Important! : VTS - smells bad

  1. Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)
    #1
    My new VTS failed the French MOT with an excess of CO 0.74% and 0.76% (needs to be under 0.30%) the other day (although passed the UK one at the end of August)

    The Lambda reading of 1.027 was a pass.

    Since then I've noticed that there's "too much" exhaust fumes coming out of the rear box even when the engine is hot, the fumes smell of unburnt petrol and the inside of the rear exhaust pipe is black as an

    The car is a 2000 Mk2 VTS, standard manifold, cat fitted, Magnex back box and pipes, BMC CDA air filter. The previous owner "bored out" the throttle bodies and the car ran 142BHP at a Sax-P rolling road meet last year.

    She pulls well and has no obvious defauts (engine wise) except for the excessive "smoke", smelly rear end and too high CO levels

    So what should I be looking for: New Cat, checking the ECU is setup correctly (I presume it's the ECU that manages the fuel mix - this car has a single ECU),.....any other ideas or advice as not too sure where to start

    If it's a more major job then I might be looking to change the cams and a few other bits once the problem is sorted but would like some advice on where to start - thx in advance
  2. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2007 peterborough Posts: 2861 2003 black vtr current escort van lol 2006 ford
    #2
    i would start with a cat first sound most likey
  3. Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 189
    #3
    As above. I had a Gti fail a gas test but it was de-catted and that was the kind of readings it was getting.
  4. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #4
    Do the CAT 1st see how it goes from their if its still smoking then change the Lambda sensor as well.

    Steve.
  5. L-plater Joined: Jan 2010 Herefordshire Posts: 33 Peugeot 205 Junior, 306 Dturbo.
    #5
    All Saxo's smell bad if you ask me.
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)
    #6
    Thanks for the advice - once the MOT has been passed I want to put the de-cat pipe on but am now concerned that it'll continue to smoke and smell bad if it's the CAT that's the problem.

    What controls the fuel/air mix - is it the ECU and/or other components (Lambda sensor, temperature, etc.) ???
  7. Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Chippenham, Wiltshire Posts: 796 Mk2 Wicked Red VTS
    #7
    Mine smells bad with a de-cat but fine with a working cat.

    Engine had a good check by a decent mechanic and said its in excellent working order.
  8. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LVC View Post
    Thanks for the advice - once the MOT has been passed I want to put the de-cat pipe on but am now concerned that it'll continue to smoke and smell bad if it's the CAT that's the problem.

    What controls the fuel/air mix - is it the ECU and/or other components (Lambda sensor, temperature, etc.) ???
    The ecu recieves electrical signals from all the sensors then adjusts as needs be.


    Steve.
  9. Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)
    #9
    I've had a chat with a few mechanics over here and following their advice I've bought a new water temperature sensor. They reckon if mine is knackered then it could be telling the ECU that the engine is cold and causing it to overfuel (like it does when the "choke" is on effect).

    FYI The part from Citroen cost me 40€ new this morning.

    The reason they think it could be this is that the only "issue" I've had with the car since the 900km return trip was the other day the water temperature gauge, which is usually around the half way mark went up to the red/top and then straight back down to 25% - it now doesn't go much above 25%.

    Will try to swap the sensor over this pm and let you know if it works or not

    In the meantime I've sourced a "cheap" new CAT on fleabay. Mine is a 2000 Mk2 VTS so the CAT is not the same as the later ones. I only need the CAT for the MOT cos after I'll put the de-cat pipe back on. What do you think??

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tchlink:top:en
  10. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2006 Norwich Posts: 2823 Vectra sri 2.6 v6
    #10
    It could be various things... my 16v smells like that at times i think its due to not having a cat.
  11. Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)
    #11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by citroen_saxo_vtr View Post
    It could be various things... my 16v smells like that at times i think its due to not having a cat.
    Yes I expect the smell to improve once I get a new CAT on but the real problem is that the exhaust interior is black as an and it smokes (white smoke) all the time and smells of unburnt petrol - I'm pretty sure that it's running very rich but not quite sure why yet????
  12. Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)
    #12
    Update: Tried fitting the sensor - turns out that there's 3 sensors all close together one green, one blue and one brown. The part I got today was the brown one - the only one NOT connected in my engine bay ...lol I assume that I need the green one (searched and found on another post) like this one >>>

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=160436754179

    I've also learned that it could be the Lambda sensor - so I'll start with the temperature sensor (try and swap the parts at Citroen tomorrow), then the lambda sensor and finally the CAT - that way at least I'll have spares for the VTR and hopefully should solve this annoying "smoking" issue.

    Re-checked oil and water and all good. Also ran the engine until "hot" (gauge actually got to halfway) and the fan came on but still "smoking" out of the exhaust. It's not excessive (not like a blown head gasket smoke) but more like a cold start but doesn't stop even once warm - it's starting to annoy me now
  13. Newbie Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 2
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LVC View Post
    Update: Tried fitting the sensor - turns out that there's 3 sensors all close together one green, one blue and one brown. The part I got today was the brown one - the only one NOT connected in my engine bay ...lol I assume that I need the green one (searched and found on another post) like this one >>>

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=160436754179

    I've also learned that it could be the Lambda sensor - so I'll start with the temperature sensor (try and swap the parts at Citroen tomorrow), then the lambda sensor and finally the CAT - that way at least I'll have spares for the VTR and hopefully should solve this annoying "smoking" issue.

    Re-checked oil and water and all good. Also ran the engine until "hot" (gauge actually got to halfway) and the fan came on but still "smoking" out of the exhaust. It's not excessive (not like a blown head gasket smoke) but more like a cold start but doesn't stop even once warm - it's starting to annoy me now
    Did you ever get to solving this??
  14. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Sep 2010 leeds Posts: 4389 MCS R53 S/C 16v furiooo
    #14
    Yes it took him two engines haha
  15. Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)
    #15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mlawlan69 View Post
    Yes it took him two engines haha
    3 actually (including the original)

    To be fair I think a decent quality CAT would've solved it but as Citroen wanted 600€ for one and all the others were cheap crap it had to wait until I found a decent one (Walker) going cheap.

    Engine no.3 passed with flying colours with a remapped ECU, Free flow BMC filter and the new CAT. CAT is now at the back of the garage with the De-Cat back in place until the next MOT (2 years time here in France).