[Mk2] [NA] Need a CAT to pass an MOT!

[dan9]

My 1992 UK car just failed on emissions for the first time ever.

It is fitted with a Mongoose exhaust and decat pipe.

Unfortunately, since it was first registered AFTER August 1992, I think it does need a CAT (please correct me if I'm wrong) so I'm probably not going to get anywhere arguing with my MOT tester.

Does anyone have a CAT for an N/A exhaust that I can borrow for my MOT test?! Seems daft to buy one for £160ish!

Or alternatively, would anyone like to swap a cat for my decat section?

Cheers,

Dan.

[MR!! wren]

where in hampshire are you?

[dan9]

I'm in Winchester, just off junction 11 of the M3. I'm happy to travel to do a swap/borrow though!

I'm not too worried about performance, so if anyone would like to do a permanent swap of their cat for my mongoose stainless decat pipe, let me know!

[MR!! wren]

ah, well i'm in newbury, so a bit of a trek just to borrow it, can't do a permenant swap for same reason i'm afraid

[hoagy5]

You don't need a cat, you just need to have low enough emissions to pass the cat test (this requires lower emissions than the non cat test) Try it again with high octane petrol and wynns fuel system cleaner in the tank. Should get your emissions down low enough.

[fearless]

my uk 92 plate passed with a decat pipe said i didnt need a cat was well chuffed

[dan9]

My 1992 car was first registered after august, so it needs a cat. Emissions were way over the limits for the cat test, so I don't think a tank of vmax is going to do the job

[Rob]

I have one you can keep from my old '93 engine. The internals look ok, the casing is pretty rusty but with plenty of paste around some new fire ring gaskets it should be ok. I don't want anything for it, but at the same time I cant guarantee how good it is.

I work in Basingstoke, so if you want to collect one day its all yours.

On a side note, it could be your o2 sensor which has gone.

Rob

[dan9]

Thanks for the offer Rob - I'll PM you about collection.

Doubt it's the O2 sensor - replaced it a few months ago - although I suppose it might have failed...

[MR!! wren]

what did it fail on? i.e. too much HC, co etc?

[dan9]

The VT30 says:

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive [7.3.2c]

CO then, but not sure what causes it...

[MR!! wren]

carbon monoxide is not enough oxygen, so too rich i'd guess, could well be down to your lambda sensor as it's at idle. it should really pass the idle test with ease without a cat

[dan9]

Hmmm... the car has been smelling a bit fuelly recently... perhaps my O2 sensor has died after all.

This could get expensive again!

[nikaiyo]

Hello mate, who has done your MOT? The best place is Serco in Bar End, they don’t do repairs, just the test so there is no incentive for them to find problems.

I had an old Laguna MOT'd by Best Autos in Winnall- £600.00 failure, Serco re-tested it same day- Pass with 1 advisory!

Just had Millway replace my Lambada Sensor, with genuine Toyota part whilst I waited for about £180 or so, so not to bad really.

[dan9]

Car is definately over-fuelling, will have to check the lambda connections - might need a replacement sensor (existing one is less than a year old).

Even so, doubt I'll meet emissions requirements without a cat...

[nikaiyo]

Is year old sensor Toyota or pattern?
Apparently the pattern ones are crap and dont last for long at all!

[dan9]

It was a sensor from justlambda - worked a treat for a while!

[ci_newman]

I've got a rev3 N/A CAT sitting in my shed if you want to borrow it. Just like the one mentioned above, it's looking a little rusted but it got my N/A through it's MOT just before I had the tubby engine fitted over Xmas.

I working Reading and live in Basingstoke

[MR!! wren]

if the lambda sensors failed it wont pass even with a cat, it could even damage the cat. it should pass fine without a cat if everythings running ok.

work in reading THEN have to go home to basingstoke!! you poor man

[dan9]

Noticed today that the throttle-stop screw has been sheared off - so now I need to drill out the leftovers just to get the car to idle properly! Could have been the MOT testers, but no evidence...

I've taken the car off the road for a while (I have a spare car at the moment!) so that I can repair the exhaust (with or without a cat), check the lambda sensor, fix the throttle body and I'm also thinking of fitting some polybushes to replace the worn standard items. It will be worth it!