Exhaust CO after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers limits
Exhaust CO content at idle exceeds default limits
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive
Thinking O2 sensor, engine temp sensor & plugs all need changing & hoping it’s not a new CAT it needs, any thoughts?
Mechanic is going to put it on the computer end of next week and see what it says, but open to input from any on here who might be able to point in the correct direction(s).
You are asking for advice then you tie our hands behind our backs by not informing members of the following.
The CO reading at tickover.
The CO reading at high revs.
The HC reading.
The Lamda reading.
Your profile shows you have a Jasper Conran.
If this is the car you are having issues with.
If my memory serves me correctly that is a MK2 rather than a Mk2.5, therfore is without an ODB2 socket next to the steering wheel.
Can you advise if my assumtion is correct about the lack of ODB2 what type of computer your mechanic will use to interogate the MK2 diagnostics which are not ODB2.
Readings are off the scale - shuts down the machine measuring them.
Yes it’s a MK2 and no OBD port, not sure what/how he’ll interogate the diagnostics, but good mechanics and have worked on MX5’s & one of the guys used to own one a while back, MK2 1.6
Squeezed through MOT last year on emissions and no other history of problems with it, so may be the CAT, he reckons there might be a slight leak up near the manifold but didn’t have time to investigate that full on Saturday.
Taking it back to the mechanic on Friday - I work away so can’t get it to him sooner, MOT expires 15th July (though I reckon legally once this fail is on the system I can’t drive it) so need to get it sorted sooner rather than later.
I’ll wait and see what the outcome is on Friday, can see two on your site £45 & £79 not sure which is which, same from MX5 City is £135 (I think) MX5 Parts none in stock.
Reckon if it’s a new cat then I’ll give you a call & take it from there - might mean leaving car at garage & getting part delivered there & picking it up the following week.
MOT fail will only prevent you driving the car once your current, valid MOT expires. This is the real benefit of using the rules to get the car MOT’d up to a calendar month before current MOT expires as allows maximum time to sort out possible issue whilst still legitimately able to drive the vehicle. Obviously not advisable if a major dangerous fault brought to your attention:-)
That sounds kinda like you were getting the brushoff to me. I’ve never heard of an emissions measuring machine doing that. Without at least the lambda reading we have no idea if your O2 sensor is good or not.
The mechanic who’s obviously VOSA registered said that the MOT test supersedes the current one even if it is still in date so driving it after a fail even if your old one is still “current” is an offense.
But the good news is he added Forte fuel additive gave it a wee run and popped it back on the machine and the emissions all dropped to normal levels - it passed the MOT
Oh and he nearly never charged me for labour for fitting the back box last wekk, till I said the bill was too low and asked if he had he added the cost of that fitting - 1 hrs labour.
If that is correct, a lot of people breaking the law including me on a regular basis. The entire point of MOTing early is to allow time to sort problems out on the car whilst it is still driveable.
I cannot believe this is correct and look forward to some support on this.
I can easily believe that an MOTer may have the right to condemn a vehicle that is very dangerous to drive.
Did not hear back from you on the cat Mike - hopefully the snake oil will work for you:-)
There are lots of people who believe if you only drive the car in your own street without an MOT that is fine as it is not “on the road”.
There are lots of people who will argue that their Dads insurance covers them and many others that think that you have a week or so to get your car taxed and insured as you have not decided if you are keeping the car!!!
If a car fails an MOT test, it has failed the test and it is up to the owner to get it sorted at the testing centre if they do repairs, Council Garages just test cars or the owner has to have the car transported to a place of repair.
If the car is driven after an MOT fail even there is still some of last years test left, the owner is responsible and can be charged for driving an unroadworthy car.
It is up to the owner to decide if the police will stop and charge them and they may think it is a “safe fail” but that is in their own imagination.
There are quite a few people who believe in father Christmas and the tooth fairy too:-)
Driving a dangerous, unroadworthy vehicle is an offence in itself punishable within the law, regardless of MOT status. Anything illegal should obviously be remedied immediately. This is obviously not what I am talking about.
If it is not legal to drive a car which has failed an MOT but still has the remainder of the previous MOT in force, it would be difficult to justify allowing the vehicle to leave said MOT station unless it is on a transporter.
Specifically the section about “Failing the MOT” - near the bottom.
In a nutshell, you CAN still drive your car after a failed early MOT test (i.e. your original MOT is still valid) as long as it still meets the basic minimum standard of roadworthiness.
The only caveat to this is if the early MOT test flags a “dangerous” fault. Then all bets are off and you can’t drive the car.
In the OP’s case a failed emissions test would not be classed as “dangerous” and so he could still drive his car until the expiry of the original MOT, even though the car failed the early test.
Not completely accurate. For example, even after an MOT test PASS, the DRIVER is responsible and could be charged with operating a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition at any point thereafter - even, theoretically, driving away from the test centre clutching their “MOT Pass” certificate…
Not having a valid MOT is an offence, as is operating a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition - however they are not one and the same thing. An MOT pass/fail is an indication of the condition of a vehicle at the time of inspection only. You can have a fully valid MOT in force and the driver be potentially charged with operating a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition (should it be unroadworthy), and equally your car could be deemed roadworthy (as per the minimum standard of roadworthiness), but still not pass an MOT test.
I’m glad this thread has kind of morphed in to a discussion about MOTs, I think that’s a good thing as it’s pulling together information that should be useful to all.
As regards driving something that has failed but still has the MOT in place from the previous test, what is classed as dangerous/unroadworthy? Surely this is partly subjective?
I’d say something with bad emissions is dangerous to the environment so unroadworthy, others would say no it’s still roadworthy its just emissions and it would have to be a major mechanical/structural fault - then begs the question what is major?