Everest Mountain Chip

[woody]

I have had an Everest Mountain Chip for some time now, but never got round to fitting it.
I have just passed the MOT for my S2, but it is getting increasingly difficult to pass the emissons.
Will fitting the chip help with the CO emissions ?
If so, is there a straight forward write up in WikiLec on how to change the chip.
Cheers,
Woody

[chrism]

woody, I'm not an expert and I hope they'll pitch in if necessary.

I'm pretty sure your S2 has an O2 sensor and ecu 1499 prom id that maintains your air:fuel ratio at 14.7:1 (mostly). This can easily be verified if you're an ElanScan user. Many SE users adapt their cars to reach this to alleviate MoT stress - but you're already there.

A Mountain chip enhances the 1499 profile, so I'm sorry but imo it won't improve your emissions. For that you'll have to investigate other miscreants such as 'duff' cat, O2 sensor fail, piston ring blow-by for example.

The Mountain Chips part of Wiki can't be accessed atm**but I'm sure RonR on the forum can offer advice if you want to fit the chip for performance reasons. (I'm presuming yours is a '1499' Mountain chip?) The process will be very similar to Ron's SE dual chip upgrade since your Mountain chip is mounted on the same type of board and fitted in the same way. Ron's dual chip upgrade is the subject of the following .pdf...

M100 Eprom Switcher Board - Instructions.pdf

**And I think you can access the link to the Wiki instructions from within this pdf... **

Hope you get it sorted

[MPx]

Basically...wot Chris said! The changes made in the Everest chip are mainly around targetting a higher boost level while keeping all of the fuelling and safety elements functional and effective. It wouldn't improve emissions or make them worse. Those of us that have also removed the PreCat, replaced the Cat with a sports cat, increased the bore of the exhaust and ported the wastegate to eliminate boost creep are, however, generally making it harder to meet emissions. I've got a switcher chip and simply put it back into the standard Elan programme as it came from Lotus before each MoT and with the odd extra intervention on occasion it has always got through in the end. If you really struggle with yours, you can always swap the chips back - but as Chris said the issue is more likely to not be chip related if you're struggling with emissions.

As with all ICUs they dont like handling and need to be treated carefully - ideally wear a grounded wrist strap whenever you touch them. The other obvious thing is to be very careful to make sure all of the feet are straight and properly aligned with the socket before pushing in and apply even pressure as far as poss across its whole length when levering out.

[Tuga2112]

as previously said.

the everest chip does not affect your emissions reading (while doing the MOT test) as long as its a closed loop one. (i would assume you got the correct one originally)

one thing you may want to do, is to change your O2 sensor. they are not overly expensive from rockauto, and i have read in the MR2 groups someone saying they are a service item. just one of those that should last more than 80k miles. and therefore outside of the original manufacturer warranties and forgotten over time..
I Have changed mine in my GT4. but not been to a MOT after that yet, i will find out if the readings are better or not later in the year

[woody]

Thanks Guy's
I will change the O2 Sensor first, and then ask my MOT tester to test the emissions again before changing the chip.
What O2 sensor do I need for a 1995 S2 ?
Cheers,
Woody

[Fredjohn]

Woody, see here under Oxygen sensor:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230926055 ... ikilec.com

Link does work, just keep following it!

[woody]

Thanks FredJohn,
I will order one of the replacements from the list in WikiLEC.
Cheers,
Woody

[woody]

Have ordered a Bosch 15701 from Rockauto - £29 inc shipping.
Is that a good price ?
Cheers,
Woody

[Tuga2112]

just to put it into context.

this is the same item from a UK supplier for my other car.

https://gt4-play.co.uk/shop/denso-02-ox ... nsor-st205

[RonR]

Woody,
Do you get the car up to temperature before the test?
I usually take the long route to the MOT station to get the car nice and hot. I can't remember where I heard about it, but it's supposed to lower the emissions at idle.

