Failed MOT on emissions

A lot of places run the engine for the whole length of the MOT test and do the emissions at the end.

Think of all the wasted petrol given the number of MOTs done daily around the country!

Lou ( snipped-for-privacy@jpmorgan.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

This would seem to suggest it was thoroughly warm - assuming it was actually checked with a temp sensor of some kind.

Assuming it truly was warm enough, I'd suggest a duff lambda sensor.

I would suspect the cat and or engine wasnt hot enough. Idling in the garage is not enough to even keep the cat at working temperature on some cars- especially on a corsa of this age, where the cat is quite along way downstream of the engine.

Give it a good fast run and submit it for an emissions test immediately. I bet it passes.

Tim..

How much?

Tim.. ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Which is the minimum, it does impy it's not hot.

Duncan Wood ( snipped-for-privacy@dmx512.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

As I said... "IF it's actually been checked"...

Yeah and? As I said, on this and certain other Vx's the cat is located waaaay down the exhaust from the engine...

Tim..

So do you think it is worth me retesting the MOT after giving it a good old drive first ??

Or should i take a look at spark plugs or anything else before hand??

if after the initial cat test it fails you do a second fast idle test for 3 mins between 2750 - 3250 rpm, which give the cat chance to "light up |" but ive noticed on the test results for some reason the rpm has been by passed ?

Definitely. Have you got a Nationwide Autocentre anywhere near you and have you got (or could you get - it's free) Civil Service Motoring Association membership? 'Cos N'wide will do you a no pass no fee MoT test, plus 33% off the fee if it does pass, you you could give it a good run and take it there with nothing to lose. You either drive away with a free failure or a £30 pass.

An Italian Tuneup is always worth doing before an MOT. Get it nice and warm then drive around at higher than you are used to for a while. Gets the cobwebs out a treat.

Helps the emissions too ;-)

CSMA membership isn't free and Nationwide wouldn't let me have my no pass no fee last time I went in there.

CSMA membership is now most definitely 100% free unless you want their crap magazine. Only reason I rejoined is because it cost nowt. Nationwide will normally only refuse the deal if you don't have the membership card and the relevant voucher (which you can print off the CSMA website).

Ooh, I'll have to check that then when I renew. I've got three cars and I claim my CSMA discounts on each MoT but never give them any work so I think the guy just got fed up with me. Most of the time they pass first time.