Howdy,
My father in law gave us his 1981 El Camino as a wedding present last year. Planning to pick it up on Father's day and he took it to a local shop in LaMarque for inspection. Well the thing failed the smog test, hell I did not even know there was a smog test, and the mechanic said he would have to pay $40 for a computer analysis before they would know what to fix! Did not think the 81 with the small V6 and two bbl carb had a computer. Are these guys just ripping off an eighty-two year old senior citizen or is there a computer somewhere in this car for diagnosis? Pop's said he got a print out showing the CO is way too high and the mechanic wants to rebuild the carb for around $200 to fix it, is that reasonable or appropriate?

Any help or advise would be appreciated. I'm living in Jonestown (Travis County) are smog laws/testing requirements the same throughout Texas?

Looking forward to replies.

Bob

Bob, some counties in Texas are doing smog tests....not sure about LaMarque. Travis county is not slated for smog testing until September 2005.

Yes, there is a computer in your 81. How were the other numbers for HC and NOx? If the CO is high but the HC and NOx are OK, it usually means you have a rich A/F ratio. Have him do the computer analysis. It could be a bad O2 sensor, the MC solenoid in the carburetor could be disconnected or not working, or the carb may need a rebuild. A CCC carb rebuild takes me about 2-3 hours and then another hour for reinstall and fine tuning. I think $200 is reasonable to R&R the carb and rebuild it because it's mostly labor costs. The rebuild kit is only about $20.

$40 for diagnostic work is fair.

But I'd be leary about any mechanic jumping right to rebuilding the carb, especially before doing the diagnostic work. There's about a dozen things to do before messing with the carb (leaking vacuum lines is much more common). Electronic carbs are best left alone if they are working. Once messed with, they are never the same again it seems.

The mechanic may have been refering to his diagnostic computer. Jon

Thanks for the input. Learn something new every day - Computer controlled carb - Who'd a Thun'k?

Pops said all the numbers on the test were OK except for the CO which was off way high. Think I will forget the inspection in La Marque, drive it to Travis Co. where I live and have it inspected here where they do not test for Smog. Then after checking all the vacuum and electrical connections, rebuild the carb myself (if its not much more difficult than a Holly or Quadrajet).

The car only about 46,000 miles on it and it has not been driven much lately; he fires it up about every two months and takes it out for a short spin. Probably the carb is gunked up.

Debating what to do with the car. I really like the styling but not the small engine/HP/torque. Given the recent rise in gasoline perhaps I should stick with the little six for a while.

Thanks to everyone for there input.

Cheers,
Bob