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Topic: MOT Failure today :( (Read 3148 times) |
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DJWerkz
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Took the car in for it's annual test today and it started looking pretty good, perished front off-side brake hose, seemed to be all they could find,...except for emissions!
Car was run for ages then taken for a run came back and they still could not get the emissions to settle. CO was no where near the required 0.200, lowest it reached was 500+. HC and lambda readings were all in the green but were risng and falling big time.
In fact the car was running worse than it ever has, lots of peaks and dwells on tick-over.
Result of it now is that I have had to book it in for a full diagnostic analysis tomorrow.
Last year they did have similar problems getting it through but in the end it dropped in but we did find a bad lambda sensor in the rear bank.
I am hoping this is not going to work out too expensive, a brake hose was looking quite attractive 
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Dave
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Tourmallard 24v (ex-owner)
Posts: 1984
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #1 on: Nov 22nd, 2006, 10:48pm » |
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Blimey, with a CO figure that high surely the cause won't be too difficult to track down 
Good luck.
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Life after the Scorpio ain't easy..
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howiedintheplace
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Based near Evesham
Posts: 1194
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #2 on: Nov 23rd, 2006, 1:27am » |
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Craig the CO can't be 500+ the thing wouldn't run, typo I think 
You mean 5%+.
I guess air leak 
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Dave
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DJWerkz
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Would you believe it, the place I took the car to today had to turn me away, their new equipment can not read the Scorpio! They said that it can read about 95% of cars so mine must be one of the 5%.
They sent me to another performance car specialist who said they only do BMW's and Merc's, but they recommended another local test centre. Have it booked it for next Tuesday morning but have been looking at other places to see if I can get it done any sooner.
Went to my local Ford dealer today, that was a joke, they said they quote on how long they spend and they are not sure how long it would take as they don't think the new test equipment they have would read it either, and the old equipment has not been used for 2 years and no-one there is actually qualified to use it.
Going back to the readings, they are as I typed them; HC and lambda in tolerance but very erractic and CO was at 0.550+,..in fact I would say on average it was up at 0.900 to 1.100.
I have been thinking for a while now that the CAT's might need replacing, so they might be contributing to the high CO figure.
Car still does not idle smoothly and has a flat spot on initial exceleration.
Spoke to Bill Field (STN) today and he said he would get back to me with things to look out for.
So that's it for now, more as soon as I find out.
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bootiful-scorpios
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ex 2.9 24v
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #4 on: Nov 23rd, 2006, 9:21pm » |
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sorry to read that dj lets hope its not so bad as it seems , was bill ok?
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DJWerkz
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #5 on: Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:32pm » |
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Hi Bootiful,
Bill was fine, super busy as usual. He is off to a car show this weekend in Exeter so that ruled out me going down to take the car to him.
By chance I have a friend who wants to guy a GMC Sierra pickup down in Devon and we were going to try and kill two birds with one stone,...well at least he still gets to go down to possibly buy the truck 
More on the Scorpio later...
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howiedintheplace
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Based near Evesham
Posts: 1194
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #6 on: Nov 24th, 2006, 12:38am » |
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CO was at 0.550+,.. (CO was no where near the required 0.200, lowest it reached was 500+.) That's better
Still sounds like unmetred air.
A oil service & plug check could drop it a bit.
Some of the cat clean stuff too works wonders.
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Dave
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DJWerkz
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I've been using only Shell V-Power fuel since it's release and before that only used Shell Optimax.
...just thought I would throw that in the mix
CAT cleaner, is that really any good? Oil is changed every 3000 miles using a high grade synthetic complete with the Ford supplied oil filter. Oil change is not due for another 1500 miles at least!
Will check spark plugs though.
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howiedintheplace
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Based near Evesham
Posts: 1194
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #8 on: Nov 24th, 2006, 10:33am » |
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Well one of my M.O.Ter mates reckons it's brill, worth a try at least.
It's a quick fix thou will only drop the figure for a week or two probably.
Plugs & injectors both have big effects on emissions.
You can check & regap the plugs.
You are really looking after the Cossie with them oil changes that's great.
Check for air leaks as well.
Get it scanned too maybe a lazy exhaust sensor.
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Dave
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DJWerkz
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Got a scan done today, only one error code which read 'system lean'. Admitedly the guy advertises in Yellow Pages as a computer diagnostic specialist but he only has what appears to be a small handheld device which is loaded predominantly with US Ford cars.
The Scorpio was not listed in the model range but he had the means to enter the relevant part of the VRM number.
However, I am not convinced it was maybe thorough enough as 'system lean' seems to be a faily basic fault description.
