cant get UK car to meet danish emissions C02

[duncan]

I have taken a UK spec LHD 1992 to denmark but it has failed the MOT on emissions. It seems the ECU needs to be changed. I have added a CAT but dont know what else needs to be changed. Any ideas? which ECU do I need? any other parts. the level I need to get down to is 0.4%. The 02 sensor is working ok.

[Enright]

Duncan,

I don't think the ECU on an SE alters the fuelling just by putting an O2 sensor in there. I also don't think you need to change the ECU, but you may need to put an S2 chip in it. Then it expects an input from the O2 sensor and adjusts the Air/Fuel ratio to correct it.

How do you know the O2 sensor is working OK - have you done an Elanscan diagnosis of it? If so, can you post it on here for us to see?

A new ECU (if available) will cost you a LOT of money from Lotus.

It would probably be cheaper to buy one of ESM's V5 Switcher Modules.
This will cost you £200 (or only £100 if you already have one of his chips already), and you can select Closed or Open Loop (O2 or CO pot) and programmable boost control from a switch on the dashboard.

I used to have terrible over-fuelling problems with my SE which has no catalytic converters. But when I fitted an O2 sensor and Switcher Module the emissions quartered and the economy increased by up to 15mpg!

[duncan]

Hi Neil,
thanks for the info. I will get the 02 details ASAP. any idea what levels you can get down to with the chip. I am all new to this stuff so sorry if I ask a lot of daft questions or this all seems a bit basic
thanks
Dunc

[Enright]

Duncan, I found this but it took a bit of searching:

I had my car MOT'd this week in Elysium mode using the O2 sensor.
The result was that CO emissions had dropped from 2.88% last year to 0.68% (the pass limit is 3.5%), and HC's had dropped from 134ppm to 103ppm (the pass limit is 3500), indicating a much more efficient state of tune.
This backs up my own observations in fuel economy.
In fact it almost passed the catalytic converter test, even though I don't have one fitted!

Don't worry it's not a daft question. In fact it's pretty unknown territory - otherwise lots of people would have answered!
I'm not sure what it's possible to get down to (and I'm not about to start strangling my car to try to find out!) but I reckon less than 0.3% with an O2 sensor and cat should be no problem.

I also found these statements about the MOT pass figures for vehicles in the UK:

Exhaust Emissions

All vehicles must not emit any smoke excessively
For petrol-engined vehicles, the limits of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Hydrocarbons (H.C's - unburnt fuel maybe due to a misfire) vary. The CO is measured as a percentage of the total gas emitted, H.C's as Parts Per Million (ppm). These are as follows:

Age of Vehicle H.C's Volume CO
First used before August 1976 (Up to M Reg) Visual Check
First used between August 1976 and July 1986 (P - C Reg) 1200 ppm 4.5%
First used between August 1986 and July 1992 (D - J Reg) 1200 ppm 3.5%

For diesel-engined vehicles, the amount of black soot emitted is tested, with turbo-charged vehicles allowed to be slightly sootier than non-turbo charged.


Catalyst Emissions

Each vehicle must meet the pass criteria for the particular engine fitted at varying engine speed ranges - these include:

Fast idle CO (Carbon Monoxide) less than 0.3% between 2,500 - 3,000 rpm.
Fast idle hydrocarbons (unburnt fuel) less that 200ppm (parts per million).
Fast idle Lambda figure (a complicated ratio calculated from the CO, Hydrocarbon, Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen emissions) to be within certain limits (between 0.97 and 1.03).
Idle (tickover) CO less than 0.5%.

Certain vehicles are allowed higher figures at different rpm ranges depending on make, model and engine type if they initially don't meet these requirements.

[duncan]

Hi Neil,
I like the idea of using an S2 chip rather than finding an ECU for EU turdo with CAT. My only concern is if it will work with the existing ECU (1990-1) and if the wiring etc is the same. Do I need to also use the ESM's V5 Switcher Module.
The C02 is at 2.9% and it needs to be 4% The o2 is .88 v and in open loop. I am also told I have an EGK valve what ever that is
This is hard enough in English let alone trying to get this sorted in another country. Just dont want to get taken for a ride so appreciate the help
Dunc

[duncan]

Hi Neil,
one more question
will the regular 02 sens work ok or do I need a BroardBand version?
thanks
Dunc

[Enright]

Hi Neil,
I like the idea of using an S2 chip rather than finding an ECU for EU turdo with CAT. My only concern is if it will work with the existing ECU (1990-1) and if the wiring etc is the same. Do I need to also use the ESM's V5 Switcher Module.
The C02 is at 2.9% and it needs to be 4% The o2 is .88 v and in open loop. I am also told I have an EGK valve what ever that is
This is hard enough in English let alone trying to get this sorted in another country. Just dont want to get taken for a ride so appreciate the help
Dunc

"Turdo"!
Sorry, just had to get that out of the way before I started being serious.

