm it all up on the freeway again holding it in 2nd/3rd then run by and see if there is a line, if not, I'll drive straight up and theres gotta be no way I'll fail.

I cannot believe how low my HC and CO was the first time!!

HC 0.10 // 1.6 limit
CO 2.11 // 15.0 limit

Man that is low!! "what" exactly does that indicate? Fuel and ignition system really nice?
My HC before in California was on the limit, but since then the only real change I've done has been the rebuilt fuel distributor. Just curious if that would have made a large difference or not?

The actually emissions test here consists of a "driving scenario"....from what my eye could see it was like this:
0-40mph acceleration....down to 20mph, up to 30mph, down to 15mph, up to 30mph, up 50mph, up 65mph, down 50mph, stop. Then its ran a 2nd time....

Considering you don't actually drive like that, its just another way for them to get older cars off the road.
With my HC and CO, my wagons probably running cleaner than most cars out there!!

EDIT: Oh and I know the shorting resistor and vac advance block was working because the car was definitely dog slow it was horrible!!

The gas cap test is literally for the gas cap only. They take it off, put it on their machine and it checks vacuum seal on the cap itself. Brand new gas cap and seal!! They are idiots.

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
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2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

I feel your pain having dealt with my own marginal failure, which can be a bureaucratic nightmare.

The drop in emission readings is due to the retarded spark advance map, but I'm surprised that NOx didn't drop more. Your IM240 test is different than California's ASM test, but the reduction in all emissions with the retarded map should be similar in both tests.

I once had a "gas cap failure" and I just told the guy - how about testing it again. He did, and it passed. He didn't run the tailpipe test again. I don't understand why they did on your car, but each state has it's own rules. AZ sounds more autocratic than California.

In CA they are also testing the fuel system by placing an adapter on the fuel filler neck and pressurizing the system. However, this test requires pinching off a hose that is inaccessible on my '88 190E 2.6 because it's buried in the left fender where the evap cannister is located, so the test is waived for my car, and I think this applies to most contemporaneous Merc models.

It might be a good idea to check actual timing with the R16/1 shorted and the vacuum advance line to the EZL plugged. (Then check it again in the standard configuration to see the difference.) I posted my data years ago. The initial is 9 and IIRC at 1500 there was no advance and at 2000 just a few degrees.

In California we have what is called a "referee" that is usually within a local community college's auto department. When you have an "unusual" car - like my Cosworth Vega - or a marginal failure, they might be able to help.

Wipe the gas cap gasket down with some silicone spray or WD-40. That should help it seal.

Duke

Would there be any other reason for an %O2 like mine was at 2.7 and 1.9% other than the cat not being up to scratch?

What are GOOD replacement cats if I need to replace mine? I think with my precats hollowed out, I need a good quality, long lasting main cat. Any recommendations?

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2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

AFAIK, you've got the Magaflow. And there's the OE cat, which will obviously last the length of the car, but at what cost. You could put in 6 Magnaflows (12 years of emissions) for the cost of a single OEM.

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I still wonder if you are running very lean somehow, which is in turn causing higher than normal combustion temperatures and thus excess NOx. Even though O2 is new and duty cycle is adjusted, couldn't something in the closed loop control system (ECU,EHA) be causing the engine to run leaner than it should be?

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One bottle of "Guaranteed to Pass" for about $8.00 and you can stop worrying about all these things.

You didn't list O2 in your test results, and I'm not sure if O2 is reported in the IM240 test, which is what I think Arizona uses.

Also, assuming this was an IM240 test,the reported emissions are not proportional, but absolute and reported in grams/mile.

On a final note, the NOx cut point sure looks awfully low. It's possible that it was programmed incorrectly into the system. This HAS happened in California. Also, I've had CA emission tests that passed, but it was obvious from the reported emissions and O2 that the equipment was not properly calibrated.

I recommend you contact the emission test authorities and ask some questions.

Duke

Did some searching....seems the limits are set regardless of model:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/vei/download/im147.pdf
IM147 is the test.

I think that guaranteed to pass is junk....Looks like just a strong fuel system cleaner.

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Junk in what way? You put it in your fuel tank, drive, take the test, and you pass. The reason for endlessly pondering what's wrong with your engine is poor fuel economy, not a failed emissions test.

Its true I will admit I don't have the "best" fuel economy (average 16-17 most driving, 20-21 long freeway trips from AZ to CA), but its always been this way since I bought the car and I've replaced countless items, almost everything.
In my personal experience, all fuel cleaners are worthless for the CIS-E system. Anything tank to distributor that would get dislodged is clogged in the distributor micron filter, or in the injector filter.

Also for future readers, these fuel system cleaners are also very bad since they swell and degrade the fuel distributor's internal seals. Do not use them.

EDIT:

Duke - IM147 does not report %O2 values...I got those from a prior CA emissions test I took in Nov 2009 (magnaflow cat was installed Nov 2008).

I've never disconnected the regeneration valve when adjusting mixture values, I wonder if that is the reason it is throwing me off? I'll check everything again with it disconnected. Never knew it needed to be....

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2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Support for the claim? It's been used by millions - I've never heard of such a problem. I've used it a number of times myself with impunity.

IM147 is an "enhanced" test that uses the last 147 seconds of the 240 second IM240 protocol. All model year groups have to meet the same absolute mass standard in grams/mile, but trucks get off easier.

The California ASM test reports proportional emissions, so a heavier car like a 260E has slighly lower cut points than a 190E 2.6 even though they have the same engine.

I'm at a loss as to why you didn't get the same dramatic cut in NOx that I observed on my car with the retarded spark advance map, and the only difference seems to be your aftermarket catalyst.

It might help if you gave me some data from prior CA ASM tests, and whatever you have for the 260E. In ASM testing no residual oxygen means the catalyst if working efficienctly. More than 0.2-0.3 percent O2 in either the 1550 or 2525 test will usually bust HC, but you report 1.9%???...

Duke

Here was my last emissions test, 2009. Its due for california this year, but since I am trying to get residency in Arizona, im doing it here regardless. Like I said, this was with the new magnaflow installed. I have receipts for that I did it in 2008.
It just about passed HC. That's why I was so happy to see the incredible drop in HC with the only real change being a rebuilt distributor + flow matched EHA (rebuilt by Larry @ CIS Flow Tech). I haven't done anything else to the car really. Well...new head gasket, but that shouldn't affect anything since it wasn't leaking when the test was performed, it occurred the following year.



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Regarding the strong fuel cleaners, I've seen it with my own eyes when I rebuilt my own distributor. Cleaners warp and enlarge the seals. Period. You may not notice it, but over time I wouldn't want to gamble with a loss in efficiency due to warped+enlarged internal seals

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2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
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2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

I think there was something wrong with the calibration of the equipment in your test. A modern O2 sensor car with a three-way cat should show zero or close to zero O2 when emissions are reasonably low even though you just squeaked by on HC.

Look at previous tests.

Duke

Would an exhaust leak do that too just thinking about it?

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2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k