I am all about finding the original parts that the dealer will sell, but on the aftermarket at reasonable prices.
What still troubles me is passing my bi-annual smog checks. It's not just my vechicle, it's family members vechicles.
I can check most of the smog components, except the catalytic converter.(I found away around checking the catalytic converter, but won't divulge, because it might be illegial.)
The one tool I might buy if the price was reasonable is a device that measures the emmissions out of the tailpipe. I think there's a big need for portable emmission testers. The price point would need to be around $300 for my taste. I don't know if it's even possible at that price point? I'm basically just concerned with HC's.
In order to pass emmission standards, I make sure the engine is running reasonably well. I change the oil. I check all ERG. I make sure that cat is hot. I then check the voltage off one of the O2 sensors(gotta pick the right on, and be quick with the voltage measurement. The computer will throw things off pretty quick with the wrong O2 sensor dissabled.) With the 0-5 volts you read you can get a good idea of the stoichiometric burn of the gasses. You can detect wether the vechicle is running rich, or lean, but it's not fool proof.
Even with preparation, it's hit it miss whether a vechicle passes smog.
I would love to gave a home devise that measured these gasses.
I'll pass this along. All Smog shops are in CA are required to have onsite one Emission manual to show the customer.
Good shops have two references. They look at this information when they do the visual examination. Good shops usuall have Motor Emmissions for the current year, and a subscription to Mitchell Manuals. A subscription to Mitchell manuals(OnDemand5) is more money than the Motor Emission publication, but it's hardly ever Wrong.
If you fail the visual on a smog test, ask to see the refrence material they used to fail you. If it's a Motor Publication--the information might be wrong. It's filled with many errors. Most shops cheap it out and only buying the cheaper Emission manual. The Motor Emission manual is joked about among Smog Techs. They know it's filled with errors.
I kinda went on, but frustrated from dealing with a recent smog check.
When you say the "right" O2 sensor I presume you're talking about the one after the cat? Doesn't that mainly tell you whether the cat is working or not? If the engine is running a bit rich and there is a bit of excess fuel coming into the cat, the cat should burn it up, I think.
And you probably know this, but there is an important difference in the voltage readings depending on whether you have wide- or narrow-band O2 sensors. Wideband is typically for performance cars.
$30 is way too expensive btw. On aliexpress i bought a wifi (because of iphone) dongle for $9,99 incl shipment.