[Tuga2112]

Woody,
Do you get the car up to temperature before the test?
I usually take the long route to the MOT station to get the car nice and hot. I can't remember where I heard about it, but it's supposed to lower the emissions at idle.

for a vehicle with close loop setup. it will ensure the close loop is working and adjusting the mixture.

i know for a fact that my open loop car gets lower readings when hot, its one of the things my Tester tells me specifically to do so we can save some time while doing the test.
i have no idea what is the theory behind it. it probably is a rather interesting insight actually

[Hector2021]

Woody,
Do you get the car up to temperature before the test?
I usually take the long route to the MOT station to get the car nice and hot. I can't remember where I heard about it, but it's supposed to lower the emissions at idle.

I know this is always suggested to users as sound advice when taking a car for its MOT but i think Part of the test is that the engine is run until the radiator fans cut in prior to emissions testing to confirm the engine is as hot as it should be. My MOT station has always done this anyway.

[Tuga2112]

i think Part of the test is that the engine is run until the radiator fans cut in prior to emissions testing

I have my yellow car MOT coming up soon. will see if i remember to ask.

i always assumed its not part of the requirements. but testers just want the minimal amount of hassle and increase your chances to pass by default because addressing emission issues is extremely time consuming for the garage

[woody]

Ron,
I always take the Elan for a long 2 - 3 hour run before testing.
Last year it took an hour to get it up to temperature to pass the emissions, this year it took almost 2 hours to get it to pass the emissions test.
The tester told me I had to get it sorted before next years MOT, and suggested changing the cat.
Cheers,
Woody

[Tuga2112]

Ron,
I always take the Elan for a long 2 - 3 hour run before testing.
Last year it took an hour to get it up to temperature to pass the emissions, this year it took almost 2 hours to get it to pass the emissions test.
The tester told me I had to get it sorted before next years MOT, and suggested changing the cat.
Cheers,
Woody

if your driving it. the radiator is extremely efficient at cooling. the fastest way to get the car up to temperature is actually stationary

[chrism]

woody I think your mechanic's advice is really relevant, too.

Unlike us he's seen your car and cats have been known to need replacing.

Yours could be getting on for 30years/100 000mls old

ps I think Tuga's comment is really relevant too: Chemistry usually works better when warm and your cat will work most efficiently when 'hot'.

[Tuga2112]

woody I think your mechanic's advice is really relevant, too.

Unlike us he's seen your car and cats have been known to need replacing.

Yours could be getting on for 30years/100 00mls old

its a known fact that the platinum that is used as the catalist does blow out over the years.
theres a video or 2 on youtube of people taking dirt from the side of the motorway and extracting platinum from it.

i know this is off topic, but the ideos i seen were obivously done with intention of proving the point and not making a profit. as they collected the samples from the side of the road instead of the gutters where they would ave been able to find years of soil piled up

but back on topic,
both cats and o2 sensors are not lifetime items. its worth noting that just becausre something is not a service item. it doesnt mean it wont require replacement over time.

[MPx]

'tis a good point. Particularly the pre-cat (bucket thing on the front down pipe) has been known to collapse - but that typically manifests in a noticeable performance issue. Is there a performance issue? Or just high emissions?

[Simon_P]

Last year it took an hour to get it up to temperature

have you checked the thermostat?
Some with S2s get through the MOT without a Cat so you can probably discount that.

Exhaust leaks can also have an influence.

Get it good and hot before you go, needs to be for long enough to get the oil hot. If the engine is hot enough anything that might be hanging around as a liquid is turned into gas and oxidised in the cylinder. Also the cat needs to be hot enough to work properly.

Hot hot hot!

[woody]

The CAT i had fitted a year ago, was given to me by Nitroman a long time ago. It looked new, but may have been one he had kept a long time.
The thermostat is new, and the engine was very hot after idling in the MOT garage for nearly 2 hours with the fans tripping in every 10 minutes.
I will change the O2 sensor, and if there is no improvement I will get a new Cat fitted.
Cheers,
Woody