Pass Emissions for MOT ?

Fran

My car has failed on emissions, I've been told by different people exhaust (had that checked - ok), the censor (one said he had looked at that) and if not I'm now advised to get the electrics looked at - engine management, if not could be the cat.

When it failed the reading was quite high, I had an oil and air filter change (haven't done anything else) and (but according to a different garage) the level has only just failed.

Is there anything I can do to get the levels down? Would giving everything a clean under the bonnet help?

I was also told that I should run it before taking the test again - would a trip up the motorway or dual carriageway be enough to bring it up to a pass if I did that just before taking it for the re-test (if it really is that marginal).

MarkyMarkD

Giving it a good hard run may well help. Even better you can get additives which you put in the petrol which will clean things up - add them before you go for the blast up the m/way or dual carriageway.

And watch out for speed limit compliance

Can't remember the name of the additives but somewhere like a motoring accessory shop/garage/Halfords would have it.

Fran

Thanks I'll try that. Hope it passes though. ::)

[Deleted User]

My insurance man's car failed on emissions. The Rover dealer said £500 for a new engine, a local mobile engine tuner fixed it for £50!

zain

How old is your car? & model?
Mine failed last month and is only 3 years old. I payed £40 to get the sensors cleaned and used some cataclean ( i think it was called that) and took it for a good run on the nearest motorway. This solved it.

skiddy2k

do you have a bluish or black coloured exhaust fumes? when you accelerate?

try looking when your car is stationary, stand outside car, put foot on pedal.

Paparika

Mine failed the emissions too, then again they broke my handbrake and denied it on Thursday... so i don't know if i believe them.

I paid another £50 odd pounds to have the something done that probably would of cost me a £5 to do my self but it passed 2nd time

taxi97w

After the 3 years warranty ran out on my car, I took it to the main dealer for it's MOT. Dealer said it had failed and said it would cost over 200 for a new cat. I was livid and said give me the keys, I'm otta here. After trying to get me to see sense, which I wouldn't, they said they would hook up another car (same model as mine) to the testing apparatus and get it passed, which they did! Didn't cost me owt.
The next year took it to the council testing centre cause I thought the main dealer from last year was trying it on. Council said it had failed, so asked me to take it for a long run and bring it back where they would test it again. Brought it back, it failed, I went all "Oh, no really, it's such a young car, this can't be happening". They also rigged up the apparatus in the end, and passed me.
The year after that, took it in for a small service first and it passed OK. So much for the new cat!!
Didn't do anything to it this year, just to see what would happen this time, it passed completely.
What do I think of all this? Some'll try to scam you, others will try to scam the system to help you.

kaisersoze_2

Mine failed, so the garage gave me some cleaner to put through the enginge (free of charge) and told me to give it a good run. Took it back an hour later, passed first time and didnt charge me anything extra. Not bad on a 10 year old car.

The_Pedant

A new cat does seem somewhat extreme. Last time my car failed on emissions, the garage themselves drove it around the block to pass it. It just needed a little warming up properly (I'm only a mile from the garage). Thankfully they did all this without even bothering me.

Everyone I have known who's failed emissions, has subsequently passed when driven round the block or retested (on the same or sometimes another test rig).

You might want to have a word with friends/colleagues in the area, to see if they have anyone they can recommend for next time.

Paparika

The_Pedant wrote: »

A new cat does seem somewhat extreme. Last time my car failed on emissions, the garage themselves drove it around the block to pass it. It just needed a little warming up properly (I'm only a mile from the garage). Thankfully they did all this without even bothering me.

Everyone I have known who's failed emissions, has subsequently passed when driven round the block or retested (on the same or sometimes another test rig).

You might want to have a word with friends/colleagues in the area, to see if they have anyone they can recommend for next time.

Wish mine had done that for me, although now i know never to take the car to the garage first thing in the morning now, i live right by a motorway so will run it on that first, oh and not to go back the the same garage who did it last week