Yes the wiring is the same.
Yes you need ESM's V5 Switcher Module.
It sounds like your CO is about the same as mine was before fitting it, which brought it down from 2.88% to 0.68%.
Your target is 0.4%, so that sounds very do-able with a cat fitted.
I think you mean an EGR valve (Exhaust Gas Recirculation). They all have them fitted already.

Hi Neil,
one more question
will the regular 02 sens work ok or do I need a BroardBand version?
thanks
Dunc

Sorry, don't know as I just got a cheap one from an S2, so never had to face the decision.

[duncan]

Hi Neil,

the key stroke to make a turdo says alot about how I feel about this. I thought it would be so easy taking a car from one EU country into another. anyway hope it gave you a laugh!

sounds like all I need to do is find ESM and find out how to install it all.


thanks
Dunc

[Enright]

sounds like all I need to do is find ESM and find out how to install it all.

You can PM ESM through this site or through his Mountain Chips website.
http://www.astb91.dsl.pipex.com/

As for how to fit it, Monty did a great write-up here (with pics), and I followed in the same thread a couple of pages later with my own.

[ESM]

The site is different now (see the www link at the bottom of this post). You don't need the switcher, a simple 1499 based chip kit will do as well - the switcher is just more fun The normal oxygen sensor, not the wide band type, is required.

[surfboardfiller]

My Standard SE Failed the MOT Test on emissions. The lotus dealership who services my cars sent the EEPROM back to lotus and they sent a replacement for about £12. It passed and the world is now a safer place. Put a CAT on and you would probably reduce the performance.

Cheers,

Phil

[ailwyn]

My Standard SE Failed the MOT Test on emissions. The lotus dealership who services my cars sent the EEPROM back to lotus and they sent a replacement for about £12. It passed and the world is now a safer place. Put a CAT on and you would probably reduce the performance.

I bet the lotus chip doesn't drop the emissions by 90% though.

In the UK, SE's have a CO target of 3.0% (no-CAT) and S2s 0.3%, hence needing the CAT.

Now if you could get (in the UK) an MOT tester that wasn't "aware" that there was supposed to be a CAT on the S2, you could get it tested against 3.0% and therefore CAT or no CAT it would be likely to pass, unfortunately my mechanic is too clued up

[surfboardfiller]

My Standard SE Failed the MOT Test on emissions. The lotus dealership who services my cars sent the EEPROM back to lotus and they sent a replacement for about £12. It passed and the world is now a safer place. Put a CAT on and you would probably reduce the performance.

I bet the lotus chip doesn't drop the emissions by 90% though.

In the UK, SE's have a CO target of 3.0% (no-CAT) and S2s 0.3%, hence needing the CAT.

Now if you could get (in the UK) an MOT tester that wasn't "aware" that there was supposed to be a CAT on the S2, you could get it tested against 3.0% and therefore CAT or no CAT it would be likely to pass, unfortunately my mechanic is too clued up

You are going to get me to pull out the MOT sheet aren't you! Well I'm not at home so I can't as theres no phone line in my new place (yet)

[GeoffSmith]

Ailwyn's right .... nearly. With the new computerised MoT system, it's not possible to pass an S2 off as an SE so 0.3% it is.

[ESM]

Last I heard Lotus had run out of 9930 memcals and, anyway, this thread is about getting an SE through a Danish test and it seems even the SE has to get down to 0.4% there.

[GeoffSmith]

I've e-mailed Jørgen (Delta) to see if he can assist.

Alan, do you think it feasible to get the emissions down to 0.4% in open loop (even with a 9930)?

[delta]

Jeps... I'm here.
Duncan, I have imported and converted a SE to danish standard, using a S2 ECU + a cat, all mounted on the original wire set.
Piece of cake.!.

I even have a spare S2 ECU for sale, as I did rebuild the "Bling-Mobile" to a Haltec setup.

I'm located in Roskilde. so give me a call, and let us solve this.

Regards
Jørgen.

Tlf. 46402232 / 61558011

[GeoffSmith]

[duncan]

thanks for all the info and advice. the 13th digit is (1) so I just need to find out if the PROM is 9929 or 9930 sounds like the V4 will get me on the danish roads, but I will give Jørgen a call.

[duncan]

just to be clear the danes introduced co at 0.4 in 1990 ahead of the UK and as my elan is 1992 I have to meet it to reg the car over here. It looks like Jørgen knows the situation - because its to reg the car in the country and not just a regular MOT they are not very relaxed about it you cant have too much fun over here

VIN. - scc100zt1nhh16278 so its either PROM 9239, 9929 or 9930

The ecu is called lotus élan ecm (eec turbo) L0900086

The chip is Delco AUFH0649

there are no modifications on the car , ie.dump valve or adjustable pressure hose…. Everything is standard.
Just added a CAT

Soooo, a V5 switcher 9929 / 9930 with an o2 sensor should fix it - correct?