For the 4th year running my 190 hasn't passed smog check. I am now at my wits end trying to solve this and need your help.

I don't have the numbers in front of me right now but on the result chart, It passed at 15 mph, but not a 25mph. The only value not in spec was the Carbon monoxide reading and it was over double what passing is.

Where should I start looking to solve this problem.

Thanks

Gregory

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Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

I woüld look at a dirty air filter, faulty oxygen sensor or a defective MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor. Carbon monoxide is a by product of fuel being burned without the proper ratio of air.

GV:

What steps did you take to get it passed in the previous three years?

As noted by BW, look to causes of excess fuel; air filter, O2 sensor (no MAP), fuel distributor out of adjustment, Electro-Hydraulic Actuator (EHA) inoperative, ECU signal to EHA incorrect.
Dead or dying catalytic converter.

Unfortunately I Do not know exactly what steps were taken. At the time my father was dealing with the car and our mechanic took care of the issues.

What I do know is it has melted the first stage catalytic system twice because of over fueling. So I know both catalytic converters are fine. I don't know the status of all those other parts though. So I will begin to work through those.

I also have the Smog Numbers now.

%C02 = 10.2
%02 = 0.5
HC(ppm) = 249 (Max allowed = 105)
%CO = 6.66 (Max allowed = 0.61)
NO(ppm) = 54 (Max allowed = 945)

Hope that helps.

__________________
Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

This might help.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/373037-importance-electrickery-your-mechanical-speedometer-w201-w124-based.html

I have recently learned that if the hall effect sensor on the back of the speedometer gauge is not working the O2 sensor by default runs in 60% error code. This is all well and good but if you switch of the ignition the fault gets erased from the fault code memory!

(If I was younger I'd do something like hashtag pain in the arse)

Something for you to check

Measure duty cycle before and after a drive (with out switching off the ignition remember).

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

You need to provide more information. Scan and post the ASM test report. Was it certified to CA or 49-state emissions. That should be on the emission label under the hood and maybe on the test report.

Does the car show any evidence that it has been modified? Does the catalyst appear to be OE or an aftermarket replacement? Same for the O2 sensor.

Has the check engine light ever illumiated? Did you read out the codes? What were they?

In the meantime, search for threads stated by me on emissions. I've done a lot of analysis on my 190E 2.6 and did emission related research early in my engineering career. Also search for "duty cycle" threads.

The fuel mixture is very rich... like it's running at WOT enrichment all the time... could be something as simple as the throttle position switch stuck at the WOT position.

Here is a link to the test results that I uploaded. That is all the imformation that I have. It was tested to be CA legal.

The car has been modified but not just for modifications sake. This car has melted and plugged the first stage of the Catalytic system twice now due to over fueling. So the car has an aftermarket Magnaflow first stage catalytic system. Those issues were remedied by my mechanic but I do not have the repair bill accessible to me at this time. I will work to get those and see what was changed/repaired.

This car doesn't have a Check Engine light, where that light would be it says "O2 Sensor" and that light has never illuminated.

Ill look through the threads you recommend.

__________________
Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

Whatever is in that link, I couldn't download it.

Duke

Im only noting this detail because this site was a great help when I was in need of answers on this specific car.190rev.net .
A forum exists for the 2.3 16v with plenty of similiar threads to view over on the California emission standards not being met.My guess is theirs alot of these cars that are still running the highways in the state of California .
In Texas these cars are exempt from regulation with the age of the car being 25 yrs or older.

Sorry for the Massive Delay, Life got in the way.

The link should be fixed now. If not let me know and Ill find some other upload solution.

__________________
Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

Yeah, I was under the mistaken impression that this car would age out of emissions regulations and then it wouldn't be a problem anymore. But turns out in California emissions is in some cases based on county of registration. Clear Lake country I would have already aged out. But San Mateo county... Not so lucky.

Thanks for the information. Ill do some searching there.

__________________
Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

Was able to reduce the size of the PDF. Got it attached. Don't know why I didn't try that sooner.

Attached Files

190E_Smog_Numbers_Small.pdf (213.4 KB, 108 views)

__________________
Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

The test numbers are rather odd. For example, with 1.1 percent O2 at 15 MPH, I'm surprised it passed HC. A properly functioning emission system including the cat should be near zero. High O2 means the cat may not be functioning properly or the mixture is too rich.

It goes extremely rich at 25 MPH indicated by the very high CO. Eventhough the O2 sensor light has never illuminated the O2 duty cycle should be inspected with a scope and it should have a voltage cycling frequency of about 0.5 Hz. If the O2 sensor is functioning properly, then the problem probably lies elsewhere in the "E" part of the KE system.

Search the term "duty cycle". I'm not sure if your model year has that dianostic, but it's used to set the basic mechanical mixture adjustment, and it must be in the proper range for the E part of the system to maintain the proper stiochiometric mixture. If the factory seal has been removed, it's been adjusted, but if the adjustment is done improperly without using the proper procedure, which is common, it can lead to high emissions.

Check that the WOT switch on the throttle body functions properly for both the idle and WOT function.

I don't know your level of knowledge or experience or what equipment you might have, but you may be wise to find an experienced MB Indy, discuss the problems with him and ask what diagnostics he can run to isolate the problem.

Reading my previous posts on KE emission diagnosis should at least give you the background to ask the right questions.

Duke

Dare I say it? Time to send it to you Indy and spend for 1 hour of labor to finally figure it out once and for all?

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03 CLK430 Cabrio 211K Pweter Silver/ Oyster Leather
90 300SEL 214k Pearl Black/ Alto Grey/Black Leather

Prior: 85 190E, 88 300TE, 89 300TE, 90 300E 2.6, 90 300TE, 92 300E 2.6, 91 and 93 300SL, 87 Ferrari Mondial Cabrio

If they just measure emissions at the muffler and you are just trying to pass for passing's sake, you could add a few extra catalytic converters to the exhaust.

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