MOT fail on emissions

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lucklesspedestrian
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MOT fail on emissions

Post by lucklesspedestrian » Wed Nov 13, 2019 12:52 pm

So, the 2001 2.5 V6 has failed on the emissions test. I'm not hugely surprised as it's not been used much over the last year and what use it's had has mainly been tootling about in Edinburgh city centre traffic.

The garage has suggested I put some 'cataclean' in it and give it a good run then they will test again next Tues when it's in to have new rear brakes and the ABS warning light looked at also.

Has anyone on here had the same emissions failure on the V6 and/or any experience with this cataclean stuff?

Cheers

Steve
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by g8dhe » Wed Nov 13, 2019 1:00 pm

Mine failed back in April, but this was due to unburnt fuel getting into the Cat whilst I travelled back from Cornwall with an ignition fault. I ended up having to replacing the Cat itself, several sources if you use Google and quite a few cheaper as they are made in the country rather than "alleged" imports of genuine ones - I say " alleged" as when I needed it there was a dearth of them in the country, and on phoning around discovered that there appears to be one importer of the bricks that then get installed in the cases/pipe work, he happened to admit that the people I had just phoned were waiting on him to supply the bricks, they had said they were waiting for the import of genuine Mazda units .........
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lucklesspedestrian
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by lucklesspedestrian » Wed Nov 13, 2019 1:07 pm

Cheers Geoff.

I suppose it would be useful if I were to post the specifics so here goes!

It failed on the CO and the HC readings and passed the Lambda.

CO Max is 0.300 reading was about 0.620/0.816
HC Max is 200, reading was 204/227

As I say Lambda was bang on at around 1.000

Doesn't sound like it failed by much or that there is anything drastically wrong?
Flanners
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Flanners » Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:18 pm

Give it an Italian Tune-up and make sure it is at operating temp when they emission test it
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by teenmal » Fri Nov 15, 2019 11:56 am

Flanners wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:18 pm Give it an Italian Tune-up and make sure it is at operating temp when they emission test it


that is in the test procedure For vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1979, ensure the engine is at least 80 °C or normal operating temperature.
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by nth » Sat Nov 16, 2019 5:56 pm

teenmal wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2019 11:56 am
Flanners wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:18 pm Give it an Italian Tune-up and make sure it is at operating temp when they emission test it


that is in the test procedure For vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1979, ensure the engine is at least 80 °C or normal operating temperature.
Thats where the problem can be, all gas analysers i have used have a temperature probe that goes down the dipstick tube to measure engine temperature, this can be bypassed by the tester & they can enter another method of checking the temp if this is unavailable eg used the cars own temperature gauge.
Now where is the dipstick on a Bongo? how many testers do you think will actually lift up the seats to put the oil temperature probe in??
Its only just failed, I reckon theres a good chance it may not have been fully warmed up.
🤞🏼
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JulesMartin
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by JulesMartin » Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:57 am

Might be an idea, when you run it into the garage next week is to have the seat already open and fixed back. if possible point out to the mechanic your good deed thereby subtly pointing out to him that a) you know about the dipstick sensor and b) you are pointing him to a vague area of where the dipstick is without hurting his pride and thereby not rubbing him up the wrong way. you could also mention that the temp gauge only works on three settings (Cold, Normal and too late)!
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lucklesspedestrian
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by lucklesspedestrian » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:30 pm

Thanks as always for the really helpful advice.

That's the new brakes and the ABS sorted so it's back in tomorrow for the MOT test and of course the all important emissions re test.

Gave it a blast this afternoon with a quarter tank of petrol and the bottle of cataclean added. I've never driven the Bongo before that way and probably never will again (dread to think of the mpg!) but what good fun and what a smooth powerful unit the 2.5l V6 is, it fair shifts! Think I got a few surprised looks from drivers of BMW's and Audis as I pulled away from them!

Wish me luck for tomorrow!
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Bob » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:34 pm

Fingers crossed for you and Bongy. [-o<
lucklesspedestrian
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by lucklesspedestrian » Fri Nov 22, 2019 5:32 pm

Passed!

The Cataclean and giving it a good blast certainly did the trick.

CO dropped from 0.620 to 0.102 and the HC came down from 204 to 78.Took it out for a 20 min warm up immediately before the test and straight onto the ramp!

Thanks again for all the advice.
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Bob » Fri Nov 22, 2019 7:46 pm

Cracking job. =D> =D> =D>
Winnie-bongo
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Winnie-bongo » Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:19 pm

I know it's a bit late now but petrol Bongo's up to 1st Sep 2002 do not need a cat test and should have a non cat test as my reply from DVSA states
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zpty2g3cb35d8 ... k.jpg?dl=0

I did try to upload it but failed so put it in dropbox, basically passenger cars have up to 5 passenger seats, but a vehicle originally built with 6 or more passenger seats, in addition to the driver, which has had seats removed must be still treated as not being a passenger car so subject to a non cat test.
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Bob » Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:42 pm

Good info, thanks. :)
Winnie-bongo
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Winnie-bongo » Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:25 pm

I can put DVSA replies on
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Winnie-bongo
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Re: MOT fail on emissions

Post by Winnie-bongo » Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:28 pm

Royston's PDF
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