Fiat Brava Exhaust Emissions / NCT Advice

musicinmouth

Hi,

My father has a Fiat Brava which he has not been able to drive for quite a few months now, since it failed the NCT test. The car just failed the exhaust emissions section of the test: High Idle (2870 rpm), CO 0.65 vol%, above .3%, fail.

The Fiat garage are unsure as to what exactly might fix the problem and are reluctant to advise which component should be bought (at conisderable expense - about 600 or 700 euro) to fix the problem as they are unsure as to exactly what is causing the problem.

I am hoping that somebody here, with a better knowledge of cars than us, might be able to offer some advice on how we can overcome this problem and pass the NCT test as soon as possible without spending lots of money on various components to try to get it to work.

Thank you!! I really appreciate any advice you might be able to offer.

Dirty_Diesel

Generally, high emissions would be one of two things; lambda sensor or the catalyser. However, the main dealer should be able to read the lambda signals to see if they are faulty???

musicinmouth

Thank you. They had mentioned the catalyser, but that they weren't sure if it was definitely causing the problem. They said it's expensive to get, so they were waiting to see if they could get the right one from another car just to test it, but they've been waiting for months. They didn't mention the lambda sensor, so we will ask them about that the next time. Thanks again.

Big Tone

musicinmouth wrote: »

Thank you. They had mentioned the catalyser, but that they weren't sure if it was definitely causing the problem. They said it's expensive to get, so they were waiting to see if they could get the right one from another car just to test it, but they've been waiting for months. They didn't mention the lambda sensor, so we will ask them about that the next time. Thanks again.

Did you have an emisions test first?

Mr.Diagnostic

Shocked and stunned

Its kinda refreshing to hear of a main dealer (or any garage) admitting they don’t know something.

The best advice I can give you is as follows. Nobody can diagnose the problem based on what you have posted so you need to have the car looked at by someone who knows what they are doing.

Sorry that’s not much help but it’s the best I can do. Maybe some members can point you in the direction of a good diagnostic specialist.

Good luck with it.

z323791

My Fiat Brava 1.2 1999 Petrol was parked for ages and failed on all Emissions test include Lamda sensor in MOT

Solutions:
I have changed Engine Oil, Oil filter, Air filter

Results

car passed on Lamda sensor only but fail on all other emissions tests

Advise

I been advise to change CAT but as I can see under my car I have whole new exhaust

Next Step I am going to take:

I am thinking about changing spark plugs existing one looks new but changing them may effect on reading

or

I am thinking about buying new CAT

What I am looking for:

Before I change either of them and take it for MOT retest again I want to know my change has solve the problem because every retest will cost me £50 now

Is there any one know where can I find OBDII 16 pin socket on this car or is there any other way i can find out that what I am doing is taking effect

Thanks for your time reading

helimachoptor

Op cut your losses, I have a brava aswell a few years ago. Brought it too the NCT and failed for emissions. A mate is a mechanic and changed the cat it passed on his machine that day but failed the NCT the next day.

He replaced the cat and lamda sensor and it again passed on his machine and failed on the NCT that evening!!

Basically the car was burning oil and clogging up everything, traded it in but i really miss it!

z323791

if you think its burning oil how can we stop it to burn oil