Ok, I'm not very happy to say the least. I just got my 240sx and it failed the emissions test today. My dad was the one who got it tested since I had to be at school, and said that it failed in the 15/50 test because it was putting out too much nitrous oxide (Idk). I have a 1990 hatch with a '97 KA24DE engine in it. Is there any way of fixing it easily and ensuring that it will pass future emissions tests? I don't have much money at the moment obviously.

Or should I just contact the guy I bought it from, who said it would pass emissions, and try to get my money back?

Oh, and I forgot to mention something that might affect it as well. The owner before the guy I bought it from did the swap. Now the engine is a '97, so its OBDII, right? The guy who did the swap converted it to OBDI. Could that affect it in any way?

 

Well legally you can keep the car.. What ever fee's you accumulate during the smog test are what he must pay for, including what mechanical items may need to be replaced.
Before a car goes up for sale it must of already passed smog from the seller, (which in your case I am assuming tghe seller didn't) he just gave you the transfer of title without proper registration (up to date smog). Which infact he should of smogged the car prior to the sale.
What you need to do is call the seller and negotiate that either you get your money back and give him back the car, or he pays for parts and labor to get the car to pass smog.
If you are not passing due to high nox more than likely your EGR equipment could be faulty. The only way to find that out is to run a ECU diagnostic check.

 

yeah i'm in the same predicament. However its the origional ka24e OBDI

I had it diagnosed, the EGR valve and EGR transducer were both leaking vacuum.

wish i could find some EGR equipment cheap, i'm broke, driving illegally in about a week or two now.

 

How exactly would I do a ECU diagnostic check?

EDIT: Nvm, I found it by searching.
http://www.ka24development.com/ecu_codes.html

 

good job.

 

I'm still a little curious about why it won't pass emissions though. The EGR valve looks brand new, and we couldn't find anything wrong with it. The ECU didn't show any codes, so I don't think its the EGR valve. The catalytic converter looks like it hasn't been replaced since the car came off the showroom floor, so I went ahead and got a new one to replace the old one. I hope its that simple, but with my luck it probably won't be.

 

I would just give the car back.......
He swapped you a 97 engine. Your car and ecu are OBD1. If he swapped the 97engine he probably didn't install the OBD1 cams.
cam alignment won't cause NOX though, it would more than likely cause hydro carbons.
Your NOX can be associated with a few things such as your CAT, or thermostat.
Also check to see if all of your wiring harnesses are connected. Check to see if your TPS is OBD 1 or OBD2 and check to see if it is plugged in......

 

Isn't it law that a car has to pass emissions before being sold? Or is that just us CA people?

 

It is supported by the lemon law, and law under private sales. Although the Lemon Law doesn't apply to private sales too much. It is all regulated federally and you can report fraud if the seller does not comply. Like I said save a headache and give the seller back the car.....

 

Well, it seems that it was a problem with the catalytic converter after all. I replaced it last night and got the emissions tested again today, and it passed. It did a whole lot better than it did the first time. Thanks for the help.