oh crap. smog pump locked just prior to inspection

veggiemike · Jul 26, 2008

Went out to go to work this morning, and my smog pump is seized up (90% sure, haven't taken it apart, but the pulley sure doesn't turn and my serpentine belt started smoking). I drove through a few flooded roads yesterday morning (yay rain. basement flooded, too), and I've heard of the innards of the smog pump dieing after that before. My stang's RI inspection ran out last month, I was gonna get the inspection taken care of next week... so... now I have to very quickly decide what to do.

I'm sure everyone here will think I'm nuts, but I am pretty environmentally conscious... I still have cats and was planning on keeping them. This is my daily driver, and I need to pass inspection ASAP. I'd really rather keep the emissions as stock as possible.

Can I just run a short belt and leave the broken pump where it is... sounds stupid, I know, but I have a flooded basement, a new baby, no time, no money, and my wife and I are now down to 1 running car. If I do that, and the car runs OK, I can get it to work and back. Maybe even have the shop doing the emissions next week put a new pump on for me (though I'm sure I could do it myself... if I had time).

Thoughts?

Blck945.0 · Jul 26, 2008

IIRC the smog pump pumps air to the convertors to warm them and extend the life of them. You should be able to pass without the pump, but I do not think it is recommended to run without the pump if you have convertors for any long length of time.

veggiemike · Jul 26, 2008

Well, I'm waiting for a pump to come into my local AutoZone... trying to get the old one off while I wait. Is there supposed to be any moisture in this thing at all? I just disconnected the hose attached to the back of my seized pump, and it's all wet inside... Should I be worrying about the health of the whole smog setup? My cats?

Blck945.0 · Jul 26, 2008

Water in the pump is not good and probably why it seized up, (toasted the bearings maybe?) though it could just be condensation, is there a lot of water in it? There should not be any water in the pump, it is a closed system from the back of the heads to the pump down to the convertors. I would say that your convertors are more than likely fine though.

Paul · Jul 26, 2008

I have an Smog Pump in excellent condition with less than 16,000 original miles that you can have for $65 shipped. Might save you a few bucks over buying one from a retailer.

Paul.

veggiemike · Jul 26, 2008

Hmm... While I was trying to break one of the bracket bolts free, the pump's pulley all of a sudden broke free. I beat the crap out of that thing to see if I could get it moving this morning, and now it breaks free while I'm totally leaning on it and fall on my ass and toss my wrench across the garage like a dolt. Nice. So, I put everything back together and it runs fine. A little less squealy up front, too.

As far as the wetness I encountered is concerned, I would describe the inside of the hose as "damp". There didn't seem to be any pooled liquid in there, just enough dampness to make my finger tip wet for a few seconds.

So everything seems fine... for now. I didn't have to spend any $$$, just a semi-pleasant vacation day from work. I'll be mentally crossing my fingers every time I start it for a while, though.

As a side note, don't lean on a pulley, no matter how sure you are that it's not going to move. :hammer: