Passing an MOT without cats fitted
Discussion
All my saabs have the cats removed for the performance and fuel economy gains and all pass the emmission tests by miles. Haven't had any problems so far but some MOT stations might insist it has to be fitted to pass. Most performance exhaust suppliers will sell a cat bypass pipe so you can refit the cat for the mot then take it back off again.
Apoliges to the greens for my contribution to global warming...
Apoliges to the greens for my contribution to global warming...
I want an Elise! said:
vixpy1 said:
...Or find a dodgy mot centre who will pass the emissions for an extra 20, because there are plenty about!
Anyone know of any of these..... Not that I'm having the same kind of problem, getting desperate and looking for one, of course....
Due to the potential consequences to the garages that do this, it is naturally something that tends to be available only to customers they know well, and is NEVER advertised.
vixpy1 said:
I want an Elise! said:
vixpy1 said:
...Or find a dodgy mot centre who will pass the emissions for an extra 20, because there are plenty about!
Anyone know of any of these..... Not that I'm having the same kind of problem, getting desperate and looking for one, of course....
Due to the potential consequences to the garages that do this, it is naturally something that tends to be available only to customers they know well, and is NEVER advertised.
vixpy1 said:
I want an Elise! said:
vixpy1 said:
...Or find a dodgy mot centre who will pass the emissions for an extra 20, because there are plenty about!
Anyone know of any of these..... Not that I'm having the same kind of problem, getting desperate and looking for one, of course....
Due to the potential consequences to the garages that do this, it is naturally something that tends to be available only to customers they know well, and is NEVER advertised.
In your "swiss army knife" of mates and contacts, an MOT tester is always a bonus.
He should accompany a good mechanic, a plumber, a builder and a sparky on your trustworthy page of contacts, and it never hurts to get em a beer from time to time.
It is possible for a 1994 car to pass an MOT perfectly legally without cats. Mine did it for 5 years before I left the UK. There is a loophole of sorts that says if the car is not listed on the DVLA database, but is built before 1996 then it only needs to pass the non-cat emissions test. As there were only 14 imported by the manufacturer into the UK, my car doesn't appear on the DVLA list so can get by on a non-cat test.
Well thats how it was explained to me anyway.
Well thats how it was explained to me anyway.
penryar said:
It is possible for a 1994 car to pass an MOT perfectly legally without cats. Mine did it for 5 years before I left the UK. There is a loophole of sorts that says if the car is not listed on the DVLA database, but is built before 1996 then it only needs to pass the non-cat emissions test. As there were only 14 imported by the manufacturer into the UK, my car doesn't appear on the DVLA list so can get by on a non-cat test.
Well thats how it was explained to me anyway.
Well thats how it was explained to me anyway.
sounds about right, same as mine. Although last year (the eighth time I've MOT'd it) the testers at the Nationwide MOT centre decided it was illegal because no cat meant the exhaust system was incomplete and I had to get VOSA to come out and do the test properly. Calorus said:
Technically, if you tack a cat on the end of you backbox (or the stock backbox, if it'll mate up to the system) you will have a cat fitted, as the test centre has to test as presented...
Having a CAT fitted is not a requirement for ANY part of the MOT test.
All you are required to do is pass the emissions test for the age of the ENGINE... can you prove the ENGINE came from a 1990 car for example...
Theres a couple of clues there.
sheepy said:
vixpy1 said:
I want an Elise! said:
vixpy1 said:
...Or find a dodgy mot centre who will pass the emissions for an extra 20, because there are plenty about!
Anyone know of any of these..... Not that I'm having the same kind of problem, getting desperate and looking for one, of course....
Due to the potential consequences to the garages that do this, it is naturally something that tends to be available only to customers they know well, and is NEVER advertised.
That's fair comment ! Sorry, I hadn't thought of it like that - was having a particularly stressful day ! I had to leave the car at home, and WALK!!!
Does anyone know anything about Peugeot 106's with high emmissions ?? Mines a 1.6 8v with 130k on it. No spring chicken I know ! The CO2 is coming in at about 3% and the HC's are up at about 250-300 !!!
It's had a new MAP sensor, new Lambda sensor, new plugs, new oil, all kinds of treatments to the fuel, oil, and bores, I've done all the valve clearances, and there's now a new cat on the way as a last resort !
