emissions too high HELP!

[TigraPete]

Emissions too high HELP! I WILL PAY!?
I drive a 1997 Vauxhall Tigra, its ridiculously modified but I dont think this is the problem, I keep trying to put it through its MOT and the emissions don't seem to change. Can anyone suggest ideas?

The boring stuff:
Its a 1.6 16V Injection
A Brand new Catalytic Converter for the MOT before it was Cat-less.


Emissions Test read:

Fast Idle Test:
RPM - not checked
Max Limit Actual Value
CO 0.300 0.405
HC 200 79
Lambda 1.030 1.016

Second Fast Idle Test:

RPM - not checked
Max Limit Actual Value
CO 0.300 0.353
HC 200 84
Lambda 1.030 1.003

Natural Idle Test
Max Limit Actual Value
CO 0.500 0.206



So i changed the Lambda Sensor:


A Brand new Lambda Sensor

Then the Emissions Test read:

Fast Idle Test:
RPM - not checked
Max Limit Actual Value
CO 0.300 0.421
HC 200 83
Lambda 1.030 1.016

Second Fast Idle:
RPM - not checked
Max Limit Actual Value
CO 0.300 0.463
HC 200 120
Lambda 1.030 1.026

Natural Idle Test:
Max Limit Actual Value
CO 0.500 0.499

So I tried putting £15 of Shell V-Power and £15 Unleaded in it then some emissions reducer in it that I got from the car shop and ran the car in 3rd at 60mph (5000 RPM) for like 10 mins before the test and the guy says it still hasn't changed...
Does anyone have any ideas what I can do as I need my car for work and have no MOT on it now.

Thank you in advance, Peter.

[Steve Evil]

Your problem appears to be that it has been ridiculously modified.

[Defcon5]

Did you put a VX lambda in or a 3rd party one? It seems to have made things worse!

Could you please list any engine mods, may give us more to go on.

[jagracer]

Try taking the air filer out if it has one.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

It's running rich and probably burning a big hole in your pocket at the fuel pump.
You haven't stuck an eBay powah!!!1111!! mod 'chip' on it have you

Air intake and engine temp sensors all present and correct?
Any ECU errors reported?

[TigraPete]

I dont know anyhting about the car, I just bought it like this, it used to have a 1.4 engine in it now has this, its got a Dbilas dynamic air intake manifold and piper cross air intake with a cone filter (should i take off the filter and see if this helps?

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Defcon5 said:

Did you put a VX lambda in or a 3rd party one? It seems to have made things worse!

Could you please list any engine mods, may give us more to go on.

His idle readings are all to cock...the lambda sensor isn't used at idle.

[Defcon5]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

It's running rich and probably burning a big hole in your pocket at the fuel pump.
You haven't stuck an eBay powah!!!1111!! mod 'chip' on it have you

If it were running rich wouldnt the HC be high?

[TigraPete]

Its draining me at the pump but I've never been sure if its that its a 1.6 as I used to drive a little 1.2 8v Clio...

[redstu]

Run it low on fuel and put in some ethanol or methanol, that will reduce the co , and as mentioned it's running rich which is keeping the hc high.

[TigraPete]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

It's running rich and probably burning a big hole in your pocket at the fuel pump.
You haven't stuck an eBay powah!!!1111!! mod 'chip' on it have you

Air intake and engine temp sensors all present and correct?
Any ECU errors reported?

Havn't chipped it at all or re-mapped. And as far as i know its sensors are all fine and ive not had any errors?

[Defcon5]

So there are no engine mods at all?

[TigraPete]

redstu said:

Run it low on fuel and put in some ethanol or methanol, that will reduce the co , and as mentioned it's running rich which is keeping the hc high.

Where can I get this I'm not good with cars.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Defcon5 said:

If it were running rich wouldnt the HC be high?

They are high!

[Defcon5]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

They are high!

Its at 80, out of a limit of 200?

[TigraPete]

so, i just has someone tell me to take off the air filter completely and that will add more air in there? :S i thought the computer would just respond by adding more fuel which is my problem already?

[jagracer]

TigraPete said:

so, i just has someone tell me to take off the air filter completely and that will add more air in there? :S i thought the computer would just respond by adding more fuel which is my problem already?

Possibly, but it's a cheap try.

[TigraPete]

The HC hasn't failed just the CO % volume that it has failed on and this is stopping it completing its MOT, I NEED the car for work as I do a lot of driving and with the bank holidays, Sat is the last chance I have to get an MOT before next week, as stated before, after it failed the second time (adding a new Lambda sensor) I added £15 v power and £15 normal unleaded to a near empty tank and put a bottle of "wynn's Clean Burn Emissions Reducer" in it and warmed the car up before the MOT yet the emissions didn't change...

Could it be a computer problem? (as no change after adding emission reducer, heating up the engine and adding a new lambda sensor)

Edited by TigraPete on Thursday 28th April 16:15

[redstu]

Sorry misread the hc values.
Meths can be bough at hardware and diy stores.
My old 528i used to fail it's co, putting about 500ml meths in the tank with 5 l of fuel would bring it back in limits.
Using a high ethanol biofuel should do the same as it burns cleaner and will be underfueled.
However meths and possibly ethanol is not good for rubber pipes and metal fuel tank coatings so there are some downsides.

[Triumph Man]

Tried an Italian tune-up?