I took my Mk2 Punto (1.2,8V) for it's MOT today and it has failed on the following points:-
1. Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
2. Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
3. Nearside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp
4. Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp
5. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases
6. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive.
Problems 1 and 2 are just new wiper blades. Problems 3 and 4 are I'm told a simple fix of cleaning the contacts on the earth for the rear light cluster as they have some corrosion (the brake lights dim very slightly in time with the indicators when the indicators are on). I'm also told the exhaust issue is minor it just needs the join welding or joining properly.
However it's the emissions issue that looks to be the big problem. The results of this are:-
Fast Idle Test
Engine Speed: Manual Check: Pass
CO: 0.412% : Fail (should be less than 0.3%)
Lambda: 0.996 : Pass
Second Fast Idle Test
Engine Speed: Manual Check: Pass
CO: 0.460% : Fail
Lamda: 0.989 : Pass
Natural Idle Test
Engine Speed: Manual Check : Pass
CO: 0.140% : Pass
The mechanic believes that it needs a new catalytic converter to pass and possibly lambda sensor which I was told will be expensive (as well as the other faults listed).
Does this sound correct? I drove the car fairly hard for 30 minutes before I took it for the MOT as I've heard this helps the emissions. However in this case the mechanic thinks that because it's the catalytic converter it would be better if it was cold as he said the results are worse on the second test indicating the cat is getting worse as it gets hotter.
For now (as the existing MOT has 3 weeks left) he has suggested adding "Cataclean" to the fuel which he told me gives about a 50/50 chance it will reduce the emissions enough for it to pass.
Does anyone know if this sounds likely and have any other suggestions?
According to the service history I have the Catalytic converter and lamda sensor were both replaced in March 2008 to "correct an emissions fault" so I would be surprised if it's failed in 2.5 years as I would expect it to last longer. Car has covered approx 20,000 miles since.
The car is a 2001/Y and has done approx 95,000 miles so probably not worth spending a huge amount on to get it to pass, but if I can solve this emissions issue cheaply I should be able to keep it going for another year
1. Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
2. Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
3. Nearside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp
4. Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp
5. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases
6. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive.
Problems 1 and 2 are just new wiper blades. Problems 3 and 4 are I'm told a simple fix of cleaning the contacts on the earth for the rear light cluster as they have some corrosion (the brake lights dim very slightly in time with the indicators when the indicators are on). I'm also told the exhaust issue is minor it just needs the join welding or joining properly.
However it's the emissions issue that looks to be the big problem. The results of this are:-
Fast Idle Test
Engine Speed: Manual Check: Pass
CO: 0.412% : Fail (should be less than 0.3%)
Lambda: 0.996 : Pass
Second Fast Idle Test
Engine Speed: Manual Check: Pass
CO: 0.460% : Fail
Lamda: 0.989 : Pass
Natural Idle Test
Engine Speed: Manual Check : Pass
CO: 0.140% : Pass
The mechanic believes that it needs a new catalytic converter to pass and possibly lambda sensor which I was told will be expensive (as well as the other faults listed).
Does this sound correct? I drove the car fairly hard for 30 minutes before I took it for the MOT as I've heard this helps the emissions. However in this case the mechanic thinks that because it's the catalytic converter it would be better if it was cold as he said the results are worse on the second test indicating the cat is getting worse as it gets hotter.
For now (as the existing MOT has 3 weeks left) he has suggested adding "Cataclean" to the fuel which he told me gives about a 50/50 chance it will reduce the emissions enough for it to pass.
Does anyone know if this sounds likely and have any other suggestions?
According to the service history I have the Catalytic converter and lamda sensor were both replaced in March 2008 to "correct an emissions fault" so I would be surprised if it's failed in 2.5 years as I would expect it to last longer. Car has covered approx 20,000 miles since.
The car is a 2001/Y and has done approx 95,000 miles so probably not worth spending a huge amount on to get it to pass, but if I can solve this emissions issue cheaply I should be able to keep it going for another year
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