HELP! Car failed MOT today on emissions

[Timmyboy]

First MOT today. Car has a turbo back piper exhaust with 200 CEL cat fitted, but failed the MOT on emissions - roughly double the pass mark

Anyone been in this situation and can offer any advice?

I'm assuming this is down to the sports cat in the downpipe. I don't have the original exhaust so swapping is out. Phoned Piper for advice, they only open business hours.

Is there anything else that could cause this other than a defective cat? The MOT chap said all other readings looked fine and he gave it a load of revs for a load of minutes beforehand.

It's currently running Bluefin stage2+ software - would changing back to standard have any effect, or am I going to have to bite the bullet and put something resembling a standard CAT back on the car?

Thanks in advance.

[Hedge]

I would try running it with normal settings Timmy, at least you would know if it was the map or cat then.

[Timmyboy]

Yes that does seem a sensible place to start - I've got no way of measuring unfortunately but I'm sure a local garage would just measure the emissions rather than heading back and forking over for the re-test.

[Janner_Sy]

i think it could be an overfueling thing tbh, it would also explain why your car didnt do as well as expected when you went to stage 2+. is there anyway you could get somone to kog the fueling on your car.

I cant see it being your exhaust unless as i said on briskoda you have a 100 cel cat on your downpipe instead.

I agree with what Ian said.  Flash the car back to standard and just get him to redo the emissions. he shouldnt charge you for the full mot.  its definately not worth doing anything until you can ensure it is not the map causing the issues. 

if no luck with any of that i say try MAF, MAP and lambda sensors(some logging would help there)

[Timmyboy]

I'm fairly sure it's a 200CEL rather than 100 as all the downpipes made by Piper have 200 CEL cats in them.

I can do a log run into the Bluefin handset - does that give anything useful I could post up or is it truly a poor man's VAG-COM?

It gives:

RPM,
Calculated Load,
Engine Coolant Temp,
Intake Air Temp,
Vehicle Speed,
Intake Air Flow,
Pedal Position,
Ignition Advance,
Lambda,
Inlet Manifold Pressure (Boost)

over a 3 minute period.

[Hedge]

Lambda would tell you if it is too rich or not so might be worth a bash.

[robern2]

Hi Timmy,
was your car down at streetwise this morning ?
if so I'm pretty sure the cat was 200 when I was snooping underneath.

Car and exhaust need a damn good clean 

[Timmyboy]

Lol, yes that was me :)

In my defence, that car was spotless last week after a full on cleaning session - the horrific state of the car this morning is what one week's worth of commuting to Swindon does for you.

Mitch said he had an Ed30 due in - that was you then?

I just took the car out for a logging session and I don't think it has worked - there's some info at the beginng of the file but it then just has a load of '-1' figures in it - the figures on the Bluefin handset didn't seem to be changing either so think it may have hung (tried it twice).

Another win for Bluefin. If anyone PMs me their email address I can send the CSV, don't think I can attach it here.

[robern2]

yup, it was me.
Mitch was tweaking my settings due to the battery disconnect when I had my clutch fitted yesterday.

[Timmyboy]

Thanks all for the input - it was indeed a faulty CAT.

Bought a new Pipewerx downpipe and cat, MOT now sorted :)

[Janner_Sy]

good to see its sorted mate. my pipewerx is off the car as of next week mate. you could have had that

[Timmyboy]

Thanks buddy - MOT was nearly due so didn't want to be running without it for any period of time, appreciate the offer though. Did you get my PM about the arbs etc?

[Janner_Sy]

Thanks buddy - MOT was nearly due so didn't want to be running without it for any period of time, appreciate the offer though. Did you get my PM about the arbs etc?

no mate i didnt.  ben(shark_90 hasalready dibbed my arbs and walk mate. ill keep you in mind if he bails out

[Timmyboy]

Ahh, the swine!

Ok no worries :)

[Hedge]

no mate i didnt.  ben(shark_90 hasalready dibbed my arbs and walk mate. ill keep you in mind if he bails out

Shark by name...

@ Timmy - glad to hear you are sorted now.