SQL not working with ASP

I've got this sql string that will work in access directly, but won't work in my asp pages. Please help.

SELECT Pprojects.* FROM Pprojects WHERE (([Pprojects].[JState] = 'CA') And (InStr(' 2, 1, 3,',' ' & [Pprojects].[County] & ',') > 0)) Or ((InStr(' 2, 1,', ' ' & [Pprojects].[Type] & ',') > 0)) Or ((InStr(' 2, 3, 1,', ' ' & [Pprojects].[Phase] & ',') > 0))

I've also tried using the like operator (and using both * and % as wildcards) but still no dice:

SELECT Pprojects.* FROM Pprojects WHERE (([Pprojects].[JState] = 'CA') And (' 2, 1, 3,' Like '* ' & [Pprojects].[County] & ',*')) Or ((' 2, 1,' Like '* ' & [Pprojects].[Type] & ',*')) Or ((' 2, 3, 1,' Like '* ' & [Pprojects].[Phase] & ',*'))

Neither form will work in my asp pages, but work perfectly fine in access. (By not working, I mean that it pulls up zero results every time, when it should be pulling up everything in the table.) The sql also includes some Left joins, but I've excluded them for this example. If the joins would have any part to play with why this is not working, please let me know.

Brewguru99