Confirm:S2 needs cat if first registered post 31/7/95

[paulrwebster]

I think that I might be getting somewhere. I have discovered that the VOSA web site http://www.vosa.gov.uk carries pages from the MOT Inspection manual. If a car is registered between 1 August 92 and 31 July 95, they first test it against CO of .2% and .3%. If it passes, you get a certificate. If it fails, they look for an exact match on the analyser database. If they find one, they test against the vehicle specific limits, if it is not there they test against CO less than 3.5%.

[Nige]

That would appear to substantiate my view that the test does not differentiate between the SE and S2 as all S2 engines predate that requirement (my S2 was first registered in Nov 95).

[GeoffSmith]

Brilliant work Paul. The S2s are obviously straddling the 31st July 1995 cutoff:

Mine was registered on the 1st May 1995 so, in the absence of vehicle specific limits, the second flowchart leads me to the non-CAT test of 3.5% and 1200ppm.

As Nige's was registered after 31 July 1995, the flowchart leads to the 0.3%/200ppm fast idle and 0.5% limits. I am assuming the Paul's and Ailwyn's are registered after 31st July and would advise anyone in a similar position to keep a cat. The rest of us can go and kill the polar bears..... and I told you my garage wasn't bent!

[paulrwebster]

Mine was registered November 94 and I only went and ordered an exhaust with a cat this morning. I can feel a pleading call to Pipers Exhausts coming on in the morning.

[max and andy]

Very good Paul. I new there was something going on. It doesn't help us much as we first registered 1 11 95 so the cats back out the bag for half an hour. Or our M registration might come in handy. A&M

[GeoffSmith]

A quick check of the database and names I know suggests that the following members should keep their cats:

ab2cv
ailwyn
Brian-Cate
CJ101KT
Farran
Gazza
JimF
junks
M100_DMM
m400kay
marcdando
Martin R
max and andy
nchase
Nige
ShaunM

[Nige]

I have a cunning plan, we all swap engines

According to this VOSA notice if you swap the engine, the emissions are based on the age of the engine. As all of our engines are left over from the SE's we're sorted. Can I have first dibs on Max and Andy's engine please

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/reposit ... 476766301a


"What if the vehicle is fitted with a different
engine?
If the vehicle is fitted with a different engine
from the one it was originally fitted with, then
for emission purposes you should test to the
limits determined by either the vehicle type or
engine – whichever is older. For example, if
you are presented with a 1995 car fitted with a
1991 engine of any make, you should test
it according to the age of the engine. In this
case, you need to do a non-CAT test, with
limits of 3.5% CO and 1,200ppm HC.
It’s up to the owner to prove the age of the
engine or vehicle, for example with a letter
from the manufacturer.
You can find out more on page 4 of the
Inspection Manual under section 7.3,
‘Vehicles fitted with a different engine’.

Therefore the case can be made that as the engines in all S2's are 1991 engines the older, non cat, limits can be applied.

Letters from Lotus please

[max and andy]

Could a letter be arranged from Lotus that would cover the later registered S2s? That an MOT garage would be obliged to follow. Without an engine swap.

How would you put it to try and direct your friendly MOT man to test as if he couldn't find a match? You don't want him to look. A&M

[GeoffSmith]

Just stack 5 seats on top of the passenger seat Nige - it is no longer a passenger car (must have no more seats in addition to the driver) and you follow the private bus flowchart and end up at "Carry out a non CAT test CO <= 3.5% HC <= 1200ppm".

[dapinky]

How about if I supply you with a letter / receipt for my old SE engine (1991) which you may have fitted to your S2

[max and andy]

Would they not check for engine numbers? A&M

[dapinky]

Would they not check for engine numbers? A&M

Possibly - if they knew where to look for it!

....but that's an area which often gets covered in crud from a leaky CAS 'O' ring, so they may not bother.


(it's on the block, just under the Exhaust manifold by the CAS - stamped into a flat face next to the gearbox casing)....

[max and andy]

We might take you up on that offer. We have a plan A and B so if that goes tits up it might be worth a shot. We hope the M plate might help a little. The cars booked in for 1pm so we haven't got a lot of time. Has the car got the date of first registration stamped on it anywhere? Or is it just on the log. Ours says 2002.

[dapinky]

Has the car got the date of first registration stamped on it anywhere? Or is it just on the log. Ours says 2002.

Only in so much as the VIN is on the car, and the V5C (log book) will have the date of first registration in the UK (so if it was made in 1994, sent abroad and later re-impoted, the date of first reg would be different to date of manufacture).

If they enter the VIN for the MOT, the computer will rely on data held by DVLA against that VIN.

[max and andy]

Well i think your right we had to put a sports cat on to pass. The lads at Lakeside fixed us up with one. MOT, Sports cat, Handbrake adjusted £84.11 all in.
You can't get much better then that. A&M

[Nige]

Just stack 5 seats on top of the passenger seat Nige - it is no longer a passenger car (must have no more seats in addition to the driver) and you follow the private bus flowchart and end up at "Carry out a non CAT test CO <= 3.5% HC <= 1200ppm".

Well I have the seats . There again if I just remove the passenger seat altogether it won't be a passenger car, it will be lighter and therefore go faster .

[Breed]

Well i think your right we had to put a sports cat on to pass. The lads at Lakeside fixed us up with one. MOT, Sports cat, Handbrake adjusted £84.11 all in.
You can't get much better then that. A&M

A&M if they supplied a sportscat you got a real bargain. That price is amazing unless they had a old one just standing around and decided to give it to you. If not will they sell the sportcats cheaper for a group buy

Bill

[GeoffSmith]

Well I have the seats

I know... that's why I said it!

[max and andy]

The cat was a short Let.

[Breed]

Hi All

MOT time and it passed. 96 registered S2, pre cat, no main cat and piper 2 1/4 exhaust. Emmisions no where near a fail. Did not tell the examiner that I had the cat removed and he did not know me so not a "friendly" examiner. After lookin at the figures the only problem would seem to be whether or not it is legal to run a 96 car without a cat. Although there is a label inside the engine compartment to say that the engine meets 92 emmision regulations, whatever that means. As the first one to have the Piper exhaust fitted I still have no regrets about buying it from a performance, cost and noise view.

Hope this helps others thinking about going without a cat.

Bill