Emissions + MOT = :-(

[Gordz]

Basically my query is...

Is there actually any product I can buy, or anything I can generally do that will reduce the emissions of my car??? (temporarily at least)


The reason for this is that about a year ago I had trouble passing the emissions test for the MOT, and just scraped through it after spending a lot of money for garages to mess around with it and still not getting any major reduced emissions . I don't want to go down the garage route again, and I just want something I can pick up from a shop or can just do myself to get me through the MOT tomorrow! I know it's above the level of emissions it should be, as I had a garage test that a few months ago when I took the car for a service.

So... any suggestions?

Cheers.

 

[Dan1.6]

i think redx is supposed to lower it abit

 

[m0rk]

what are the emissions it had last time it was checked?

chucking chemicals in won't fix a hardware failure

 

[Gordz]

i think redx is supposed to lower it abit

Does that stuff actually work though? Or is it all just marketing?

what are the emissions it had last time it was checked?

chucking chemicals in won't fix a hardware failure

I can't remember exact figures, but it was just over what it should be to pass MOT. It's had lots of hardware stuff changed and sensors checked and changed and bits and pieces checked and double checked. Garages I've been to have all said the same that if they had the car for a while and pretty much stripped it they could find out what it is, but that it'd cost a fortune in labour costs and it's not guaranteed that they'd find anything.
So i'm hoping that using some kind of additive or something could help? Atleast in the short term anyway!

 

[artemis_1991]

Additives shouldn't really help, theyre mostly marketing crap, can't really say for sure though. Before you take it for MOT give it a good hard drive to get the Cat. nice and hot, also it probably is worth checking if it is a hardwear failure although that isn't really going to be possible before tomorrow I'd imagine.

 

[Gordz]

Additives shouldn't really help, theyre mostly marketing crap, can't really say for sure though. Before you take it for MOT give it a good hard drive to get the Cat. nice and hot, also it probably is worth checking if it is a hardwear failure although that isn't really going to be possible before tomorrow I'd imagine.

Yeah, MOT is at 8.30am tomorrow which isn't good, especially when we've had ice around here in the mornings, will have to be up nice and early to get the old girl warmed up!
I did drive back from Bangor to Chester at about midnight last night though, so gave it a right thrashing, 1.) because not done that for aaaaaaaaaaages and 2.) apparently revvin the bollocks off a car now and again can actually do the engine some good in getting the rubbish deposits and stuff from bottom of engine out. God knows if that's true or not, but sure was fun!

 

[rogers]

just take it for a good spin and drive straight into the bay and get him to put the probe straight in the back if u cant pass like like sumthing is wrong

 

[mr_D]

take the car for a good killing on some shell v power and then take it in and get emissions done straight away. should help a little. can add some redex if you want

 

[mr_D]

us welsh boys know how to do it see.

i should of read the whole thread before i posted. as i kinda just doubled what rogers said. lol. ooops

 

[M1KEH]

Sounds like you need a new coolant temperature sensor, your chucking in too much fuel making the emissions miles out, or the cats been killed at some point.

 

[Gordz]

just take it for a good spin and drive straight into the bay and get him to put the probe straight in the back if u cant pass like like sumthing is wrong

take the car for a good killing on some shell v power and then take it in and get emissions done straight away. should help a little. can add some redex if you want

Think that sounds like a good idea, gonna be up bright and early and drive it around for a bit before MOT.
Just bought this Wynn's stuff which apparently is made just for what I need it for, a temporary fix to remove emissions prior to MOT testing. I've used Wynn's stuff before and seems to work, so fingers crossed!!!

Sounds like you need a new coolant temperature sensor, your chucking in too much fuel making the emissions miles out, or the cats been killed at some point.

It does sometimes feel like the car is using too much fuel actually, my MPG is shocking. I'm lucky if I reach 300miles from 1 tank driving sensibly. Driving with a heavy foot I get around 250miles!
It's definitley not the cat though, as it had a new one done when I was trying to get it sorted to pass MOT last year!

 

[M1KEH]

My moneys on a dodgy coolant temperature sensor.

 

[Gordz]

My moneys on a dodgy coolant temperature sensor.

Is it quite an easy thing to miss when these go wrong? Just wondering why garages haven't noticed it if it is the coolant temp sensor that's gone!

 

[m0rk]

probably because they're useless?

ie - are they guessing, or have they used vag-com? Not some handheld tool.

You need to know what the figures are, as it's easier to narrow down.

 

[M1KEH]

Im with m0rk on this unless youv'e gone to a Vag specialist or a main dealer they won't have vag com'd it to work it out, and if its reading say -20c the car will still run just overfuel a load. Mine was reading -54 and still ran, did use alot of fuel though.

 

[Gordz]

Well in total I've been to 3 garages about it last year, and 1 was an audi performance specialist, so I assume that they should have tested it with VAG com, the other garages just used standard computer type things, didn't mention VAG com. They did all come up with the same error code though (can't remember what it was now), but apparently the error meant there was a slight electrical fault, that wasn't worth having a look at because it would mean they'd have had to strip my whole car to find it! And because all three garages said similar type things I assumed that was that.
After MOT (fingers crossed it passes) I'll find a garage that definiley uses VAG com and get the exact code, and get them to look at coolant temp sensor.

 

[Dan1.6]

you can tell if its the sensor because of the gague barley moves and on a long drive down the motorway ya car will start blowing cold through the heaters mine does this

 

[m0rk]

no, that's not right.

There is an ECU water temp sensor, and a display one.

dannaz, it sounds like your thermostat is stuck open.....

 

[Dan1.6]

i didn't know there was two

yeah i need to get it sorted

 

[mr_D]

get someone on here to do it. someone who is close to you