Recently failed my smog check in California. Stock 8 with about 85K. I had a CEL 3-4 months ago when I tracked my car. Code read Misfire, I cleared it and it hasn't come up since. Since then i failed the smog check, I used the OBD2 reader to check the monitors, only the Cataylst reads incomplete. I asked the auto shop and they said to keep driving it until a new CEL pops up but I already put 1K miles over the past few months since the last CEL and I need to renew my registration since it's already overdue. I tried doing some drive cycles but monitor still reads not available. Could it be something else? Should I take it to the dealer for them to look at? I read a post that it may be related to a bad O2 sensor that the computer isn't registering until removed. Please help. Thanks.

 

Update. I took it to the auto shop and they can't figure it out unless the CEL pops back up. He said we can try replacing the front O2 sensor which the part alone will cost $300 and labor $160 for a total of $460. If that doesn't work, we will need to replace both the rear O2 sensor and the cataylic converter for $1500. Thoughts on this? This is getting very costly to get it to pass smog with no real guarantee. Please help!!

 

First off, if you had a misfire, you need to think about refreshing your ignition system. New coils, wires, and plugs.

Oxygen sensors for the 8 cost about $80 each if you buy the NTK OEM unit. Installation is literally 1 "screw" and 1 plug. It is an absolute breeze.

 

I thought that there are alot of removal to get to the O2 sensor which probably takes 1 hr or so of time alone.

 

$80 for the front sensor? Where? I agree the swap is easy. Just would like to know a cheaper option for the front sensor...

 

Both are relatively easy to swap in stock form. 15 min is reasonable if you have done it once. But even if it took you an hour or more that's money saved over a shop

I had to work through the ready monitors. A scan gauge II was my friend. There is a thread that has info detailing the order and drive cycles for the monitors.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-eng...2/#post4608397

 

Update: Unfortunately, I spent the $500 (300 on OEM part and $160 on labor) for the O2 sensor. I'm not technical with cars at all and didn't think I could do it myself but I feel really ripped off. The monitors are all cleared and since then, I have put about 100 miles on the car. I checked last night with my OBD2 reader and some are clear/ready but the cat is still incomplete wih the oxygen sensor also incomplete now. I have the evaporative system, secondary sir system done again. I am hopeing in a few more miles, the remainder will pop up. I dont understand the drive cycles, how are you suppose to follow it when there is traffic on the road? Do you have to follow it 100% exactly?

Since I dont have a CEL and I changed my O2 front sensor, if I continue to drive for 1000 + miles, would it then be safe to say I need to change my O2 rear sensor to Cat to get the monitor ready? That is what the auto shop told me and he said it will run me about $2000... if that is the case, I may just retire the car then..

Please help. Thanks.

 

What year is your car? If it is less than 8 years old, you should still be covered under the Federally mandated catalytic converter warranty. If not, there are some relatively inexpensive cats available. Magnaflow comes to mind. I'm not sure about CA smog laws. An aftermarket cat will not last long, however--especially if you track the car or tend toward spirited driving.

Here is the rear O2 sensor. You can find it for less if you shop around. It should only take 15 minutes to change. There is nothing to it.

 

I followed the drive cycles as closely as I could on some deserted roads. not exact but pretty close and it worked. I verified with my ScanGauge II. Then I went straight to the emissions station and passed.

 

I live in LA so it's hard to follow it closely. I also dont quite understand the exact process. Can you help confirm the process?

1. Cold start. (car needs to sit for 4-6hrs +) 2-3 mins idle w/ AC + defroster turn on.

2. Turn off AC + Defroster. Drive on freeway up to 55mph on 5th gear around 4-5rpm.

3. Exit freeway after 3 miles but don't brake or switch gears. Leave on 5th gear and coast down to 20mph then you can brake and switch gears.

4. Get back on freeway and drive up to 65 mph on 5th gear around 4-5 rpm. After 3-5 miles, exit freeway, coast but don't brake down to 20mph.

Is this right? I checked my monitors and only have the O2 sensor and Cat not ready. It's been 140 miles since the auto shop cleared it last Saturday.

My car is a 08 so it's pass the 8 year warranty coverage.

I'm getting hit with the worst luck the past few weeks so I really appreciate everyone's help.

I love this car, it has so much more style than what's currently available today.

 

I am lucky that locally there is a new freeway that nobody really uses yet. I never got off the freeway, I just didn't have other cars to worry about. You may need to get out of the city to somewhere remote. Remember you need to clear DTC's 6 hours prior to your step 1 of the drive cycle.

That is an all in one drive cycle. I believe there are some other drive cycles posted that clear certain monitors. They might even be in that thread.

