I am putting my '01 XJR up for sale and by state law I am required to do a smog test, which here in California is a pretty big deal. I wasn't worried -- my car breezed through smog a year ago for registration. But then to my dismay a couple of days ago my car failed the test. The smog test technician was helpful -- he asked if my battery had recently been disconnected. I said yes, last week for a couple of days when my mechanic (a Jag specialist since 1972) replaced the fuel pumps. The technician told me I needed to accumulate some miles on the sensors (or whatever), because the test needed to have a fair bit of driving information at hand. So I took three 40-mile drives at his request, at highway speeds, and he re-did the test with the same result. He told me to take the car to my service shop.

My fantastic mechanic Juan did an OBDII (?) test and he too agreed that the car needed more miles. He added some kind of liquid to the gas tank in the hope (I think) of helping out my right-hand catalytic converter, which was weak. That day I drove 320 miles on the i5 freeway and still no success with the numbers Juan was getting on his sensor analyst.

Now the car is in his shop until it passes the test and I'm getting nervous because I fear it might never pass the test.

My car was on sale on Craig's List for all of two days (asking $5,500) when a very nice guy 100 miles north of here in the Bay Area fell for its Emerald mica factory paint . . .



. . . and sent me a certified check as advance payment for the car in full! I informed him of the smog problem and he's been very understanding over the past week. He is aware I'll return his money whenever he wishes.

We mutually decided to wait out this week and see what happens. I agreed not to bug Juan every four hours. Instead the buyer and I would "fugheddaboudit" for a few days and not drive ourselves crazy obsessing about the situation. But of course the issue still looms large in my consciousness. Up until now this has been the best car I've ever owned (I bought it 11 years ago), and at the last moment it has let me down.

I"m selling the car because I do long road trips (I don't fly) and my venerable XJR with 158k miles on the clock is too vulnerable to breaking down and leaving me stranded on a secondary road in the middle of nowhere (my favorite road trip destination) . Oh, and it sucks gas. I'm retired now and don't have sufficient disposable income to live comfortably with 15 mpg, premium only of course.

If anyone has an insight into what a solution could be to this smog test problem -- even an expensive fix like replacing a catalytic converter -- I'd be most grateful for your input. As I said, the car has 158,000 miles on the clock and is running like new, not smoking or clattering or down on power. I've left the smog test result page with my mechanic but will pick up a copy tomorrow in case anyone wants more detail about the specific elements of the test my car was unable to pass.

Thanks in advance to all!

 

Have you cleaned the MAF w/MAF only fluid?...check the Cam Cover vent tube leading to the intake tube for obstruction. Be sure the air cleaner is free of grime.... Check the vacuum lines, there are a few, ...clip the ends about a 1/2", they may be worn and aren't sealing proper.

 

Did you ever get any codes with the weak cat ? The system needs to go through a cycle test .. a current code can prevent the test. Some tests take many cycles. My older MB wagon required over a month and many many miles a few years ago after the canister was replaced. My dealers wisdom: it happens.

The emission test requires that the system in the car complete the onboard cycle test test -- it fails otherwise.

I think you are going to have to drive it more

 

Attached is the drive cycles from the X308 workshop manual. I have found it best to do this on a quiet road in the evening. Perform the engine adaptions first then the drive cycles. I have in the past had to do it a couple of times for success.
Once the drive cycles are complete have your mechanic check for P1111. If you haven't achieved it have him check for unset monitors and resolve what is causing them not to set.

 

I have seen several different drive cycle procedures. I have tried them all. Usually after a couple cycles I get most of my monitors to run & there is usually only 1 or 2 hold outs & eventually they all run. Sometimes it has taken over a month for the last one to run. "CAT" is often the last to complete.

John, you should buy an OBD-2 reader. You can use on any car after 1996. This way w/o bothering your mechanic you can check or the desired P1111 every day.
When you get P1000, which I assume you would get now, see which symbol or symbols are flashing. These have not yet completed their run.

On my 2000XJ8 I have 7 monitors:
CCM
CAT
EVE
025
MIS
FUE
HTR

In AZ, to pass emissions you cannot have "more than 2" that are reporting not ready. IDK what the rule is in CA. Maybe you cannot have even a single monitor that has not run (not ready) You can look it up on the CA testing web site.
Search Readiness Monitors, OBD Monitors

I will attach a couple of drive cycles

 

Thanks for your reply. My mechanic solved with problem with two new oxygen sensors.

 

Thanks to all who replied. My mechanic replaced two oxygen sensors and the results were instant and complete -- the car breezed through the smog test. I hope this tidbit of information might be of use to someone here. I've copied many of your suggestions to run by my mechanic (he's worked on Jags only since 1973!) and he was highly impressed with the ideas and approaches -- including some that had not occurred to him. So thanks once again to those who took the trouble to share their knowledge.

 

Ah man, it breaks my heart to read the long road trips part! I Just took my 00 VDP SC coast to coast from SC to San Diego with 211k miles and it loved it!