Pleasantville Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 My R500 sailed throught its first MOT, EXEPT for being way out on emissions. Anyone had similar problems or got any suggestions? Or do I just look for a more lenient (sensible) garage? I suggested sticking the sensor up the exhaust of the car in the next bay, but that was not seen as being a good idea! Help.....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino ferrana Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Have you got the cat back on? Taking it for a decent long blat first will helo as you will get the Cat nice and hot and make it work better. Then find a decent seven friendly garage who knows not to push the sensor in too far or it will burn the probe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleasantville Posted March 25, 2004 Author Share Posted March 25, 2004 Yep, CAT on (always on in fact) and car had been run beforehand. Apparently the ECU is set way out and they are talking about having to re-map it to get through MOT! I really want to avoid that it I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Do you mean Caterham will re-map it? If so it probably means they'll give you a suitable map which will get you through the MOT. You can then re-load the old "driver friendly" map until you have to go through the same game in 12 months time again. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conorkaby Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Please explain...I have a 1998 1.6K Superlight which according to my local MOT station in Bedford is exempt from the emissions check. Although it was a factory built car the requirement does not apply according to the mechanic. Is this correct or will I face problems in the future if I take the car to a different MOT station? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleasantville Posted March 25, 2004 Author Share Posted March 25, 2004 Garage is currently talking to Caterham and waiting for "instructions" they have promised. Will advise outcome as soon as I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Beaumont Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Conorkaby - I think you've got a particularly lenient or misinformed tester there. AFAIK all factory built K cars should face the emissions test, and since closing the loophole, self built ones too I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAUL MARRIOTT Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Any K series prior to 1/8/98 is exempt, see FAQs. Get an Emerald and two maps if you are younger. Paul M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian F Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 My car (2000 1.8K S/S) failed last week also but only on the lambda setting, otherwise it was seen as running too clean!! I have an appointment with CC tomorow, they are checking whether or not its a dodgy lambda probe or sometyhing more sinister in the ECU... will advise!! Green and Yellow Fever!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Beaumont Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Doh, mea culpa, I had erased the SVA impact on emissions testing from my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper man Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Funnily enough, my R500 also failed the emissions test this week. There were a few issues that needed to be dealt with. The most obvious was the fact that when I installed the catalyst (which has been off the car since it was SVA'd), I did not relocate the lambda sensor onto the catalyst from its normal location on No 4 downpipe. When I put it back in the right place the car ran much better, though I didn't get the car retested. I rang up Caterham, and after the expected "what do you expect BMW would say if you turned up with a car that failed emissions that had no service history, and evidence that the engine had been totally dismantelled by an amateur?" from Andy Noble (tongue in cheek. I think!) they took the car back and are getting it sorted for me too. One thing that can apparantly make them fail is the balancing of the roller barrels (mine were out of sync.) and the setting of the throttle potentiometer to the correct voltage when idling (it was out too). Car is being re-tested tomorrow. If that fails, then I will suggest that they lend me an ECU with a very weak map optimised for emissions for the purposes of MOT's. They don't want to do this, because they want to have the car properly set up, without bending any rules, and they have MOT'd a number of R500's already and they have passed with no problem, so the standard map must be capable of passing the test, as it did when SVA'd. As always, I have been impressed with the way that Caterham have handled the issue: they have just dealt with it with minimum inconvenience to me. Edited by - keith jecks on 25 Mar 2004 22:05:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 Bollocks - does this tweeking mean you will go evn faster now Jex!!! On the emissions - If you can borrow a Emerald of a friend then simply tap the fuel down and the engine will pass . It was done on a friends car this week Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleasantville Posted March 26, 2004 Author Share Posted March 26, 2004 What does that last entry mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 Sorry - If you fit a ECU that you can tweek yourself and remove some of the fuel , then the emission will drop and the car will pass the MOT . Sadly , unless you have the password for your engine management computer than you cant adjust items yourself ☹️ dave Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003 South Wales Area Organiser C7 TOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyslr Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 My MOT is pending and I am getting worried reading all this.... I have an emerald and run a 1998 SLR on standard TBs, cams etc. Do I need my own MOT passing map or does anyone have one that would suit my motor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Ray Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 I had my R500 MOT'd for the first time yesterday. I used a local garage - and I think he misread his manual - he told me I needn't have refitted the cat as "it doesn't need an emission test"!!!! Needless to say I'd didn't contradict him. He is based quite near Bicester - and i am happy to pass on details to anyone interested - please email off line. However, he did insist on replacing the amber sidelight lenses, putting on a full size number plate and so on. And replacing/fefitting the headlights. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 Mine said he didn't propose to emissions test it unless I could prove it was a factory built car - & I couldn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleasantville Posted March 27, 2004 Author Share Posted March 27, 2004 Aves, where in T. Wells is this garage? I am who started this thread and am only in Crowborough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian F Posted March 28, 2004 Share Posted March 28, 2004 *smile*I managed to get mine passed on Friday but not until I had a new Lambda sensor and 3 hors at CC with them trying everything including a new ECU (could have been expensive!). Turned out it was the sensor and the fuel pressure regulator needed tweaking. Ultimately sailed thro with a lambda reading of 1 exactly! Car doesn't feeel mich different but perhaps slightly smoother at speed and using considerably more fuel IAN (got the Green and Yellow Fever!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper man Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 My car also passed its MOT with the standard map. It seems that it needs to be carefully set up (Caterham will give you a sheet if you ask, showing what to do). It is all down to getting the correct idle and balancing the throttles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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