MOT - Emissions advice please

AliceBanned

Hello all

My 1994 Fiesta failed its MOT last week for the third year in a row on emissions. I took it to a new garage this time (recommended by a friend), and it failed, only on emissions. The mechanic thought it was possibly the cat converter but I pointed out that this was replaced a year ago (I had already shown him its few years' service documents) at the last MOT. He at first suggested I contact the previous garage to look into its warranty, but said if no luck with that he would change it. I am not sure this is what it needs - surely on emissions it could be other things?! I am due to take it back to the garage tomorrow and he is going to put it through the MOT - by sorting out the emissions however is needed. I don't know whether this is my best option; I paid over £250 last year and it looks like a similar amount again, including interim service. He said there is some "exhaust rattle" also but he didn't seem to have a definite cause for the emissions problem. Shouldn't he know?! I would appreciate any advice urgently as it is booked in tomorrow and I might just forget the £50 I paid and go elsewhere.

anewman

Was the catalytic converter a cheap or a genuine one? The cheap ones tend to not last so long. Was there any warranty with the converter?

Do you have the emissions print out? How far away is it from passing? Sometimes taking the car for a long run and giving it a very good thrashing to get it very hot can reduce the emissions.

Are there any obvious differences in the way the car runs? Is the engine noisier? Are you getting noticeably less miles to a tank of petrol?

Sorry, more questions than answers.

HelzBelz

anewman wrote: »

Was the catalytic converter a cheap or a genuine one? The cheap ones tend to not last so long. Was there any warranty with the converter?

Do you have the emissions print out? How far away is it from passing? Sometimes taking the car for a long run and giving it a very good thrashing to get it very hot can reduce the emissions. Within the speed limit of course

Are there any obvious differences in the way the car runs? Is the engine noisier? Are you getting noticeably less miles to a tank of petrol?

Sorry, more questions than answers.

If you're not to far out on the emissions getting the car tuned might work

steveo3002

agreed the cheap cats dont last long

if it wasnt miles out , try taking it for a hard thrash through all the gears and then go straight to the test center

MX5huggy

I belive a 1994 (anything before 1996) does not need a CAT.

custardy

it depends if it came from the factory with a cat
if it did then its emissions requirments will be gauged as such.
they dont actually check for a cat,o if your car made emisions without on then it would pass however its hard for most cars

try whacking in some redex and taking the car for a good long drive working the car fairly hard
then take car stright in for a retest while he cat is nice and hot,they work best hot
when was it last serviced?

AliceBanned

custardy wrote: »

it depends if it came from the factory with a cat
if it did then its emissions requirments will be gauged as such.
they dont actually check for a cat,o if your car made emisions without on then it would pass however its hard for most cars

try whacking in some redex and taking the car for a good long drive working the car fairly hard
then take car stright in for a retest while he cat is nice and hot,they work best hot
when was it last serviced?

Hi and thank you all for replying. It was serviced a year ago at last MOT but I only do under 3000 miles a year so didn't think it needed more than this. I don't have the results to hand, they are at home but I will try and send this through later. If I take it back to the same test centre (where they were due to service it anyway) I can ask them to tune it up and check emissions then, and hopefully it won't need a new cat? I have no idea of the quality of the cat or exhaust. Unfortunately the garage which replaced it under a year ago has gone bust.

AliceBanned

anewman wrote: »

Was the catalytic converter a cheap or a genuine one? The cheap ones tend to not last so long. Was there any warranty with the converter?

Do you have the emissions print out? How far away is it from passing? Sometimes taking the car for a long run and giving it a very good thrashing to get it very hot can reduce the emissions.

Are there any obvious differences in the way the car runs? Is the engine noisier? Are you getting noticeably less miles to a tank of petrol?

Sorry, more questions than answers.

Hi

The car runs as before; it always makes more noise when idling, not sure why. I have only had it for three years so it was obviously already quite old, miles per gallon seems ok and constant.

Thanks

AliceBanned

steveo3002 wrote: »

agreed the cheap cats dont last long

if it wasnt miles out , try taking it for a hard thrash through all the gears and then go straight to the test center

Thanks, but surely if they tested it a week ago and it failed they won't retest it without doing the work first?

steveo3002

they'l usualy test it on your say so ...its your money

did you get a print out of the emissions readings

custardy

low miles means loads of short journeys?
a good run could be all it needs to clear out the cat and unsoot the plugs