here’s the deal…
i’ve got a 86 tarus station wagon that is now legally dead, the registration expired just barely. when it was getting emissions done, it failed horribly. the mechanic thought that it was the O2 sensor or that one of the cylinders wasn’t firing. but i replaced the sparkplugs and the O2 sensor, and it didn’t do anything. now here’s the question, what do you think is wrong? does anyone know how to test the sensors to make sure they work? please help me out! i don’t have a coker so commuting by uni isn’t feasable, and my bike is also dead! any help is good help!
if u suspect it might still be a non-firing cylinder, check/replace the spark plug leads as well
your mechanic should be able to test the existing ones to tell u if they are still working
that fault might also be traced back to the distributor that may not be firing the one cylinder
Yep! I agree with Dave Gild. Check your High Tension leads from the Distributor. It should be Red or Black Distributor Cap. Check the Rotors too Unless it’s Electronic Ignition, That may be need checking too. Otherwise your Engine will need an Overhaul.
You say it’s a 1985 Ford Taurus Station Wagon Right. I know ALL my cars including U.S. U.K. Australian, Korean and much more. But to me it’s the trip back to the Mechanic’s Workshop I’m afraid.
Good luck.
Find yourself a diagnostic tool (computer reader). How old is your catalytic converter? Did you drive it atlleast 15 minutes before going to the emission test? There are so many things that could fail you.
What everyone said before is just so blatantly wrong… I don’t know why I didn’t realize it before!
Matt, your first mistake, unless you really did want a bunch of silly, sarcastic answers, was to post this question on a Unicycling board!
Whatever made you think that any of us have ever actually been in a car, let alone know how to fix one?
Your second mistake was to think that any of us care whether your 17-year old Ford (for Pete’s sake!) can ever pass an emissions test without installing a brand new engine. I mean, come on! In 1986, the national speed limit was still 55mph/88kph, and cars actually got more than 10 mpg.
This is the era of SUVs and HUMVEEs!
Get with it!
Your car isn’t passing the emissions test because it’s burning fuel too efficiently.
The obvious solution is to take out one of the spark plugs.
The other obvious solution is to switch to diesel fuel.
Good luck, Matt! Sorry for the sarcastic rant. Hope you can get your wheels back on the road!
The first thing you need to do is a basic tune-up on it.
Then you need to give us more information on your vehicle so we know what the hell you’re working with. Are you fuel injected or carb? What size motor? How many miles on the motor? What matienance have you performed on it recently, etc…
