# Failed smog test **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** explorer, ford\ **Created:** [July 25, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966 "2009-07-25T03:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@madbul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/madbul)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/1 "2009-07-25T03:19:35Z")
My 2003 Ford Explorer failed the smog test and the failure description are the following: Too lean: Bank1 Too lean: Bank2 Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/2 "2009-07-25T03:23:52Z")
This “failure” was because your check engine light is on, right? ---
**Author:** ![madbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@madbul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/madbul)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/3 "2009-07-25T03:25:38Z")
No, the check engine light was not on ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/4 "2009-07-25T03:31:02Z")
Did they test the car on rollers and sample the tailpipe emissions? What state are you in? ---
**Author:** ![madbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@madbul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/madbul)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/5 "2009-07-25T03:41:52Z")
I’m in California, and yes on rollers ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/6 "2009-07-25T04:02:24Z")
I’m just going to take a shot in the dark…Check carefully for any air leaks between the air filter and the throttle body. Check for air leaks ANYWHERE. clean the MAS, the airflow sensor just down-stream from the air filter. Add a can of Techron to the fuel tank. Did it fail at idle or at higher speed, what exactly does the failure report say? ---
**Author:** ![madbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@madbul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/madbul)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/7 "2009-07-25T04:14:38Z")
Too lean: Bank1 Too lean: Bank2 That was all the report said. Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/8 "2009-07-25T15:22:48Z")
There is more information about how your vehicle performed on that emissions test report. There is more than just the “Failed” part. Let us have that information, if you really want advice on how to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/9 "2009-07-25T15:39:22Z")
The too lean messages were pulled from your cars computer and are not the result of test readings…Usually, when the computer detects an emissions problem it triggers the CEL. If the CEL is not on, I’m very surprised you failed the test. You might have Autozone read the codes (for free) and then clear them and then have your car re-tested. ---
**Author:** ![kroywyns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@kroywyns](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kroywyns)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/failed-smog-test/33966/10 "2010-06-05T07:01:27Z")
disconnect the battery overnight & go to a dif. but in ground test station. Ca is a con job. Read about it at [automechanic.com](http://automechanic.com) web site & other smog stuf too.