If your car is an 08 this would be the 8'th year. I think it would expire after this year, no? Might be worth checking with Mazda...

 

Car has 83K miles on it...I dont think Mazda will honor the 8'th year, 80K miles.

So to clarify, do I need the engine to be dead cold to do step 1? Thats going to be the hard part, getting out of the city and traffic to do the cycle with a cold engine.

I put another 20 miles today, mostly local and the monitor still reads not available for the O2 Sensor and Cat. I'll try to find some time this weekend for some freeway driving. ARGH.

 

I thought the warranty is 8 years/100K miles... Couldn't hurt to ask...

Check out this thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-eng...nitors-188078/

 

Update: I just did another drive cycle today. The O2 sensor is now available. All monitors are ready expect Catalyst so I'm back where I started. I might of replaced the O2 front sensor for no reason. Any ideas now what to do? Should I go ahead and just replace my entire catalyic converter? I heard that runs for about $1500...

 

You can buy a good used cat for a few hundred dollars. Check the classified section on this forum and also create a WTB thread there.

Magnaflow makes inexpensive 49 state cats (23909 and 49150) for the 8, but they do not last long according to reports here. Buying one for a couple hundred dollars could get you past emissions while you work on a longer-term plan. They also make one that is CA legal (546150), but it is around $800, and also probably won't last long. IIRC, Magnaflow cats only fit cars with manual transmissions.

For under the $1,500 you mentioned, you could do what I did and buy a BHR resonated midpipe ($450) and have an HJS heavy duty high flow cat ($720) welded in ($75) at your local muffler shop. Unlike an OEM cat, it is a VERY nice setup that should last a lifetime. You could call HJS and ask about CA compliance.

BHR also offers a version of their midpipe with a 49 state cat installed. It might get you past emissions testing--especially when new.

Living in CA might be the killer, as I'm sure you know. Many aftermarket cats are not CA compliant, and the ones that are compliant are typically more expensive.

If you lived near me, I would swap mine in for you long enough for you to pass emissions. There are a lot of CA 8 owners. Maybe someone can help you out for this year?

.

 

Update: Good news, the monitor for the CAT finally became ready. I'm not sure if it was really the change of the front O2 sensor or me putting in about 5-6 drive cycles following the user guide - will never know but issue is closed now. Thanks everyone for your help! I greatly appreciate it.

 

Nice work, congrats!

 

I skipped through and just read the first three posts, I don't know what shop you took your car to get smogged, but go to another. I have one I pay $48 when I did mine last January in Sherman Oaks and all the tech now should do is scan for a CEL(there are 8 monitors that needs to be ready) and performed a visual on the CAT to make sure it's still the stock OEM converter(the sniffer test isn't included anymore starting 2016).

So, with that said, you cannot buy an aftermarket CAT, once the tech sees that you will automatically fail and if 8 of the monitors are not ready. Check the classifieds for
wrecked RX-8s, I saw two around SFV and Redondo Beach.

I used to have P2259 Air Solenoid problem all last year and kept clearing the code, I only drove it in the city and the monitors are always ready before I even reach 100 miles. Anyway, when I finally replaced it last November, I only did the NVRAM reset(Also known as the “20 Brake Stomp”) to clear the code and your monitors will continously stay active rather than a complete reseting with an OBD II reader. -Simply turn the car to On mode, and stomp the brake pedal 20 times within 8 seconds. If successful, the oil pressure gauge will sweep. Please Note: You must have the up-to-date ECU flash.

 

Did I read that right? In CA you have to have a factory cat to pass emissions?

 

ewww CA emissions issues....

 

Yes, the visual check could pass or fail the car.

 

Quick question, I just got my 8 on the road, and need to get the smog checked before I can transfer title and get it registered. The previous owner had the cat knocked out probably because it was clogged. Given that CA no longer checks the emissions through the tailpipe, does that mean so long as I've got no CELS popping I should pass alright?

 

I'm not in Cali, but I think only if it's masked by a device like an AccessPort or Mazdaedit.

 

I might be wrong, post #18 by Grace_Excel explains it pretty clearly.

 

I believe CA follows epa guidelines for OBD II checks, it means u can only have 1 or none not ready state in ecu.


It happened to me last year when i was back into the states, i gotta get my 8 inspected, drove 50 miles and thought i was ready, stupid me forgot to check the obd readiness and went straight to do inspection, got a big failed cuz 2 monitors not ready. So u have to make sure ur obd monitor is all ready before u go.

And to get the system to go into "ready" state, you HAVE TO have a working cat, if ur oem cat is gutted, i suggest u to get any cat, drive it around for a while first to get ALL monitors back into the ready state, and change it back to ur oem gutted cat right before u go into inspection station