Failed Emissions: There is hope...

["therealdmcvegas" <DMCVegas@xxxx>]

Like others here on the list, the renewal for my car came, and I too 
failed my emissions. I took my car in to the local DeLorean Mechanic, 
and now my emissions are perfect! Previously, I had installed a new 
ignition coil, and Oxygen sensor. So, after installing a new set of 
sparkplugs, wires, cap & rotor, and performing a CO adjustment, my 
car is running much better, and is able to pass smog. I don't have 
all of the stats offhand, but what I was failing on were the 
hydrocarbon emissions. Here are the before and after for the results:

Legal Limt on HC's: 220ppm.
Before:
HC@2500 RPM=210
HC@Idle RPM=1136

After:
HC@2600 RPM=7
HC@Idle RPM=60

So this is to show everyone that there is hope their cars can pass 
smog. Now my idle no longer seeks upon start up, accelleration is 
smoother, startups are quicker, no more gas/petrol smell, and the 
engine finally purrs after all this time. So, what was the problem? 
Crappy, aftermarket sparkplug wires! I had a set of Blue Thunder 
wires from an Eagle Premier. They had the boots to keep water out, 
but they apparently don't work well at keeping voltage in!!! The 
mechanic said that on all but one wire had arcing on the sparkplugs. 
They had all cracked. The rotor, cap, and wires were all Borg-Warner 
products about 14 months old. That's what I get for not following the 
rules. But it just goes to show that even my DeLorean was able to be 
brought back well within specs. And of course that just because a 
part may fit on your car, it doesn't always work right!

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"