The rest of the car is fine, it just keeps failing the emmissions !
Help !!!
I want an Elise! said:
sheepy said:
vixpy1 said:
I want an Elise! said:
vixpy1 said:
...Or find a dodgy mot centre who will pass the emissions for an extra 20, because there are plenty about!
Anyone know of any of these..... Not that I'm having the same kind of problem, getting desperate and looking for one, of course....
Due to the potential consequences to the garages that do this, it is naturally something that tends to be available only to customers they know well, and is NEVER advertised.
That's fair comment ! Sorry, I hadn't thought of it like that - was having a particularly stressful day ! I had to leave the car at home, and WALK!!!
Does anyone know anything about Peugeot 106's with high emmissions ?? Mines a 1.6 8v with 130k on it. No spring chicken I know ! The CO2 is coming in at about 3% and the HC's are up at about 250-300 !!!
It's had a new MAP sensor, new Lambda sensor, new plugs, new oil, all kinds of treatments to the fuel, oil, and bores, I've done all the valve clearances, and there's now a new cat on the way as a last resort !
The rest of the car is fine, it just keeps failing the emmissions !
Help !!!
Yes cats work better hot but another tip......
Which I thought to be an urban myth but I have now proved as effective...
Is to put anything electrical 'on' during the emissions test - As quickly as you can switch them.
High beam, hazards, wipers whatever. The tester I use says the trick fools the Lambda sensor into causing a false reading.
Incredible as it may seem I have tried this 3 times now and got a pass every time!
Can any of the PH gurus explain what happens?
Which I thought to be an urban myth but I have now proved as effective...
Is to put anything electrical 'on' during the emissions test - As quickly as you can switch them.
High beam, hazards, wipers whatever. The tester I use says the trick fools the Lambda sensor into causing a false reading.
Incredible as it may seem I have tried this 3 times now and got a pass every time!
Can any of the PH gurus explain what happens?
Thanks for the advice guys !
It seems to be firing just fine - ticks over nicely, goes well - nothing to suggest anything is amiss. Air filter is non standard (one of those BMC cold air feed type jobbies) but I've had it apart and given it a good cleaning.
Last time we tried it, the cat was so hot, you could feel the heat coming off it a foot away from the car ! lol !
Really dont know what to think. Fingers crossed that a new cat does some good !
Failing that (no pun intended!) I'll definately give the electrics a good workout next time its on the machine....
It seems to be firing just fine - ticks over nicely, goes well - nothing to suggest anything is amiss. Air filter is non standard (one of those BMC cold air feed type jobbies) but I've had it apart and given it a good cleaning.
Last time we tried it, the cat was so hot, you could feel the heat coming off it a foot away from the car ! lol !
Really dont know what to think. Fingers crossed that a new cat does some good !
Failing that (no pun intended!) I'll definately give the electrics a good workout next time its on the machine....
Aero_saab said:
Calorus said:
Technically, if you tack a cat on the end of you backbox (or the stock backbox, if it'll mate up to the system) you will have a cat fitted, as the test centre has to test as presented...
Having a CAT fitted is not a requirement for ANY part of the MOT test.
All you are required to do is pass the emissions test for the age of the ENGINE... can you prove the ENGINE came from a 1990 car for example...
Theres a couple of clues there.
Presumably not, however if you have an engine which wasn't in production before 1991 you've not got much to stand on.
52classic said:
Yes cats work better hot but another tip......
Which I thought to be an urban myth but I have now proved as effective...
Is to put anything electrical 'on' during the emissions test - As quickly as you can switch them.
High beam, hazards, wipers whatever. The tester I use says the trick fools the Lambda sensor into causing a false reading.
Incredible as it may seem I have tried this 3 times now and got a pass every time!
Can any of the PH gurus explain what happens?
Which I thought to be an urban myth but I have now proved as effective...
Is to put anything electrical 'on' during the emissions test - As quickly as you can switch them.
High beam, hazards, wipers whatever. The tester I use says the trick fools the Lambda sensor into causing a false reading.
Incredible as it may seem I have tried this 3 times now and got a pass every time!
Can any of the PH gurus explain what happens?
That depends on whether the tester will let you put them on or not and you are not supposed to switch anything on during the cat test anyway
. We do the test so the presenter wouldn't be in the car at the time to switch anything on.Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff