95 Lexus SC300 - 0l33l's "Project SC300" - Page 10

0l33l · 04-27-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sheerdark

I'm pretty sure they do emissions inspections in CA....I've heard horror stories about them.

Yes, that's why I wasn't stupid enough to buy a 96

PatrickB · 04-27-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

Interesting. I'll drop by my mechanic to ask him what he thinks. I feel that the car needs some performance mods, but first I need to get it into the "stock" condition.

There's also been an update about the hit and run that I will post a bit later on

you can take voltage meter to the wires on the o2 and watch it at idle to see what kind of readings you get compared to what it should be

0l33l · 04-27-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PatrickB

you can take voltage meter to the wires on the o2 and watch it at idle to see what kind of readings you get compared to what it should be

That's what the mechanic is for. I have no time to be fiddleing under the car. Plus I don't have a garage

The hit-and-run thread...

sheerdark · 04-27-2005, 11:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

The dealership says they got it smogged like 9 months ago. I've only put like 2k on the car. I don't drive much

in certain parts of Georgia, we have to get our emissions inspections done every year, except I think they give you a 2 year allowance on brand new cars. I know that O2 sensors should show up because my '93 Z failed emissions because one of the 02 sensors had failed. Anyways, good luck in finding the problem...but I'm right there with you. I have HORRIBLE gas mileage and I drive a little "too heavy footed" too...and I'm in a SUV - but I still get around 12-15 mpg (16 gallon tank ~250 miles per fillup). I do love not having to buy premium fuel anymore, though - that took a load off the wallet!

0l33l · 04-27-2005, 11:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sheerdark

in certain parts of Georgia, we have to get our emissions inspections done every year, except I think they give you a 2 year allowance on brand new cars. I know that O2 sensors should show up because my '93 Z failed emissions because one of the 02 sensors had failed. Anyways, good luck in finding the problem...but I'm right there with you. I have HORRIBLE gas mileage and I drive a little "too heavy footed" too...and I'm in a SUV - but I still get around 12-15 mpg (16 gallon tank ~250 miles per fillup). I do love not having to buy premium fuel anymore, though - that took a load off the wallet!

We get to have manditory inspections done every 2 years. And the best part is that they aren't that hard to fake. We've got this kid at my school who needed to smog his 97 Civic. He went, found another civic, and payed the owner to switch VINs. Problem solved

I know that my har has o2 sensors. That's not my point of argument. Its just that well, I don't know

I'll get to ask my mechanic again. I'll also ask him about the seafoam stuff.

I haven't filled up a tank fully forever. I fill it up to 1/2 because if I see the needle at below 1/2 then I don't push it as much.

sheerdark · 04-28-2005, 02:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

We get to have manditory inspections done every 2 years. And the best part is that they aren't that hard to fake. We've got this kid at my school who needed to smog his 97 Civic. He went, found another civic, and payed the owner to switch VINs. Problem solved

I know that my har has o2 sensors. That's not my point of argument. Its just that well, I don't know

I'll get to ask my mechanic again. I'll also ask him about the seafoam stuff.

I haven't filled up a tank fully forever. I fill it up to 1/2 because if I see the needle at below 1/2 then I don't push it as much.

Yeah, here in Macon - where I am living for college - they don't require emissions inspections at all....if they did, they would lose half of their residents. There are some really bad cars, I feel bad for the environment here! Hmm...swapping vins to pass emissions - sounds highly illegal

Yeah, of course your car has o2 sensors...I was just saying that if you got an emissions inspection done on it recently - it would have showed up if the o2 sensors were malfunctioning. Since it hasn't had one for 9 months or so, it's possible that they've failed. I dont' know much about the Lexus reliability as far as o2 sensors go, but I know that in the Z, they fail a lot...or so I've read.

Wow...if I didn't fill up all the way every time, I'd be at the gas station too much. I've been putting lots of miles on the car lately, over 7k miles since December! These gas prices are killing me....

