'92 300SE - went for emissions/safety inspection this AM.

Car @ full operating temperature - no misses at idle.

Failed in spectacular fashion in both low & high speed tests:
High speed results
Pollutant / Standard / Current / Result
HC (PPM) / 120 / 326 / FAIL (no wonder the exhaust "stinks")
CO (%) / .67 / 7.98 / FAIL
CO2 (%) / / 9.9
O2 (%) / / 0.0
NOx (PPM) / 848 / 25
Dilution (%) / >6 / 17.9

Low speed results

Pollutant / Standard / Current / Result
HC (PPM) / 124 / 326 / FAIL
CO (%) / .69 / 7.73 / FAIL
CO2 (%) / / 10.0
O2 (%) / / 0.0
NOx (PPM) / 848 / 46
Dilution (%) / >6 / 17.7

One thing I noticed is the vaccuum hose that attaches to the air pump had come detached. Can't seem to get that sucker to stay put - isn't vaccuum in that hose? Seems like it keeps blowing off.

The other peculiar item is that the state computer system (TX) reports that the engine size on the car is 3000CC, not 3200CC. Smaller motors make less emissions (in general terms), so I'm wondering if the standard values are too low for the car. I expect that once the problem causing all the unburned fuel is located that the #'s will fall well within standards.

Anyway - unless I miss my guess, without the air pump, there's not enough air in the exhaust to allow the catalysts to properly scrub the gasses.

I'll check for codes on the computers and pull the plugs for an inspection and report results.

Any suggestions for where to start looking, or for why that pesky little hose won't stay attached to the air pump would be appreciated.

Regards