MOT fail

[Danny6189]

Hi guys, this is my first post here so be gentle! Writing on behalf of my dad who doesn't really do technology.

I've Got a 99 406 estate 2.0 petrol and it's failed on emissions, the co at fast idle was too high. Am I right in thinking that changing the cat would do the trick? The car stinks when you stand behind it.

Any input is much appreciated.

Hope this is in the right section.

[steve_earwig]

Hi Danny, welcome

Umm, maybe, but it could be a lambda. This stink, is it Thatcher (rotten eggs) or unburned fuel?

Did you take it for a thrash before the test?

[Danny6189]

Hi Danny, welcome

Umm, maybe, but it could be a lambda. This stink, is it Thatcher (rotten eggs) or unburned fuel?

Did you take it for a thrash before the test?

It smells of unburned fuel. It wouldn't of been driven hard before the mot as my mum took the car there. I did say to get it nice and hot before she drops it off but I don't know how long the car was sitting before it was tested because she left the car and went to work.

[dirtydirtydiesel]

Hi Danny & welcome to the forum ,
Right your car, go onto ebay & search for Cataclean I can personaly vouch for this stuff it's great.
My wifes toyota avensis was reading CO 0.50% & the maximum allowed is 0.30%
Now I had used Cataclean before in other cars so I know how good it is, I put one full treatment into the empty tank ( fuel light on, this is important )
Then put in 15-20 litres of fuel , 1/4 of a tank & now go & drive it like you stole it .
No seriously I find third gear on the motorway 70-80 miles per hour / 5000rpm (in the wifes avensis) for 30-40 miles constant.
The results on the re-test speak for themselves, CO 0.01% ( a flying pass ) .
I would highly recomend going for a good run, at least 10 miles down the motorway using the same 3rd gear 70-80mph tactic on the way for the re-test.
Re-book it before you go so you can turn straight up with the cat good & hot, don't just turn up & have to wait as this allows the cat to cool down .
Hope this is of some help DDD.

By the way I have used this in over 12 car's & it's worked every time, it's also highly recomended by Car Mechcanics magazine

[Danny6189]

Hi Danny & welcome to the forum ,
Right your car, go onto ebay & search for Cataclean I can personaly vouch for this stuff it's great.
My wifes toyota avensis was reading CO 0.50% & the maximum allowed is 0.30%
Now I had used Cataclean before in other cars so I know how good it is, I put one full treatment into the empty tank ( fuel light on, this is important )
Then put in 15-20 litres of fuel , 1/4 of a tank & now go & drive it like you stole it .
No seriously I find third gear on the motorway 70-80 miles per hour / 5000rpm (in the wifes avensis) for 30-40 miles constant.
The results on the re-test speak for themselves, CO 0.01% ( a flying pass ) .
I would highly recomend going for a good run, at least 10 miles down the motorway using the same 3rd gear 70-80mph tactic on the way for the re-test.
Re-book it before you go so you can turn straight up with the cat good & hot, don't just turn up & have to wait as this allows the cat to cool down .
Hope this is of some help DDD.

By the way I have used this in over 12 car's & it's worked every time, it's also highly recomended by Car Mechcanics magazine

Thank you, I will give that a go!

[Welly]

Holy sh*t, 5000 rpm for 40 miles??? a constant load of 3000 rpm will see the exhaust system *really* hot and add to this a few good Italian Tune-up's I think that should be enough.

To be fair I think the problem here will be the car's fuelling, if the CAT is contaminated you need to figure out why. Simple checks like a clogged (or wet) Air Filer first, new spark plugs, then maybe a diagnostic code read. The CAT-cleaner may get it through the MOT for now but the car needs a health check (you'd get the money back in Petrol savings alone).

[trufflehunt]

Holy sh*t, 5000 rpm for 40 miles??? a constant load of 3000 rpm will see the exhaust system *really* hot and add to this a few good Italian Tune-up's I think that should be enough.

To be fair I think the problem here will be the car's fuelling, if the CAT is contaminated you need to figure out why. Simple checks like a clogged (or wet) Air Filer first, new spark plugs, then maybe a diagnostic code read. The CAT-cleaner may get it through the MOT for now but the car needs a health check (you'd get the money back in Petrol savings alone).

Cataclean is a decent product, similar to a trade-only product called, I think, Fortis.
Instructions for it are...
"..Add entire contents of bottle to fuel tank, recommended ratio 1 bottle to approximately 15 litres of fuel.
Drive normally for approximately 10 to 15 miles. Refuel when necessary..."

I usually pop in a bottle the day before MOT, just to be sure, and do about 20 miles of 70 or 80 mph drives ( in 5th) down the nearby M5.
Agree with above.., lack of servicing, plus lots of short runs are a route to emmissions failure.

[dirtydirtydiesel]

Holy sh*t, 5000 rpm for 40 miles??? a constant load of 3000 rpm will see the exhaust system *really* hot and add to this a few good Italian Tune-up's I think that should be enough.

To be fair I think the problem here will be the car's fuelling, if the CAT is contaminated you need to figure out why. Simple checks like a clogged (or wet) Air Filer first, new spark plugs, then maybe a diagnostic code read. The CAT-cleaner may get it through the MOT for now but the car needs a health check (you'd get the money back in Petrol savings alone).

Welly,
I quite agree but with my wifes car the redline is 7500rpm's so I'm only doing 2/3rds of the usable rev range & it needed a good clear out , it only does 1 1/2 miles to school & gets shut off four times a day & maybe shopping 3 miles max .
If I was doing this on a car with a 4500rpm redline then I would use 3000rpm, If the engines in good condition & well serviced then this kind of treatment is actualy good for it rather than labouring round all day at 1500rpm's for fuel & sludging it up.
I know on this car that what I have said is what it takes, once a year it'll throw up a management light. The code is ( catalyst efficiency below threshold limit ) & when treated to the Cataclean & given said run the EML turns it's self off .
As I stated in last post you can see the differance in the tested emissions & it also cleans out the plugs / combustion chambers / lamba sensors ect .