My Mom's 03 failed smog last week and from what the smog paper works says its the "air injection".
The smog paper says that it passed both the Visual and Smog test but failed Functional test. I'm told the air injection system pumps air into the exhaust to change temp and reduce exhaust gases but I can't find what part I'm looking for exactly and how its installed and we need to get this fixed for her asap.

My brother and I are both very handy when it comes to cars and trucks, but neither of us have ever dealt with a Nissan car before, nor have we ever dealt with an air injection issue.

So if you could help us out that would be greatly appreciated

Thank You

 

You should have had a code thrown for this problem. Do you remember what it was?

 

VQ engine doesn't have air injection into the exhaust.

 

Haven't hooked up a scanner, but I'm told it didn't throw an CEL until the day after smog check

Ok, so maybe the info I got was incorrect. What does the air injection on this car do and how do I fix it?


Thanks

 

There is no air injection on the Z.

I don't know about your state, but mine gives you a report that details exactly what "failed" the test. You have to take that form to a shop, get the problem fixed and the shop has to document what they did to fix it. Then you bring the form back to get passed.

We don't do tailpipe checks, it's all done via the OBDII connector so you have to have thrown a code or have a pending code. In either case, it's something readable by a scanner.

Apparently, who ever did the test is misinformed about the existance of "air injection". You probably have some appeal process. I'd start there. Or try a dealer service department and get them to type up something on letterhead stating that the Z does not have an air injection system to go bad.

 

i had a similar problem with my 04 z.

go get some gasoline additive for smogging your vehicle, or high octane boost. your local auto store should have something that you can add to your tank of gas. make sure the car is warm/hot before smogging, at least 30 min of spirited driving before you take it in, and leave the car running up until they are ready to smog it. that should do it...good luck.

disclaimer...no guarantee but with a free retest and about $5 you have nothing to lose

 

DaveZ, Cali is probably the toughest state to get smog'ed in. And yes, there is generally a very detailed report that goes with the smog test. I would agree, get the readout and find the actual codes being thrown. The Z has no air injection system like some American cars, but idea is to get oxygen into the system to ignite unburned fuel. This tells me your probably dealing with an Cat. Converter code, which can be caused by nearly any system.

 

Dude, are you serious? He said that it passed the sniffer test. How is gasoline additive (which is a joke BTW) going make non-existent air injection just appear on his car?

 

People look at the print out and read it wrong all the time. Air injection is next to MIL fail, possibly it failed for OBD readiness, especially since MIL came on after the test. Was the MIL on and cleared PRIOR to doing the test? In any case scan the Vehicle Inspection or just call my shop when you have it in front of you and I'll explain everything.

Shop phone 650 216 9762. No charge of course!

 

yes, i am serious...but i did not read that the car passed the sniffer test. my z did not pass the sniffer test, put in the additive and then it passed. not sure what the functional test is or what his output means. i was merely making a suggestion that is very low in cost but may help him pass a smog. there is tons of research on the internet if one would take the time to do it.

 

AIR is NA on this vehicle. See how it's possible to misread the fail/pass/na by thinking its for the next column? I get idiot mechanics giving customer a new gas cap when I failed the vehicle for ignition timing fairly often.

The magic bottle stuff is crap, occasionally it works by compensating for an incorrect A/F rato that hasnt killed the cat(s) yet.

Next year 2000+ don't get the loaded emissions dyno testing, MIL and visual is all we look for. Some crappy 2000+ cars will get a 2500rpm and idle sniff, 1999 and below get the old test.

 

If it failed for OBDII incomplete it will say FAIL to the left of MIL/Check engine light and there will be a statement below somewhere about that. If MIL was lit it will usually print the code below that.

 

OP, just scan the printout. It will probably answer alot of our questions.....quickly.