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

[GeoffSmith]

Following on from the information in Paul's post #39.....

Mine failed it's CO levels yesterday but I realised they had tested it closed loop with the lower limits. I went back today and went through it again with the workshop manager who had performed the test as my usual tester was on holiday. With reference to the VOSA flowchart, the process was:

1. Perform BET test. FAIL.

2. Is it a passenger car? Yes.

3. First used between 1/8/92 and 31/7/95? Yes.

4. Exact match in Emissions book? No.
…… a) VIN after RHA26000? Yes.
…… b) Engine VIN ZT1? Can't tell as it is illegible under all the grime. †

5. Perform non CAT test. PASS.

† The tester is not allowed to move or clean anything to determine the engine number.

The bottom line is that mine has been passing the MoT according to the letter of the law, but if I clean the engine, I will have to fit a cat.

[rip]

Trust you to find an excuse not to clean your engine

[GeoffSmith]

[clemo]

Following on from the information in Paul's post #39.....

Mine failed it's CO levels yesterday but I realised they had tested it closed loop with the lower limits. I went back today and went through it again with the workshop manager who had performed the test as my usual tester was on holiday. With reference to the VOSA flowchart, the process was:

1. Perform BET test. FAIL.

2. Is it a passenger car? Yes.

3. First used between 1/8/92 and 31/7/95? Yes.

4. Exact match in Emissions book? No.
…… a) VIN after RHA26000? Yes.
…… b) Engine VIN ZT1? Can't tell as it is illegible under all the grime. †

5. Perform non CAT test. PASS.

† The tester is not allowed to move or clean anything to determine the engine number.

The bottom line is that mine has been passing the MoT according to the letter of the law, but if I clean the engine, I will have to fit a cat.

IS this still the case Geoff?

[lotusflasherman]

Following on from the information in Paul's post #39.....

Mine failed it's CO levels yesterday but I realised they had tested it closed loop with the lower limits. I went back today and went through it again with the workshop manager who had performed the test as my usual tester was on holiday. With reference to the VOSA flowchart, the process was:

1. Perform BET test. FAIL.

2. Is it a passenger car? Yes.

3. First used between 1/8/92 and 31/7/95? Yes.

4. Exact match in Emissions book? No.
…… a) VIN after RHA26000? Yes.
…… b) Engine VIN ZT1? Can't tell as it is illegible under all the grime. †

5. Perform non CAT test. PASS.

† The tester is not allowed to move or clean anything to determine the engine number.

The bottom line is that mine has been passing the MoT according to the letter of the law, but if I clean the engine, I will have to fit a cat.

IS this still the case Geoff?

"The Jury is still out" - there is a school of thought that Geoff was fortunate to browbeat the tester ... thread here -forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=25673#p324979

[valimar]

Hello Geoffsmith, this is my first post after a long time and I hope you can help me.
I have a Lotus Elan Turbo SE LHD non cat that for the first didn’t pass MOT. First registration is from 17-09-1992 and the VIN is SCC100ZT1MHH18279. The inspectors by the MOT in Portugal say that even if my car doesn´t have a cat, the emission has to be lower than 3.5%. They also say that EU legislation changed short ago. I still think they commit a mistake and test the CO like my car having a cat installed. I have a clean K&O air filter and because of Covid I almost didn’t´ drive this year. During the inspection the car was fully warm up for more then 5 minutes but CO didn´t go lower than 3.5%. As you can see the VIN is ZT1 as you mention in your post. My question is: am I right in protesting about the testing procedures? In case not, do I have to try to change the potentiometer value or perhaps clean the injectors with some product? Sorry for the long post but I’ll appreciate your help.

[Rambo]

Valimar - the CO on my yellow M100 is usually quite high but it always passes our MOT testing procedures (<3.5% CO)

A bit of twiddling may be required. Try this http://wikilec.com/view/CO_adjustment

Good luck

[Fredjohn]

To confirm Rambo's post:
1) the (UK) max for emissions for non-cat cars is 3.5%. Cat equipped cars have an even lower pass mark.

2) Fiddling the pot is the first step, as detailed in wikiLEC.

You have already got the car up to running temperature (cycle the fans on and off a couple of times)

Cleaning air-filter and/or replacing, as well as using a injector cleaner will help as you indicated.

Final route, if all above fails, is to go closed loop, by-passing completely the CO pot. Again see wikiLEC: http://wikilec.com/view/Converting_SE_t ... d_loop_ECU . However this involves changing the chip or ECU which may prove a little difficult sourcing. See Mountain Chips tab at top of page. Plenty of threads on here about that!

I went closed loop, readings dropped from around 3.2% to 0.8%!! So that does work.

[valimar]

Thank you All for the quick answer and I will follow your precious advices!
I still have 10 days to go to MOT to be retested!
Regards from sunny Albufeira, Rodrigo

[Rambo]

To confirm Rambo's post:
1) the (UK) max for emissions for non-cat cars is 3.5%. Cat equipped cars have an even lower pass mark

I think for S2 M100's (ie with cat) the MOT pass rate may be as low as < 0.3% CO IIRC John

[Dave Eds]

To confirm Rambo's post:
1) the (UK) max for emissions for non-cat cars is 3.5%. Cat equipped cars have an even lower pass mark

I think for S2 M100's (ie with cat) the MOT pass rate may be as low as < 0.3% CO IIRC John

Good job Rodrigo has an SE then

[Saltire]

To confirm Rambo's post:
1) the (UK) max for emissions for non-cat cars is 3.5%. Cat equipped cars have an even lower pass mark

I think for S2 M100's (ie with cat) the MOT pass rate may be as low as < 0.3% CO IIRC John

This is my print-out from a couple of years ago on the S2:

EBF7AB0F-F25C-4F45-86FE-BD8498CBC52E.png