Failed MOT on emissions

  1. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #1
    hi my car has failed its MOt today on the emissions, i have no idea what is wrong, its a mk2 vtr that has a raceland 4-2-1 manifold on so it was decat for a while, ive bolted a cat underneath and connected the right lambda sensor, but it still gave ridiculously high readings ( CO2 level limit is 0.2 mine read 9.something).

    Could this just be that the cat isnt working? as it is the original cat of a t-reg mk1 vtr, so would buying a brand new mk1 cat sort this problem out or do you think it could be something to do with the lambda sensors?

    I was told that the top lmabda sensor has to be the one that goes into the exhaust, mine had a sleeve over that one and i couldnt get it off so what i did was unclip to 2 sensors and change them around so what was the bottom lambda sensor it now the top one, could this be the problem?

    any help would be greatly appreciated
  2. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS
    #2
    You need the first lambda (green connector) screwed into the manifold, otherwise the car will overfuel. The blue one isn't important, you can sleeve it or junk it all together if you're not fussed about the light.
  3. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LeeumH View Post
    You need the first lambda (green connector) screwed into the manifold, otherwise the car will overfuel. The blue one isn't important, you can sleeve it or junk it all together if you're not fussed about the light.
    ok so switching the sensors around so the top 1 is now the bottom and vice versa wont be the same as having the top plugged into top and bottom into bottom?
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS
    #4
    The sensors are different afaik mate - eurocarparts list them as two different sensors: one for before the CAT and one for after.

    As long as the lambda with the green connector is in the exhaust somewhere before the CAT, that's fine. Having the blue one plugged in after the CAT won't change the emissions.
  5. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #5
    ok then mate cheers for the help
  6. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2007 Aylesbury, Bucks Posts: 12836 Yeaaahh Fiesta
    #6
    As said get the green lambda plugged in. Also a good service will reduce emissions if you continue to struggle
  7. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #7
    yeah it has a full service 5000miles ago so im fine there its just i messed around with the lambdas and thought they did the same job if the were plugged into each others plugs....obviously not, learn something new every day lol
  8. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 EDINBURGH Posts: 3143 BMW e36 328i sport
    #8
    v-power and put redex in and ask to have the emissions done as soon as you turn up at the garage after you've taken the car for a good run
  9. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #9
    i cant take it for a good run as ive got no tax or insurance and no MOT
  10. Established Member Joined: Jul 2009 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 1267 03 EP3
    #10
    Go to a garage where you know someone well... the only thing i can think of now.
  11. Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2009 swansea Posts: 136 Silver Mk2 Saxo Vtr
    #11
    i had this problem, i changed the oil and filter, put cleaner in the fuel system, new plugs and took the top lambda out and gave it a clean, the guy told me the limit was 1.3 and mine was 1.6 first time through, after all that it was 1.2 hope this helps m8.
  12. Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 115
    #12
    I had an engineer just swap my lambda and my cat for my emissions.
  13. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #13
    right well ive put a new cat and top (grenn connector?) lambda sensor on last night, im gonna run it every day for a little bit in the garage for a week or so, so that the cat and lambda sensor have time to sort of bed in then when i go for MOT im gonna put some v-power in and an additive and hopefully that should if it doesnt i have a serious problem on my hands

    karlos - you say the limit is 1.3? is that for CO2? cause the guy said to me the limit 0.2 thats very confusing
  14. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2007 EDINBURGH Posts: 3143 BMW e36 328i sport
    #14
    good luck bud and also make sure the engine is warmed up when it goes to get tested, when the engine is warm literally sit revving it until the guy puts the probe in the exhaust to get the best chance of passing
  15. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #15
    ah right sweet cheers for the advice
  16. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #16
    just a thought is it worth changed my spark plugs if they havent been changed in a while?
  17. L-plater Joined: Aug 2009 Bristol Posts: 52 Saxo Eastcoast 1L
    #17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vtr_tom View Post
    hi my car has failed its MOt today on the emissions, i have no idea what is wrong, its a mk2 vtr that has a raceland 4-2-1 manifold on so it was decat for a while, ive bolted a cat underneath and connected the right lambda sensor, but it still gave ridiculously high readings ( CO2 level limit is 0.2 mine read 9.something).

    Could this just be that the cat isnt working? as it is the original cat of a t-reg mk1 vtr, so would buying a brand new mk1 cat sort this problem out or do you think it could be something to do with the lambda sensors?

    I was told that the top lmabda sensor has to be the one that goes into the exhaust, mine had a sleeve over that one and i couldnt get it off so what i did was unclip to 2 sensors and change them around so what was the bottom lambda sensor it now the top one, could this be the problem?

    any help would be greatly appreciated

    Are you sure its your sensors, my car had the exact problem, I done some reading, most people said about the cat being clogged up, or the sensors, I then saw some one say, just rag your car up the motorway for a couple of miles to get all the rubbish in the cat out.

    so I did exactly that, 4th gear all the way up the motorway at 70mph, went back in for the emissions test and bam! It passed haha, x its a cheaper way , just giv it ago, always worth a try if its free x
  18. L-plater Joined: Aug 2009 Bristol Posts: 52 Saxo Eastcoast 1L
    #18
    forget about my last post i just relised im well l8 haha x hope your car passes good luck x
  19. L-plater Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 79
    #19
    well ive bought a new cat and lambda sensor so that would have sorted that out mate, but i cant take it out for a spin as it has no insurance or tax or mot lol
  20. L-plater Joined: Aug 2009 Bristol Posts: 52 Saxo Eastcoast 1L
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vtr_tom View Post
    well ive bought a new cat and lambda sensor so that would have sorted that out mate, but i cant take it out for a spin as it has no insurance or tax or mot lol
    ohhh i see, how much did the sensor cost you?? x
  21. Established Member Joined: May 2009 cleethorpes, Lincolnshire Posts: 1830 Astra 2006 (55) 1.9 cdti 150 sri 192hp 322ftlb
    #21
    get the green lamba in and plug in the other one to be on to be on the sdafe side. a service with some petrol treatment and oil treatment should run a treat.
  22. Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2009 swansea, west glamorgan Posts: 378 saxo vtr mk1, amazon green
    #22
    what you all need are these www.hhotek.co.uk click on green my ride. its a fuel saving device and lowers your emissions considerably, im a Rep in the SA postcode selling these, anyone interested let me know!
  23. L-plater Joined: Jan 2010 bedford Posts: 40 saxo vtr
    #23
    i dont under stand all this emissions crap coz i have a mk2 vtr and i put a decat system on it and before and after the M.O.T it hardly made a difference and it still passed emissions test :/ wired
  24. Frequent Poster Joined: Nov 2009 maidstone Posts: 702 saxo vtr
    #24
    the cats on saxos are fooking shite! mine failed 1st time round on the machine majorly, just have it revving quite high for ages, so that the cat is warm, then it should go through mate