Failed Emissions 95 Accord -- High CO

[atlthrasher]

Just bought a high mileage Accord (201k) and tried to get emissions here in Atlanta...

The car runs great, idles good, no CEL...

Here are the readouts:

25/25 Test
HC ppm -- Passed
Reading -- 30
Allowed -- 132

CO % -- Fail
Reading -- 1.24
Allowed -- 0.73

NO ppm -- Pass
Reading -- 187
Allowed -- 945

RPM
Reading -- 1828
Allowed -- 3000 (max)

CO +CO %
Reading -- 15.6
Allowed -- 6.0 (Min)

Pretty much the same results for the 50/15 test...

Maybe just a dirty air filter and oil change needed (hoping)?

Anyone have any advice on easy things to check myself before taking it to a mechanic...?

[MeFryRice]

Could be a faulty front oxygen sensor.

[D3UC3S]

95 is before the plug n play....they prob got the reading from the tail pipe. I would say get a new catalytic converter.

[MeFryRice]

If the front oxygen sensor isn't working properly, it has the potential to ruin the catalytic converter as well by running rich.

[atlthrasher]

Wouldn't a bad O2 sensor flip a CEL?

[D3UC3S]

Thats why i said its the cat because you have no CEL. Prob wouldnt hurt to replace o2 sensors as well.

[MeFryRice]

I wasn't referring to any CEL.

[1civic]

That's fail all over... A cat will drop those #'s, but it needs more than that..LOL

[D3UC3S]

Hence why i said replacement of sensors was probably a good idea as well.

[atlthrasher]

That's fail all over... A cat will drop those #'s, but it needs more than that..LOL

not following what you mean here...

[1civic]

not following what you mean here...

You could replace the cat, but with all the #'s being high like that it shows that the car is not up to par..

So..

1. Full tune up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor button, fuel filter)

2. Replace Cat

With fresh cat it may come down enough to pass, but risky to say it would pass completely by only doing that..