1996 Ford Windstar failed emissions test

BMXWAYNE

MEMBER
1996 FORD WINDSTAR
146,000 MILES

My van has failed an emissions test twice for high hc at idle the first time it was 11 over the max allowed the second time it was 68 over the max allowed after doing an oil change and changing the air filter the idle rpm is fluctuating between 680 and 740 rpm the second test was after the oil and filter change the first test was before the plugs and wires were changed a couple of months ago

5 Replies

DRCRANKNWRENCH

MECHANIC
3,380 POSTS

You could have 2 issues. The Idle Air Control Valve, IACV could be bad. It keeps idle steady on cold starts and under different engine loads. The high HC could be an oxygen sensor or your catalytic converter is going bad.

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Friday, October 4th, 2013 AT 3:44 AM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

HC is unburned fuel so what you need to look for is anything that would restrict complete combustion like a misfire, low compression, ignition timing, etc

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Friday, October 4th, 2013 AT 5:26 AM

BMXWAYNE

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58 POSTS

Ok could the cause of the idle problem also be the cause of the emissions failure as well

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Saturday, October 5th, 2013 AT 2:57 PM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

It's possible. It depends on what it ends up to be. The IAC won't effect HCs.

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Saturday, October 5th, 2013 AT 3:02 PM

BMXWAYNE

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58 POSTS

Well I have done some research and testing and found that the DPFE and the egr vacumm solenoid were bad and have replaced both and the idle still fluctuates but by less than before I also cleaned the MAF sensor and cleaned all sensor connections that I can easily access