Yeah, that's what I figured. I've been tracking all the emission test posts, particularly in CA. I think ALL the KE equipped engines have been tagged HEP. A continuous flow mechanical FI system, even with the electronic enhancements -O2 sensor and EHA - just doesn't provide good enough fuel control to make low HC numbers and the system is devilishly complicated compared to a pure digital system with solenoid injectors.

In the case of marginal failures there is likely nothing really wrong with the car. The owner just didn't "manage" the test properly. The key is to have the converter as hot as possible so it operates at peak efficiency and uses as much of the available oxygen as possible.

This means going to a drive through place after the car has run for at least 20 minutes, preferably with a freeway jaunt. Go when the line is short and keep the revs at 2000 until the tech is ready to take the car. If possible go on a rainy day and ask them to run the tire dry procedure. They run it on the dyno with no load at about 25 MPH for about a minute. This will heat up the converter. When I did this trick two years ago the HC at 15 MPH dropped to the mid-eightes from barely passing low one hundreds the time before. Since my test is due early in the year, I think I'll keep waiting for a rainy day to test.

Duke