New MOT test May 2018

forgotmyname

Joe_Horner wrote: »

The thinking is probably that the EML is essentially emission related and may catch problems that a static exhaust test can't (misfires under load, disabled EGR in some cases, DPF faults and so on).

Seeing as we're all supposed to be getting really green it makes sense that a light saying "your engine's pumping out stuff it shouldn't" would be a fail.

Of course, whether it really makes sense is another matter.....

The issue is the EML does not tell you about the state of the emissions though, as with the Watchdog case i think the car was only months old and had been back to Citroen several times and was running perfectly.

Similar to having a service light on some vehicles.

MikeWhite

Nobbie1967 wrote: »

Just wire it into the oil pressure light.

Good idea. The other is that if it's reset is normally stays off for a day or two.
I expect kits will appear on ebay soon such that on power on turn onthe light and then extinguish a it....

motorguy

Tarambor wrote: »

I'm glad these changes are being made. They are all avoidable with regular maintenance. This will just remove vehicles from the road which only ever see a garage for a MOT. A properly maintained car wouldn't have any of those as an issue when the MOT is due. The only reason for a car fitted with a DPF to emit smoke is if the DPF has had its guts removed.

All great if you've owned the car from new - what about all the people who buy used cars which either havent been maintained correctly OR have had the DPF gutted but the buyer isnt made aware?

All of a sudden your car could be a "write off" as its going to cost so much to retrofit the functionality the previous owner removed.

EdGasketTheSecond

Tarambor wrote: »

I'm glad these changes are being made. They are all avoidable with regular maintenance. This will just remove vehicles from the road which only ever see a garage for a MOT. A properly maintained car wouldn't have any of those as an issue when the MOT is due. The only reason for a car fitted with a DPF to emit smoke is if the DPF has had its guts removed.

Well you're probably be the only person that's glad. What about the P0420 cat efficiency code always comes up due to over-sensitivity but cars with it pass emissions test fine? Are you going to be happy keep buying new cats when the car doesn't need it just to put a light out?

System

Given I've never had that code, not even on cars a decade and a half old I can only assume that those vehicles actually DO need a new cat or sensor but the owner is hoping for one last MOT out of them.

System

motorguy wrote: »

All great if you've owned the car from new - what about all the people who buy used cars which either havent been maintained correctly OR have had the DPF gutted but the buyer isnt made aware?

All of a sudden your car could be a "write off" as its going to cost so much to retrofit the functionality the previous owner removed.

It doesn't matter a toss whether you owned the car from new or not. It is your legal responsibility to ensure that the vehicle you use on the road is maintained and safe and doesn't kill the population of the local town from what it chucks out of the exhaust as it drives down the road. If you service whatever car you have, whether you bought it new or not, the service will highlight issues which you can get done before the MOT. Hell, almost all of that list you'd have to be blind not to see when you used the car.

As for the DPF being gutted without your knowledge I fail to see how given that when buying the car getting someone to rev it up would show it throwing out smoke which it shouldn't if the DPF filter was working properly so you should have been more vigilant when checking. My car is on 127,000 miles with the original DPF filter. It doesn't put out any smoke when hard accelerating such as when overtaking and I've checked that recently with the wife driving the car and me following.

Gloomendoom

MikeWhite wrote: »

Good idea. The other is that if it's reset is normally stays off for a day or two.
I expect kits will appear on ebay soon such that on power on turn onthe light and then extinguish a it....

Boxes that can do that do exist. Ten years ago, a friend offered me one to "solve" an ABS problem I had.

It might not be so easy with more modern cars though as the dash display, is often a self contained module controlled via the canbus.

almillar

What about the P0420 cat efficiency code always comes up due to over-sensitivity

Ah, I've got this right now, on one exhaust side. Comes on when driving at roughly a steady 60. Reset easily.

Given I've never had that code, not even on cars a decade and a half old I can only assume that those vehicles actually DO need a new cat or sensor but the owner is hoping for one last MOT out of them.

Bit high and mighty. It passed the MOT the other week, with emissions way below the limit. When faced with a £1k bill, would you simply immediately change your cat? Not everything that throws the odd engine light means that a car's immediately a write off! Also a waste of a not quite perfectly good cat. Silly sensors!

System

Why does the cost of a new CAT write a car off? Clearly it or the sensor isn't performing within specification otherwise there'd not be a fault code. Just because it passes a MOT doesn't mean it is within spec. The shockers on my car have done 127k, even though they pass a MOT and they don't allow the tyre to leave the road when it goes over a bump or pothole I doubt they're performing within spec.

Jackmydad

I don't like more rules generally, but the HID lights is a good thing. I drive on country roads at night regularly, and some of the lights are gorily awful.

Now if they'd just enforce the rules about using fog lights. . .