As expected - NCT fail

[optical illusion]

Epic fail in fact. Bad enough to be creating my own hole in the ozone layer.

God almighty, I'll have to eat lettuce for the next while to afford this. Are camskill really the cheapest for parts?

Kace - you mention you got a cheap lambda sensor on ebay for E20, could you send me the link? Anyway, here are my results:

Low idle:

CO 3.01 vol % - FAIL (above 0.5)
HC 329ppm - PASS (above 0)

High idle:

lambda: 0.82 - FAIL (between 0.97 and 1.03) TOO LOW!!!
CO 6.50 vol % - FAIL (above 0.3)
HC 245ppm - FAIL (above 200)

So basically we are looking at, new cat, new O2 sensor, tps sensor...?

Does anyone have a loan of a cat that passed recently?

[Sebastian]

Who got that new CAT for around 150 eur of a site recently ? you can try that

[optical illusion]

Hmmm... I dunno... show yourselves!

[gt94]

johntony and fatboy got them off this site i think

http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk

[CJ]

Very high CO levels, the engine is getting too much fuel (hows your fuel economy?) if you ask me. I wouldn't expect to see such high levels on an decatted FTO in full working order. Replace the lambda (universal, 4-wire off ebay)and take it from there....

CJ

[johntony]

yeah them cats work a treat took a while to heat up

[ek9]

I have one of those lambda sensors. Think it was 26 off ebay, You can have it for 20 if you want. I never fitted it as my emission problems were just from a dodgy backbox and it's passed that part of the nct now.

[optical illusion]

You have PM

Thanks CJ, not great, but only recently, in fact, since my exhaust started sounding louder....

[optical illusion]

I wonder is going for the NCT again the only way of knowing if the new lambda is working?

Was a b1tch of a job fitting the universal, well Derek nearly hopped it off the wall

Wish me luck again on Thurs 8.45!!

[Kace]

Why was it a b1tch of a job then, it just needs to be unscrewed and 4 wires connected ? Was it seized up and difficult to unscrew ?

[optical illusion]

Yes, and very small space to manoeuvre in + feelings of claustrophobia = angry derek

[Muad_dib77]

Fingers crossed!

[optical illusion]

Wtf like, failed AGAIN!! EXACT same reading second time round?!?

Brand new cat and lambda gone into it!! What do I do now??

Does anyone have Paul Nolans number and does he work Saturdays?

[CJ]

Undertake a diagnostic to see if any sensors are out (esp. TPS), those figures are well high, somethings not right. Did you drive the bejaysus out of the car pre-test?

Pauls no. is 086 2649884, he doesn't work Saturdays.

CJ

[Kace]

I seem to recall that a failed coolant temperature sensor was the third item that could lead to high emissions.

I bought one of these from Camskill but never fitted as the lambda solved my issue.

[optical illusion]

Undertake a diagnostic to see if any sensors are out (esp. TPS), those figures are well high, somethings not right. Did you drive the bejaysus out of the car pre-test?

Pauls no. is 086 2649884, he doesn't work Saturdays.

CJ

I did, it hurt my ears, Diputane again too.

Darn.

If this was it Kace would you be willing to sell?

[Kace]

Yes - I still have it fresh in the box and can sell to you as it's definitely one of the things to change for emissions based problems.

You should probably swap back out that CAT and sell it on again after the NCT to recoup some of your cash, given that there is probably nothing wrong with your old one.

I have an idea - how about we all chip in a few quid to the Club Donations bucket and we buy this new CAT from you. Anyone then that needs to use it for NCTs has a nice brand new one to install and de-install afterwards.

Just a suggestion

[colm_mcm]

hmmmm.... the last time I lent a cat to someone it came back without its temp sensor and with the bolts cross threaded

Haven't seen saiD user on here in A loNg time

[optical illusion]

Oh guys, I don't know what to do, I'm at my wits end.

Diagnostics showing absolutely nothing...

[CJ]

Swap the coolant temp sensor and head down to a local mechanic for an emissions check. If its still dumping out high levels then its plan B time...

CJ

[optical illusion]

PM sent to Kace.

Thanks CJ, plan B sounds scary...

[CJ]

plan B sounds scary...

I reckon plan B should entail getting a good mechanic on board to troubleshoot further, cross that bridge when the times comes. You'll get it sorted in the end

In the mean time, have a read of this article, its US focused but is an interesting read nonetheless in terms of discussing potential causes of elevated emissions.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/2000/ic60032.htm

CJ

[optical illusion]

Good news folks, changing the coolant temperature sensor did the trick! Big shout out to Kace who so kindly and promptly sent it to me, and to the octaner that tested it for me today (everyplace in Limerick was quoting me €68 for emissions testing!)

Note to self and others: Buy a CTS, fit and test first before buying a new cat and lambda.

Test again 29 Aug but should be fine!

[Kace]

You're welcome - glad to hear that this seems to have sorted the problem. I haven't read a thread yet where 1 of the items you mention (Lambda, Cat, CTS) hasn't sorted out an emissions problem. Only problem is it's hard to work out which one is actually causing the problem.

[optical illusion]

FINALLY! Third time lucky, it passed, good for another 2 years.

Just barely mind you, they did try their best. Failed first 2 tests, but I reckon it's because it was so busy the car wasn't seen for half and hour so cat had cooled down.