NCT Fail becasue of Co2 Emissions

Funky G

Hi all,

The reliable VW Bora failed this week just only because of the CO2 emissions and was looking for some advice....

The bloke who was testing the car car suggested it could be cambelt, sensors, air flow meter, fuel injector etc...or something else.

The car was due for a service anyway so off the mechanic it went....

A Co2 specialist is on their way - god bless him or her for traveling in this weather to do a check on this.

But also, the mechanic discovered that my car needs a new fan belt - €60, and possibly a new timing belt - €400ish, new brake fluid - all this plus a full service.

In total, i'm looking at a bill of €700 before we even address the Co2 problem to get the car passed - which in itself is another €28 for a re-test.

Anyone had a Co2 problem on a 1.4 2004 petrol VW?

Thanks,

G.

BronsonTB

I used Diptane in my thank when doing the nct with my 98 celica to help with the emmisions test...and it worked...both times....Worth a try at €15 a bottle.

Irish Celica Owners Member - PM for site.

bryaner

Likely it's a faulty lambada sensor.

PaulKK

€400 sounds steep to get a timing belt done by an independent mechanic on that engine.

To fix the emissions problem you will need to get diagnostics done on a code reader with live data.

It could be something simple like a lamda sensor, or it could be something more like the cat.

Funky G

BronsonTB wrote: »

I used Diptane in my thank when doing the nct with my 98 celica to help with the emmisions test...and it worked...both times....Worth a try at €15 a bottle.

Just did a quick google of that - how does it work? do you put put it into the fuel tank?

Funky G

PaulKK wrote: »

€400 sounds steep to get a timing belt done by an independent mechanic on that engine.

To fix the emissions problem you will need to get diagnostics done on a code reader with live data.

It could be something simple like a lamda sensor, or it could be something more like the cat.

Thanks Paul,

I'll rephrase on the mechanic - i bought the car into a local place down the road from me and not my normal mechanic because they were doing a special deal on servicing etc....

Just trying to keep an eye on the pounds and the pennies in these tough times....

I dare not repeat what VW themselves charge just for a simple service....

The timing belt could wait a little longer possibly after Xmas. Any idea what a reasonable price for a timing belt change would cost? (Sorry to go slightly off topic)

BronsonTB

Funky G wrote: »

Just did a quick google of that - how does it work? do you put put it into the fuel tank?

Yes...it mixes in with the fuel....not an expert on how it works as such but have it did the job in practice for me. Local Motor factors should have it.

FYI - Timing belt for caddy van...250 incl labour....

Irish Celica Owners Member - PM for site.

Funky G

BronsonTB wrote: »

Yes...it mixes in with the fuel....not an expert on how it works as such but have it did the job in practice for me. Local Motor factors should have it.

FYI - Timing belt for caddy van...250 incl labour....

Irish Celica Owners Member - PM for site.

Cheers Bronson

Will hold off on the timing belt change for now but will get it done.

Leonard Hofstadter

Just to be technical, the NCT people don't test a car for its CO2 emissions.

They never have done and I would be willing to place a bet on that they won't in the future either.

If they were testing CO2 emissions then it means they are testing fuel economy! That would mean that large engined cars would fail for not being fuel efficient!

It's CO or carbon monoxide that they test, along with the lambda (fuel/air mix) and HC (hydrocarbons)! High CO means the engine is running rich i.e. taking in too much fuel relative to air. The lambda value will confirm this. If it's lower than one then that means there is too much fuel for the given quantity of air entering the engine.

If the CO and lambda values are only slightly out, fuel treatment along with a good thrashing of the engine(ok that's neither realistic nor safe with the current weather) should get the car through.

A good service will help as well:)!

Funky G

Hi all,

Thanks for all your help.

Yeah it was a faulty lambda - and an expensive one at it cost around €300 for the part and the labour!

Bought a bottle of diptane for €10 in the motor factors in Artane so next time i need a fill i'm gonna put this in.

Roll on the re-test. Will keep you's all posted.

G.

Plug

Funky G wrote: »

Hi all,

Thanks for all your help.

Yeah it was a faulty lambda - and an expensive one at it cost around €300 for the part and the labour!

Bought a bottle of diptane for €10 in the motor factors in Artane so next time i need a fill i'm gonna put this in.

Roll on the re-test. Will keep you's all posted.

G.

Main dealer job?

Javiero

eeeeeek 300 smackers
Sensors can be bought spuriously for relatively small money (approx €100 for a bosh 4 wire narrow band)
Its less than 30 mins to fit these to most cars as its a case of disconnecting an electrical plug and screwing the sensor out of the catalytic converter/exhaust manifold.
So 100 or even say 150 for the sensor and 150 for 30 mins work
A well paid mechanic imo

just had a quick search to confirm i'm not fibbing you

http://www.lambdapower.co.uk/partsearch/az2.asp?manu=Volkswagen&model=Bora&model_grouping=Bora&litre=1.4&engine_code=&position=&=GO!

Just dont like people getting messed about like this

bryaner

Javiero wrote: »

eeeeeek 300 smackers
Sensors can be bought spuriously for relatively small money (approx €100 for a bosh 4 wire narrow band)
Its less than 30 mins to fit these to most cars as its a case of disconnecting an electrical plug and screwing the sensor out of the catalytic converter/exhaust manifold.
So 100 or even say 150 for the sensor and 150 for 30 mins work
A well paid mechanic imo

just had a quick search to confirm i'm not fibbing you

http://www.lambdapower.co.uk/partsearch/az2.asp?manu=Volkswagen&model=Bora&model_grouping=Bora&litre=1.4&engine_code=&position=&=GO!

Just dont like people getting messed about like this

+1

And you could try the scrappers..

Funky G

Head is now resting in both palms now while trying to type this............

i'll name and shame - it was Atlas in Baldoyle.

Nevermind.....

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

meemeep

my diesel recently failed for emissions - I brought it back to the garage that had done the pre-test for me - they said that nct "seem" to be doing this a lot lately, and that the emissions were fine. They re-tested anyway, added dipthane etc (had been done already). But one tip they gave me was to drive the car like a boy racer on the way to the test - really rev hard - it clears it all out. So without spending any more money, and having fun along the way, it passed it's retest.

maybe your's in not diesel in which case this post is of no use....but maybe for someone out there....:)

good luck with the re-test.

Funky G

meemeep wrote: »

my diesel recently failed for emissions - I brought it back to the garage that had done the pre-test for me - they said that nct "seem" to be doing this a lot lately, and that the emissions were fine. They re-tested anyway, added dipthane etc (had been done already). But one tip they gave me was to drive the car like a boy racer on the way to the test - really rev hard - it clears it all out. So without spending any more money, and having fun along the way, it passed it's retest.

maybe your's in not diesel in which case this post is of no use....but maybe for someone out there....:)

good luck with the re-test.

Cheers.

Its a 1.4 petrol

Wouldn't pull ye up out of bed!

G.

Funky G

Morning all,

Some good news to report - The car passed the NCT this morning.

Replaced the lambda sensor, a full service and some diptane and it all went well.

But it gave a whack in the wallet dept.

Many thanks to all for your recommendations.


Happy and safe motoring people!

BronsonTB

Glad to hear.....:)

bryaner

Good stuff..