Failed mot... Advice please!

[MysteryLemon]

Took the punto for its mot this morning. I expected the worst but even the tester said it was doing really well until it got to the emissions...

So that's it, it's failed on emissions and only emissions...



Now, anything mechanical, I can deal with. Easy peasy. Emissions I have no clue. I don't even really understand how far it's out either.

The tester said there is a slight blow in the exhaust (got an advisory for that) and agreed that would probably account for the lambda reading being out but would affect the rest.

So, sorting the blow in the exhaust should partially sort my problem but what am I supposed to do about the rest?

Last thing I want to do is give it to a garage with a blank cheque to sort it.. What can I do myself?

[kambites]

Well that paper has the limit and the actual value, so your lambda and hydrocarbom readings are close; your carbon monoxide reading is three times the limit.

Does the car have a cat? If so, I suspect it's knackered.

[psummers]

Italian tune up might help

[geeks]

Could be almost anything from crappy oil, dieing spark plugs, head gasket or what i think is most likely.. The cat!

[tr7v8]

When did it last have oil & air filter changed & plugs?

[Fastra]

A can of carb cleaner down the inlet manifold and an Italian tune up?
You might just scrape through.

[MysteryLemon]

Blimey that does seem high then.

So if I were to give it to a garage, would they most likely replace the cat? Any way I can test it?

I gave it a spirited 15 mile run before taking it in so it was fully warmed up etc.

[MysteryLemon]

Oil just changed a few weeks back. Head gasket was also replaced in the summer. Not changed sparks recently or air filter, but that looks ok.

[kambites]

I suspect if you gave it to a garage they'd weld up the exhaust and replace the cat, yes.

Is it a mk1 or a mk2 Punto? The mk1 has a simple cat in the exhaust and is easy to change; on the mk2 it appears to be built into the exhaust manifold.

[HustleRussell]

Fix the exhaust and then take it for a long fast drive, 30 miles+. You could even put some v-power through it to clean the injector(s) up. You should probably change the plugs if they haven't been done with the last service.

[MysteryLemon]

Mk1 sporting 16v. Indeed it is easy to replace, and cheap too

A you can imagine though, last thing I want to do is buy parts that won't fix the problem. But I do agree, seems likely with co2 being so high.

[kambites]

How many free retests will the garage give you?

[geeks]

New plugs, new cat, weld up exhaust and you should be well away then in that case!

[kambites]

I doubt new plugs are necessary - take them out and check them. It's not hard to check their condition and measure the gap.

[Robatr0n]

I had pretty similar readings on a Fiat Tipo 1.4 but I changed the CAT at it flew through emissions. Not suggesting that's definitely your problem but as the other two readings are so close it may well be that?

[jbi]

Seafoam it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRAV5ln5cUc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seafoam-Motor-Treatment-...

and then go for a "spirited" drive

[Krikkit]

With CO2 being that high an Italian tune-up won't help. New cat and a bandage on the exhaust'll see it right.

[MysteryLemon]

Been on the bay and ordered a new cat £45 inc postage and a new cat back system £45 inc postage. I suspect booking into a garage to weld up the exhaust wold have cost around the same and it's less hassle for myself considering I have to take it all off to replace the cat anyway.

Well probs throw some new sparks in anyway as its something I've not got around to.

A for retests, I dunno. It's a council test centre so they don't work themselves. Just the 1 I guess.

[Vince70]

I would be careful buying an exhaust and cat off eBay,
I did this a few years back and it ended up being terrible quality I think the cat was a Brillo pad and the exhaust never fitted properly and it needed bits welded to it to make it fit.
I ended up come mot time taking it to the local kwik fit for another exhaust and cat.

[Justin S]

Vince70 said:

I would be careful buying an exhaust and cat off eBay,
I did this a few years back and it ended up being terrible quality I think the cat was a Brillo pad and the exhaust never fitted properly and it needed bits welded to it to make it fit.
I ended up come mot time taking it to the local kwik fit for another exhaust and cat.

You can be lucky as well. Bought a new cat for my daughters car from a motor factors for £70 for her polo. Just bought a complete system for it for £35 via ebay , although via Eurocarparts.