Car failed emissions test

Matthew-1985 · 8 Sep 2006 at 07:30

I had my car (97 Ford Escort) MOTed yesterday and it failed on a few things, all cheap apart from the emissions which I was told could be cheap to fix of could cost a lot depending what is wrong.

The main thing is it is giving out a lot of CO. The calues were.

Fast idle test

CO: Limit < 0.30% Vol Actual 5.03% Vol

Second fast idle test

CO: Limit < 0.30% Vol Actual 8.19% Vol

Natural idle test

CO: Limit <0.50% Vol Actual 4.73% Vol

Anyone here know what could be wrong? And would it really be worth doing?

Thanks.

Fishman · 8 Sep 2006 at 07:37

Im no expert but knackered catalyst

dantonkin · 8 Sep 2006 at 07:49

My 1995 1.6 Fiesta Si Failed its emmisions test a few weeks back.

Problem was that the Lambda sensor had been worn to the point it was giving false info to the ECU and using way to much fuel!

Got that replaced and all was sorted.

The sensor for my car costs about £120 from ford.

Hope that helps

Matthew-1985 · 8 Sep 2006 at 08:01

dantonkin said:
My 1995 1.6 Fiesta Si Failed its emmisions test a few weeks back.

Problem was that the Lambda sensor had been worn to the point it was giving false info to the ECU and using way to much fuel!

Got that replaced and all was sorted.

The sensor for my car costs about £120 from ford.

Hope that helps

Mine does seem to use a lot of fuel as well (I think). It's done about 166 miles on 3/4 of a 55 litre tank.

dale1uk · 8 Sep 2006 at 08:21

dantonkin said:
The sensor for my car costs about £120 from ford.

£120 you can get them from places like Halfords or any normal motor store for about £25-£50. I never get parts from main dealers, unless its a main dealer part only, as the price hike is huge :mad:

spike's · 8 Sep 2006 at 08:43

Matthew-1985 said:
Mine does seem to use a lot of fuel as well (I think). It's done about 166 miles on 3/4 of a 55 litre tank.

you either drive with a VERY heavy right foot or somethings wrong.

dantonkin · 8 Sep 2006 at 08:51

Matthew-1985 said:
Mine does seem to use a lot of fuel as well (I think). It's done about 166 miles on 3/4 of a 55 litre tank.

The Lambda Sensor may be the problem then.

Fuel ecomomy has got so much better aswell since I got it sorted.

Cyber-Mav · 8 Sep 2006 at 11:30

could need an oil change or could be air flow sensor giving wrong readings.

D4VE · 8 Sep 2006 at 11:59

Shocking emissions :eek:

Lambda must be nackered, has it been serviced recently?

careful if you buy a cheap lambda sensor - might come with the wrong plug.

Sp00n · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:01

Mine failed last year, they spent 2 days trying to figure out what it was but after changing the lambda sensor, the spark plugs and tweaking the engine a bit they managed to get it down to legal limits.

My car does about 30mpg which is stupidly low for a 1.4

Chronos-X · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:03

Shove a bottle of Redex up it and take it for a rag down your nearest motorway for half an hour - that'll sort her for the test

!

Lopéz · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:03

You can get good used Lambda's cheap enough.

Pop the airbox of and give the MAF sensor wires inside a blast with carburettor cleaner. Then take the car for a real seeing to before the MOT. I mean really spank it hard, cane it as if your life depends on it. When cats get older they need juicing up before they burst into action, and most MOT testers will just gently bring the car to 3k for the test and if it fails it fails.
I worked in a testing station for a while with a friend and if you give most cars a real good blasting first they'll generally pass even with a tired cat.

^^Gord^^ · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:18

Matthew-1985 said:
Mine does seem to use a lot of fuel as well (I think). It's done about 166 miles on 3/4 of a 55 litre tank.

That's like 18mpg!! Your fuel bills must be huge.

D4VE · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:24

Sp00n said:
Mine failed last year, they spent 2 days trying to figure out what it was but after changing the lambda sensor, the spark plugs and tweaking the engine a bit they managed to get it down to legal limits.

My car does about 30mpg which is stupidly low for a 1.4

what car is that mate?

Sp00n · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:35

mk3 golf

Memphis · 8 Sep 2006 at 12:44

So glad mine doesn't need to pass the emissions test (though I'm sure it would). Means I could de-cat it

.

Rich1988 · 8 Sep 2006 at 16:05

Sp00n said:
Mine failed last year, they spent 2 days trying to figure out what it was but after changing the lambda sensor, the spark plugs and tweaking the engine a bit they managed to get it down to legal limits.

My car does about 30mpg which is stupidly low for a 1.4

My 1.4 gets the same

timbob · 8 Sep 2006 at 16:14

Sp00n said:
mk3 golf

Big heavy car, with a relavitely small engine means it's working hard all the time. I got better fuel economy from my 2 litre cavalier than I did from a 1.1 fiesta - purely because you didn't have to cane it to achieve normal every day road speeds.

Scuzi · 8 Sep 2006 at 16:14

Sorry I can't be of help but I have a question for you regarding your MOT yesterday. I also had mine done yesterday and it all passed, but I was told that they could not print a certificate out for me because the whole system had failed throughout the country. This was at about 13:30. I have refused to pay until I get a certificate though.

What time did you get yours done at and was there any mention of a failure of the system? I just want to know if I'm being had or not. Ta

Sone · 8 Sep 2006 at 17:00

Scuzi said:
Sorry I can't be of help but I have a question for you regarding your MOT yesterday. I also had mine done yesterday and it all passed, but I was told that they could not print a certificate out for me because the whole system had failed throughout the country. This was at about 13:30. I have refused to pay until I get a certificate though.

my mother had her polo done yesterday and got a certificate.

edit: she dropped car off at 9am and pickup it up at 5:30 with certificate