0l33l · 04-28-2005, 02:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by sheerdark

Hmm...swapping vins to pass emissions - sounds highly illegal

It is

Quote: Originally Posted by sheerdark

Yeah, of course your car has o2 sensors...I was just saying that if you got an emissions inspection done on it recently - it would have showed up if the o2 sensors were malfunctioning. Since it hasn't had one for 9 months or so, it's possible that they've failed. I dont' know much about the Lexus reliability as far as o2 sensors go, but I know that in the Z, they fail a lot...or so I've read.

Wow...if I didn't fill up all the way every time, I'd be at the gas station too much. I've been putting lots of miles on the car lately, over 7k miles since December! These gas prices are killing me....

Well, anything can be working one day and not workign the next day. I was just saying that besides poor gas mileage, I'm not seeing any symptoms of a bad o2.

My school is only like a mile away. I drive like 3-4 miles a day

sheerdark · 04-28-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

It is

Well, anything can be working one day and not workign the next day. I was just saying that besides poor gas mileage, I'm not seeing any symptoms of a bad o2.

My school is only like a mile away. I drive like 3-4 miles a day

I agree. It is possible that something messed up. I'd say take it to the mechanic...and if they can't fix it...take it to someone else who can, like an expert. That's what I always did with the Z. My hometown mechanic couldn't always diagnose the problems with it like they could at Z car Atl....it's all about experience with certain cars.

Yeah, my school is about 4 miles from my house, too. So I drive about 8 miles everyday. However, my daughter is currently about 80 miles away and my mom's house where I take her is about 20 more miles from there, so, needless to say, I drive a lot on the weekends....back and forth, back and forth, then back to Macon. It's crazy.....

PatrickB · 04-28-2005, 04:12 PM

its probably as old as the car is they can fail gradually but maybe it just fail to a "limit" the ecu thought was unacceptible and thats creating a rich condition in the motor now but the o2 sensor is heading south the ecu can't see the rich condition so it thinks everything is perfect. is there black nasty ness in the inside of the exhuast pipe? this happens to most cars over time if u whipe it off and it forms back quickly its defiantly running rich.

frodobaggins · 04-28-2005, 05:43 PM

Ever thought of using another mechanic ?

0l33l · 04-28-2005, 06:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sheerdark

I agree. It is possible that something messed up. I'd say take it to the mechanic...and if they can't fix it...take it to someone else who can, like an expert. That's what I always did with the Z. My hometown mechanic couldn't always diagnose the problems with it like they could at Z car Atl....it's all about experience with certain cars.

Yeah, my school is about 4 miles from my house, too. So I drive about 8 miles everyday. However, my daughter is currently about 80 miles away and my mom's house where I take her is about 20 more miles from there, so, needless to say, I drive a lot on the weekends....back and forth, back and forth, then back to Macon. It's crazy.....

Yeh... if my mechanic doesn't do anything, then my grandpa has a mechanic

My mom lives 37 miles away from me. All the more reason not to see her

0l33l · 04-28-2005, 06:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PatrickB

its probably as old as the car is they can fail gradually but maybe it just fail to a "limit" the ecu thought was unacceptible and thats creating a rich condition in the motor now but the o2 sensor is heading south the ecu can't see the rich condition so it thinks everything is perfect. is there black nasty ness in the inside of the exhuast pipe? this happens to most cars over time if u whipe it off and it forms back quickly its defiantly running rich.

I don't see a nasty mess in the exhaust. But if I wipe it a bit, then of course I'll get some residue.

0l33l · 04-28-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by frodobaggins

Ever thought of using another mechanic ?

Yes... my grandpa has one. But he's farther away. And my mechanic does more things, like painting (and frame mending IIRC).

PatrickB · 04-28-2005, 07:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

I don't see a nasty mess in the exhaust. But if I wipe it a bit, then of course I'll get some residue.

hehe no no i mean whipe it decently clean then see how long it takes to be dirty again. new cars take several years to get that dirtiness in the exhuast.

unless they are turbo from the factory they run rich for safety.

0l33l · 04-28-2005, 07:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PatrickB

hehe no no i mean whipe it decently clean then see how long it takes to be dirty again. new cars take several years to get that dirtiness in the exhuast.

unless they are turbo from the factory they run rich for safety.

Oh, ok. I'll do that