Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

A-ha! That explains why he wouldn't remove his grubby little paws off
the converter!  That's a nice chunk of change. I'm surprised that crooks
haven't resorted to stealing those for scrap. ( I guess technically that
just happened to me..Ha!)

Heck, it's pretty bad here in California as they are digging through
parks and school yards ripping out the copper wire to sell for scrap.

*********************************

I've not heard of it locally, but I understand they are being stolen in some
places, rigt from under your parked car.   As for copper, a nearby church
had copper roof flashing stolen during Good Friday services.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

I guess not.  Didn't you say it was a day or two later that you went back to
him?  How long should he hold the part, just in case you might decide you
want it back?  What about core parts?  It is common to require the old part
to be turned in as part of the price of the new part.

That said - converter theft is actually on the rise.  Thieves have taken to
cutting them right off cars parked during the night.

From the California Department of Consumer Affairs web site :

NO (PPM): Oxides of nitrogen (more commonly called NOx) are odorless gases
that help form smog, and give smog its characteristic brown color. NO is
produced when temperatures in the combustion chambers exceed 2500 degrees
Fahrenheit. Excessive engine temperatures could be caused by a lean fuel
mixture, by retarded timing, by carbon buildup inside the combustion
chamber, or by a malfunctioning engine cooling system. The function of the
EGR System is to reduce NO. Unhealthy levels of NO emissions result in a
vehicle failing its Smog Check. NO is measured in parts per million (PPM).

Okay.  The only category in which you've failed is NOx (oxides o
nitrogen).  This occurs when combustion chamber temperatures get too hig
and the nitrogen in the air begins to react with the oxygen in the air.
So you'll need to check things that would make the combustion chambe
temperature too high.

1.  Check the (coolant) thermostat.  Make sure it's opening at the correc
temperature.  If it opens at too high a temperature, your combustio
chamber temperatures can be excessive.

2.  Check the ignition timing.  Over-advanced ignition timing can caus
the fuel to burn prematurely and increase combustion chambe
temperatures.

3.  Check the function of the entire EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation
system.  The purpose of EGR is to introduce exhaust gases back into th
combustion chamber for the purpose of cooling.  If any part of it doesn'
function properly, your combustion chamber temperatures will go up.
You'll need to make sure that the EGR solenoid is working, that the EG
valve is working, and the EGR passages are clear.  You'll also need t
verify that the ECM commands the EGR valve to open at the proper time.

Of course, I don't expect that you'll be able to do any of this yourself.
Any good emissions diagnostic technician should already know what high NO
readings mean and should know to run the tests I've mentioned above.  
also don't advocate just going out and replacing some of the parts.
There's no guarantee that will fix anything.  If you want to take a chea
shot at passing, try running your tank to empty and refueling wit
premium.  There's a possibility that'll compensate for over-advance
ignition timing, but by the same token, resetting the ignition timing i
fairly simple and cheap

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.hyundai
More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.htm

Did your car PASS the test last year, in CALIFORNIA ????

Your Excel is 17 years old, if it was not designed and maintained for
the CA emission standards .... it will never make it.