I am waiting for some new plenum O-rings to come in the mail and plan to install those together with complete new vacuum pipes throughout. Will check all plugs and do a service too.
Hey Howie, what brand of CAT cleaner is the one to go for and where sells it?
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howiedintheplace
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Based near Evesham
Posts: 1194
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #10 on: Nov 25th, 2006, 12:22am » |
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No fault codes as such then?
I think the stuff is called Cat Clean not sure.
Also use a high octane fuel like optimax or the BP stuff. (A tank full & use about quarter before the test)
Another important thing is to drive it hard on the way for test to get the CAT hot.
A cold CAT don't do anything.
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Dave
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DJWerkz
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #11 on: Nov 25th, 2006, 2:58pm » |
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I only use Shell V-Power fuel anyway, but will be sure to drive nice and hard before the re-test.
Will also search for the CAT clean stuff too, but while we are on the subject of CAT's, if my CAT's are on the way out would this give me similar sort of problems?
I am going to call Bill Monday see if he can slot me in on Tuesday for a complete system check, that way it still gives me time to book back in for a re-test and get the 'free' re-test I was promised
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DJWerkz
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #13 on: Nov 27th, 2006, 10:46pm » |
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Thanks for all your messages, ended up cancelling a scheduled diagnostic test for tomorrow morning as I spent some time working on the car myself today and found a couple of things.
For a start, the air filter was filthy, this is totally unlike me to let that slip, can't believe I missed it. There is a breather hose that runs into the air intake box, just inside where the hose entry is is a little slot, I think it is supposed to have a small filter in there but mine was completely blocked with dirt.
I also found that the EGR valve was not screwed on and the pipe that runs from the lower part of the EGR to the intake system was only held on by one bolt instead of two, and the one bolt was only just screwed in.
I only checked a couple of the spark plugs but they were both in super condition and gaps perfect.
I dropped some CATClean in the tank today so I will take her out for a run in the morning and see how she blows
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Octavian_P
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #14 on: Nov 27th, 2006, 10:51pm » |
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That little slot in the airbox should have a small filter made out of sponge or something like that. It has the role of collecting oil otherwise it will end up on the air filter....oil in an air filter means trouble, low power, high comsumption...high emissions
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Simmo
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #15 on: Nov 28th, 2006, 8:19am » |
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The 'dirt' you mention was probably the remains of the sponge filter as they do disintegrate int a crumbly black mess if not changed.
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DJWerkz
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #16 on: Nov 28th, 2006, 11:06pm » |
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Popped into my local Ford dealer today, the emissions gauze listed for the air-box is not longer serviced so he reached into his bag of spares and gave me one to 'try',...hehehe
It was twice the size of what I required so cut it in half and ended up with a spare
Took the car out today and I notice a difference already, extremely smooth tick-over at idle. Tomorrow going to have a full oil and filter change even though I've only done about 2000 miles it was last changed.
MOT re-test is booked for Thursday at 12:30 (high-noon at the MOT Corale,...hehehe), so wish me luck
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Dave
Senior Member
Tourmallard 24v (ex-owner)
Posts: 1984
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #17 on: Nov 29th, 2006, 3:44pm » |
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Best of luck! 
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DJWerkz
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #18 on: Nov 30th, 2006, 2:41pm » |
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FAIL,...FAIL,...FAIL,... 
Car was running real smooth this morning even the MOT inspector noticed the difference but unfortunately the CO readings would simply not drop in value for a pass.
HC and lambda were real steady this time but the CO reading was up and down like a 'fiddlers armpit'.
Here's the test data:
Fast idle test:
CO 1.754 Fail
HC 110 Pass
Lambda 0.970 Pass
2nd Fast idel test:
CO 1.133 Fail
HC 66 Pass
Lambda 0.980 Pass
Natural idle test:
CO 1.291 Fail
We (MOT guys and myself) both think it's now down to bad CAT(s) so I am trying to see if STN, Bill Field can take the car and check it over and see what's up, 'cause at present I'm scratching my head
One other thing I have noticed, which I am not sure is anything at all is that when you are at idle then rev the car for a few seconds then release the gas pedal, the revs at first drop down to about 1000 to 1100 rpm then after approx. 8 seconds will drop again down to normal natuiral idle. Any thoughts?
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bootiful-scorpios
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ex 2.9 24v
Posts: 560
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Re: MOT Failure today :(
« Reply #19 on: Nov 30th, 2006, 3:55pm » |
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your fast idle co 1.754 is so high  i think the max for that should be about 0.30 ....... max
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