I can smell the answer 150 miles away, but here in CA, is it not illegal to retrofit a heated o2 sensor onto these motors, since they never shipped with a heated one from the factory? The mantra here is "certified configuration" I know, and the heated o2 sensor won't be 100% the same (as an o2 sensor, leaving aside the heater). But this is one emissions shortcoming these motors have, the o2 sensor drops out of temp quickly the moment you turn the key off, and you have to gun the thing for a couple minutes to get back into closed loop. So it would be an improvement -- and illegal in CA. Am I right, gofstbuick?
How in the hell do these inspectors catch stuff this small? Are you talking smog shop guys, or state inspectors?
We are talking smog shop guys. They go through a official check list of things to look for, and they know about things. What really gets me is, they will NOT flunk a car with a clogged catalytic converter and a broken intake manifold, such that exhaust is blowing between the heads and manifold. Nor should they, according to the state manual they are legally bound to follow. On the other hand, once the intake manifold is fixed and exhaust is blowing out the air cleaner they will flunk it, but ONLY because the throttle is floating and it can't settle down to an acceptable curb idle speed. ALL of these behaviors are explicitly regulated by the state in a manual that has the force of law.
You need to just find a shop that is easier on the visual. I took an old Lincoln Town Car to a shop on my street, the smog pump tubes had been cut and he didn't even notice. They don't have a lift, they just open the hood and put a sniffer in the tailpipe.
