1986 Wagon Denver

[hberdan]

Not mine, here is one on CL:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2159059757.html
" have a 86 tercel wagon with 4wd that runs. Had recently been tuned up and had an oil change. The back passenger door does not open because a tree fell on it. Also needs new tires two of which are flat at moment. When i went to get emissions done on the car they told me it wouldn't accelerate fast enough to test. The car has 185k miles on it. If you are handy with cars at all this would be a good deal. Wont take to much to get this badboy back on the road. email me for pictures "

[tercel4wdrules]

When i went to get emissions done on the car they told me it wouldn't accelerate fast enough to test."

Now this is just sad...

[Petros]

he should have told them that is the way the accelerate front the factory.

[splatterdog]

I got a laugh about the acceleration too.

I know they are slow, but that slow? Gve me a break. Could have been the tester's fault?

[hberdan]

They do test cars here first at idle then by running them up to a speed of 55, with the drive axle between two rollers . There is some kind of a time limit, so may just be that his car didn't make it to 55 before the test period ended. Usually they will attempt it more than once but even if it fails the owner can retest it later.
I've had cars fail at one testing station but not at another, both the same distance from home. Those emission test guys don't seem to be the sharpest end of the stick, if you know what I mean.

[Petros]

they should inflate the front tires to 40 psi, and make sure the rollers are set close enough together so they do not sink down between them.

If for some reason the car has vac leaks or other issues, it would be even more underpowered and contribute to the problem.

likely as you say, operator not careful to fit the car to the dyno when doing the test.