Hey everyone,

My samurai is due for smog in two weeks.  It's pretty much all stock; I have a problem smogging it every 2 years in California.  I lost my job and funds are low. 

It seems to be idling high.  Someone said it needs a new choke plate or throttle plate and that piece is hard to find. 

If my samurai is idng high, and it is a throttle plate, can I still pass California smog?  Any ideas what I can do to make this pass?  I want at least one more California smog pass before I move out to state where there are no smoggies like South Dakota.  I want to keep this car forever and I need to pass this one last smog check.  Any ideas?

Thanks,
Whitey

i use a "no pass, no pay" station. where they check it before linking to the dmv.
that way you don't end up on the polluters list.
if the techs. know their stuff, they can give you some ideas on what may be in need of repair or adjustment.
you will need to get it to idle ok somehow, though. make sure all the vacuum lines are good and it's not idleing on the choke cam or that fast idle valve.
get it good andhot before the test.
good luck
does the choke close when it's cold and open when hot?

Thanks everyone I have a fresh tune up an oil change the cat an muffler is pretty new..My only problem I know is the engine idles around 1500 t0 2000 most of the time.. VCan i pass the California smog test like that..

If it is the choke plate how would I get a new one

Thanks my time is running out

The problem with the choke plate is that they sometimes don't open all the way. Check it when it's hot and make sure it opens all the way. You should check the emission system too. It may be running in limp mode. Basically if all the sensors or emission stuff is not working, then the ECM makes the engine run rich so you can still "limp" home. There is a little switch under the dash by the steering column. Get  the  car warmed up and slide that switch to the other side.  The check engine or sensor light on the dash will come on. Get the engine to idle about 2000 RPM or so and the light should start to flash. If it doesn't flash, you have a problem with the emission system and will never get it to lean outor idle slower. If you got a problem, go to Ack Facts and download a FSM and follow the troubleshooting steps.
 

I oh I forgot to say the sensor light has been flashing since 180k I thought it turns on every 60k for no reason.It seem to idle high after the water pump was changed a few months ago It runs good just idles a little high.  i just want to pass california smog one more time ..It sucks here... no pass smog ......no sticker,.........  No park on street ......an I will have many tickets.  that is how the state of ca. take peopes car away an make money for the broke state of california.  I have had 2 cars since 1988 2  gray Samurai's I don't want to lose this one.  I don't see many on the road here around sanfrancisco area.

If I have a smog test will it fail an how much do you think it would coast to repair labor is around $ 100 ahour.  Thats one of the reason why I have one the only time I need to spend money is when smog is due thats why I am leaving this state .

Then i am not sure the shop will get the problem the 1st time coast me money I don't have.

Whitey

You might have the timing a little too advanced. An easy check. Also check that choke to make sure it's opening all the way.

Your throttle cable could be frayed where it goes through the firewall,
that will hold the throttle open a little and give you a high idle, check the
cable at the carb, it should not be tight and holding the throttle open, see
if you can force the bell crank (the thing the cable pulls on) closed and if
that lowers your idle, if not, adjust your idle screw to about 900 RPM warm

Wild

I have learned a lot on my 1st day here..  My senser light is not blinking after many years now that I found the switch. Befour  I put a pice of black tape over it

someone said the carb idle will not go down with a problem with the choke plate.  i have to admit I do not know what i am doing when it comes down to the carb.  I will make it worse.

I hope to move out of State South Dakota ( no smoggy) in the next year from cali


I have been thinking of adding a header an a weber carb for a long time.

Any way if I put a brand new Weber Carb on it would that solve the high idle an pass smog.

If yes witch model should i get for a 87 Samurai

one thing I have learned is that I never want to lose my 87 Samurai

Will the new carb. work?


Whitey

I don't think the Weber carb will pass smog

The weber will not pass. They check visually. Every thing that came on it has to be there. The only header that is legal in Ca is the Doug Thorley ( I like mine) The FSM is not that hard to follow to troubleshoot the carb and emission system. If your light doesn't start to flash at 2000 rpm on a warm engine, then you are running rich in limp mode. Find the switch, slide it over and the light will come on. Then when the engine is warm and the rpm's up it will start to flash.  If it doesn't there is a problem. You're right about the 60,000 mile thing but it will go off after awhile. You can also turn it off by sliding the switch over as that resets it.

the weber won't pass. i've tried.
i agree about the factory service manual.
are you near santa cruz?
my smog guy is good, but honest.

Thanks for all the help I bought my Suzuki new an my friends laughed at me for buying a girls car.In the 80's i had hair down to my waist guys would see my hair an Suzuki ,,,,speed up to take a look an I would flip them off.   I took my friends for a rides up an down mountians... They say they could not drive the 4 wheel to the Suzuki's power... it is to much for them...I still have my Suzuki an they have been through 1/2 dz. new cars.

Any way  i do not know how to take apart a carb an fixit That is one of the reason I bought it..  It was idleing high bob sys it is the choke i belive him  I come to this board ask questions an feel better (I was starting to think I am going to lose my Suzuki to the cali smog police an the car crusher will come out of the sky an crush it on the spot.)

I drove it 100 mile to cental vally an have a smog done,, I tell them it is idling high.  They said if it is idling to high the test will not start.

It looks like they turned down the idle an (MY SUZUKI PASSED) I have been losing sleep for about a month. 

It Suzuki is in good shape but I want it to look new again.  I don't want to lose my Samurai

Congrats on passing the smog test!