I recently purchased a 1990 Hyundai Excel. I just moved to CA from out of state and although I knew I had to get a valid smog certificate with the vehicle, I didn’t realize that a smog certificate was only valid for 90 days. Apparently, neither did the seller, because he gave me one that he thought was good until September 2007 (it was issued in Sept. of 2006), which is when the vehicle’s registration needs renewing. Realizing my mistake, I discovered that I still could pay my registration fees without getting it smogged, but would have to return later to complete the registration process. I had someone take it to a smock check station for me, since I work 8-5, and when they picked me up, they told me it had failed on two counts. 1) Engine timing was off. 2) NOx emissions were sky-high; so high, that my tiny car was classified as a gross polluter.
I only bought this vehicle to last me through the end of August, since I’ll be moving out of CA at that time (I have a 10-week internship), so this is incredibly frustrating. I have very basic automotive knowledge and absolutely no knowledge of why my NOx emissions would be so high. I don’t have the time or the money to get the car fixed.
Second issue: After about 5 minutes on the highway at about 60mph or higher, the check engine light comes on. Nothing else, no increase in temperature, just the check engine light. After a couple of minutes at city speed limits, the light goes off as if nothing happened. It’s a regular routine. Could this be related to engine timing or the high combustion temps that result in high NOx emissions?
Help!