mx-5 does it need a cat?

[swansea v6]

Can anyone shed some light as to whether my 1993 mx-5 import, needs a cat to pass the MOT?? some say yea some say no....................

[steve bowen]

yes needs one, i've a decat on mine but keep the cat for mot time.

[bint]

[quote]Does my vehicle have to be tested?
All petrol-engined class IV vehicles first used on or after 1st August 1992 (i.e., K prefix registrations onwards) will have to go to a catalyst MoT station.

Not all petrol-engined class IV vehicles first used on or after 1st August 1992 had to be fitted with a catalyst. However, the catalyst station will be able to identify whether or not a catalyst should be fitted and apply the appropriate emission tests. Vehicles fitted with catalysts and first used before 1st August 1992 are not subject to the catalyst emissions test.[/quote]

So I'd suggest yes. Do what some *cough* people do, and put the cat on for the MOT and remove after, some stations will do this for you.......

[petros]

As long as your car can pass the emissions test you do not need a cat.

[steve bowen]

it won't though

[robdickinson]

I remember hearing something about a getout clause for imports from 94 back...

[slinky]

IIRC, pre 92 (might be wrong on the year there) cars don't require a cat, and will be tested as pre-cat cars when it comes to MOT time..

There's quite a lot of detail on the MX5OC forum at www.mx5ocforum.co.uk

hth

slinky

[steve bowen]

It'll be tested as with a cat as its a 93 car, the engine code & chassis code will match up so won't be put through as an exemption like some other japanese imports, MR2 notably. There was never a uk MR2 turbo so engine code 3sgte + sw20 doesn't exist so is exempt until '94 when the rules changed and all cars whatever they are have to have a cat test.

[T5SOR]

steve bowen said:

It'll be tested as with a cat as its a 93 car, the engine code & chassis code will match up so won't be put through as an exemption like some other japanese imports, MR2 notably. There was never a uk MR2 turbo so engine code 3sgte + sw20 doesn't exist so is exempt until '94 when the rules changed and all cars whatever they are have to have a cat test.

My 92 MK1 is de-catted and passed 2 MOTs now without any emissions problems


Mike

[steve bowen]

T5SOR said:

steve bowen said:

It'll be tested as with a cat as its a 93 car, the engine code & chassis code will match up so won't be put through as an exemption like some other japanese imports, MR2 notably. There was never a uk MR2 turbo so engine code 3sgte + sw20 doesn't exist so is exempt until '94 when the rules changed and all cars whatever they are have to have a cat test.

My 92 MK1 is de-catted and passed 2 MOTs now without any emissions problems


Mike

er yes just as we'd expect it being a 1992 car, i.e. not a 1993 car. As someone else said 1992 and pre don't need CATs.

[iaint]

steve bowen said:

T5SOR said:

steve bowen said:

It'll be tested as with a cat as its a 93 car, the engine code & chassis code will match up so won't be put through as an exemption like some other japanese imports, MR2 notably. There was never a uk MR2 turbo so engine code 3sgte + sw20 doesn't exist so is exempt until '94 when the rules changed and all cars whatever they are have to have a cat test.

My 92 MK1 is de-catted and passed 2 MOTs now without any emissions problems


Mike

er yes just as we'd expect it being a 1992 car, i.e. not a 1993 car. As someone else said 1992 and pre don't need CATs.

to be pedantic... depends what bit of '92 it's from. If it's before 1-Aug (J-plate) then it doesn't need a cat if it's 1st-Aug or later (K plater) then ti does.

Had an argument with the bloke at my local MoT centre when his computer said my rx7 needed the cat test. No match on the chassis details but the plate came up as neededg the full cat test. DVLAs new computers don;t seem to take the exemption into account!!!

[Beefmeister]

You've just got to go to a 'friendly' MOT tester....

iaint - if you need a sympathetic MOT tester for your Rex i can pass you the name of the one i used in Wickford....

Mine was about double the legal limit on emmissions, but somehow it passed.... Odd....

[turbo-tastic]

My S13 passed now probs (on emissions anyway ) and it was decatted.

It was a K reg 1993 IIRC

As said above I reckon it depends on the station

[Stonehaven]

My 94 supercharged 1.8 Eunos hasn't had a cat for several years and the previous owner got it past tests at several different stations - certificates supplied with car.
MOT is due in Feb, so I will probably find out how it passes (or not) then.
Mark

[mxroadster]

UK cars need a cat from K reg onwards (Aug 92) Roadsters don't show up on the testers lists so are tested as pre-cat cars up to about 1994 (not sure of month when all cars are tested as having cats). You should be fine with a 1993 car without cat if the rest of the car is working properly and the tester knows it's an Eunos Roadster and not an MX-5

MXR

[J.P.W.]

Mine ('94) passed an MOT with a knackered cat due to a "mis-applied" exemption for imports. Sadly, when I got it home to Ireland, it failed its NCT (same sort of thing). I wouldn't count on finding an MOT test station that'll give you the non-cat test though.

[mxroadster]

True, you need to find a station where the tester will do a non-cat test but it's doable....