State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Resources Building Auditorium
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA
March 21, 1973
9:30 a.m.
AGENDA
73-6-1 Approval of Minutes of March 7, 1973 Meeting.
73-6-2 Consideration of Applications for Accreditation of NOx
Control Devices:
(a) Contignitron Company.
(b) Clean Air Research Company.
73-6-3 Consideration of Assembly-Line Test Results for the 2nd
Quarter Production of 1973 Model Year Vehicles.
73-6-4 Report on Survey of Adjustment Practices of New Car
Dealers.
73-6-5 Consideration of Board Policy Concerning the
Surveillance of New Vehicles for Compliance with End of
Assembly-Line Requirements.
73-6-6 Enforcement Implications of Air Resources Board
Regulations Pertaining to Motor Vehicles After Sales.
73-6-7 Status Report on Catalytic Device Testing.
73-6-8 Other Business.
73-6-9 Remarks from Audience - End of Morning and Afternoon
Sessions.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-2a
Contignitron Company's Application for Accreditation of an NOx
Control Device for 1966-1970 Model Year Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Deny accreditation.
SUMMARY
The Contignitron Company has submitted an application for
accreditation of its device for NOx exhaust emission control for
1966 through 1970 model year vehicles in classes (a, c, d, e, and f).
The test data and other information submitted show that the
device has satisfied the oxides of nitrogen emission standard
requirement for vehicles in engine size classes (a) and through
(f). However, the Contignitron device utilizes an electronic
time delay which further retards the spark timing beyond the
retard obtained with a simple vacuum spark advance disconnect.
The Contignitron system does not include provisions for engine
thermal protection and the applicant did not submit temperature
data to show the effects of the device on engine temperatures.
Data obtained in the Air Resources Board Laboratory thermal
effect tests indicate that the Contignitron device causes exhaust
gas temperatures to increase approximately 60øF more than the
increase obtained with a vacuum spark advance disconnect. It is,
therefore, the staff's recommendation to deny accreditation for
engine size classifications (a) and through (f) because of
potential damage that could occur because of the increased
exhaust temperatures obtained with the device.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-2b
Clean Air Research Company, Inc., Application for Accreditation
of an NOx Control Device for 1966-1970 Model Year Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
None.
SUMMARY
The Clean Air Research Company has submitted an application for
accreditation of its device for NOx exhaust emission control for
1966 through 1970 model year vehicles in engine size classes (b,
c, d, e and f). The applicant had not submitted all the
necessary data. Therefore an incomplete staff report is
presented for informational purposes. Some of the issues raised
by this application could be decided on the basis of this
incomplete report. These issues include financial responsibility
of the applicant, adverse effects on vehicle performance and
interaction with Board policy concerning simple VSAD.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-3
Assembly-Line Test Results for the 2nd Quarter Production of 1973
Model Year Vehicles.
SUMMARY
The staff has reviewed the reports submitted by vehicle
manufacturers on their second quarter's production. Table I and
II of the attached staff report show those manufacturers that did
not test an adequate sample of quarterly production vehicles
and/or had more than 10% of the quality audit sample exceed the
approved standard for a given compound. The overall average
quality audit test emissions for the second quarter are 32%, 22%,
and 26% lower than the HC, CO, and NOx emission standards
respectively.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-4
Survey of Adjustment Practices of Manufacturers and New Car
Dealers.
RECOMMENDATION
None. (This is related to the agenda item concerning Proposed
Changes in Engine Adjustment Policy for Surveillance of New
Vehicles for Compliance with End of Assembly-Line Requirements.)
SUMMARY
The staff has conducted a survey of new car dealers to determine
if new car engines are being adjusted to manufacturer's
specifications. The survey shows some improvement in adjustment
practices since the last survey in 1971. The initial report
concerning the recent survey was submitted to the Board on
February 21, 1973. Since that date, the report has been revised
and is being resubmitted at the request of the Board.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-5
Proposed Changes in Engine Adjustment Policy for Surveillance of
New Vehicles for Compliance with End of Assembly-Line
Requirements.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt proposed policy.
SUMMARY
The assembly-line test procedures require all vehicles to be
adjusted to the manufacturer's specifications for delivery to
customers prior to emission testing. To assure compliance with
this requirement, the Executive Officer requested each
manufacturer to submit his plan of engine adjustment practices.
These plans have been evaluated and a proposed policy developed.
Action on the proposed policy was deferred to permit comments
from new car dealers. The Executive Officer has notified the
California Motor Car Dealers Association of the proposed policy
and invited their dealers to present testimony at today's
meeting. A copy of the Executive Officer's letter is attached.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-6
Enforcement Implications of Air Resources Board Regulations
Pertaining to Motor Vehicles after sale.
SUMMARY
Two reports are included in this item:
1. A general discussion of vehicle emission control device
enforcement.
2. A report on experience with the NOx retrofit program in
Riverside County.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-7
Status Report on Air Resources Board Laboratory Catalytic Device
Testing.
SUMMARY
A progress report, dated March 1, 1973, is included in the Board
book. Updated test information and discussion will be presented
at the meeting.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-8a
Accreditation of the Carter Carburetor Device.
RECOMMENDATION
Adoption of Resolution 73-11.
SUMMARY
At the February 21 meeting, the Board adopted a motion
accrediting the Carter Carburetor retrofit exhaust device for
1966-70 vehicles. The adoption of attached Resolution 73-11 will
confirm the Board's action for record purposes.
ITEM NO.: 73-6-8b
Tentative Schedule of Meeting Places and Dates.
RECOMMENDATION
Confirm schedule.
SUMMARY
Attached is a tentative schedule for Board meeting dates through
December 1973. Adoption of this list will cancel the meeting
presently scheduled for Tahoe, California on June 7, 1973.