Lambda too high, emissions not tested | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 09:44

Lambda too high, emissions not tested - bathtub tom

Seen this on an MOT fail, but it doesn't make sense to me. Could it be an excuse to charge for pouring snake oil in the tank?

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 10:34

Lambda too high, emissions not tested - elekie&a/c doctor

High lambda can often be caused by a small leak in the exhaust system.Don't think any snake oil is going to fix that.

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 10:37

Lambda too high, emissions not tested - bathtub tom

The fail did include leaking exhaust, amongst other things.

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 08:22

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - Balboa

So I have vauxhall zafira 1.6 petrol 2008 done 68k miles.

Failed mot on emissions

Fast idle

CO target <0.20 actual 0.64 fail

HC target <200ppm actual 94ppm pass

Lambda target 0.97-1.03 actual 0.993 pass

Second fast idle

CO target <0.20 actual 0.79 fail

HC <200ppm actual 160ppm pass

Lambda target 0.97-1.03 actual 1.003 pass

Natural idle

CO target <0.30 actual 0.30 pass

Past three years I have had both lambda sensors replaced along with cat last year this improved the rating and it passed.

This year before mot test replaced air filter, oil filter and oil change and a fuel additive for cleaner emissions. Still failed. But I have not replaced sensors or cat on this turn. Garage advised they don't know what is wrong and that I should take it into vauxhall for them to diagnose.

There had been error codes upon test which were;

P0135 indicates 02 sensor

P1112 indicated air intake

P1571 don't know

U2103 indicates internal can controller

However the engine management light is intermittent and is currently off so no codes are showing at time of posting.

The car runs fine. No driving issues at all. Any ideas to diagnose this issue so i can remedy it? so frustrating

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 10:00

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - elekie&a/c doctor

Looking at those emissions values,it is only the Co % that is wrong. This would suggest that the cat is in trouble. Some info here;www.walkerexhaust.com/support/diagnosing-converter...e

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 12:26

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - Balboa

Thanks for the link. Since the cat has only been on little over a year seems strange

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 12:46

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - jc2

Was it a "cheap" one or genuine?

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 12:51

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - Balboa

I doubt it was genuine part most probably ordered from sc motor factors.

A couple of other points to consider which I missed in my original post are; the is a slight oil leak. Oil gathering on base of engine underneath car. Mechanic who testedncar said car was burning oil as he could smell it. However when blasting it yesterday there is no excessive smoke. Blue smoke or whatever. Oil doesn't run down excessively at all aswell

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 12:46

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - jc2

Was it a "cheap" one or genuine?

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 13:44

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - John F

Genuine mileage...or badly maintained......or poor quality Vauxhall engine.....or dodgy tester?

The last results I have for our 2000 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec (I don't always get a copy) was at 106,000m

Fast idle

CO <0.20% 0.10 pass

HC <200ppm 10 pass

I wonder if the cat was properly warmed up - or clogged up due to lack of regular 'italian tune-ups'?

Also, a well known rapid service outfit once attempted to fleece my gullible son by dodgy testing trickery producing a fail CO reading and then attempted to sell him an overpriced cat. Took it a mile down the road to my usual trusted indy - totally different passable readings. Cats should last the life of the vehicle unless contaminated with unburnt fuel or oil.

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 15:03

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - jc2

Yes-a genuine cat should-but some of the cheap aftermarket won't.

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Tue 15 Aug 2017 18:13

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - Balboa

Italian tune up could help thanks

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Tue 22 Aug 2017 11:44

Mot emissions fail on co only for fast and second idles - Balboa

So car failed mot again only on c02 emissions. My readings are above. It failed after new spark plugs and Italian tune up. C02 emissions to high on fast and second idles. Since this I have now identified cylinder 1 misfire. When I disconnect the injector to cyclinder one it has no effect on engine, whereas all the others do. However I have ohms and volt tested the injectors and they seem fine. I also sound tested injectors and were all clicking consistently. The car now runs rough, not before. Could it be the coil pack? Bearing in mind my c02 reading would this make sense? I thought that if the cylinder one was not firing I would have higher hc not c02?

I have a new 02 sensor ready but since this has been replaced last two years there is something more underlying that I would like to resolve first.

I have also diagnosed the following codes using pedal test and looking up each code on vauxhall forums;

13500 - O2 sensor bank 1 heater malfunction

111261 & 111262 - Port deactivation solenoid valve activation error

210300 - throttle body issue or cam bus earth problem

30100 cylinder 1 misfire

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

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