Failed NCT

star-pants

Ok,

'00 VW Polo 1L
Failed the following:

Exhaust emissions
High Idle (2,930 rpm) Lambda: 0.97 Between 0.97 and 1.03(fail/refusal)
CO 1.29 vol% above 0.30% (fail/refusal)
HC 59ppm above 200 ppm (pass)

Malfunction Indicators Airbag fault indicated

Reg Plate lamps Rear plate lamp not working

Electrical System Battery Mounting (seems it's just sitting in there)

Indicator/Tell Tales Nearside front cont. moisture (one I had replaced last year)

Front Suspension Anti-roll bar bushes & links worn(offside & nearside front)

Now most of that I assume is fairly straight forward to get sorted. The one I wouldn't really know about is the emissions - is that easy enough to get cleared up would anyone know?

EDIT -- Have attached the NCT results sheet if anyone needs info.
Also my oil/filters etc were changed less than a month ago.

MetzgerMeister

A service and maybe some of that STP engine treatment stuff would go a long way in helping to get the emissions down I think!

star-pants

Car was serviced probably less than a month ago, oil & filters changed etc.

MetzgerMeister

In that case try the STP stuff. I think it has the ability to clean carbon deposits off the engine internals etc.

B00MSTICK

Taking the car for a "spirited" drive beforehand can also help with blowing out some of the crap.

Hopefully the airbag light is just an electrical issue and not a real fault with the airbag system...

star-pants

The cars gotten a more than decent amount of driving the last while so I would have thought it would be ok. It's not even minor fail, it's over by quite a bit on the emissions.
The chap in NCT said it looks like someone may have tampered with the fault light of airbag before I got it anyway, so to just get diagnostics checked on it.

biko

Is this the first time you NCTd this car?

It doesn't sound like an exhaust issue, more like it's running rich, check spark/swap plugs unless this was done at last service.
Inspect plugs for soot.
Is it smoking?

You could try additives, it won't hurt to start using fuel injector cleaner today.
"Spirited drive" means at 4000rpm for like ten minutes. Like driving down the motorway in 3rd gear.

star-pants

biko wrote: »

Is this the first time you NCTd this car?

Nope, have the car 3 years, and she got through the last one (slight issue with a wheel or something but twas easily fixed).

biko wrote: »

It doesn't sound like an exhaust issue, more like it's running rich, check spark/swap plugs unless this was done at last service.
Is it smoking?

You could try additives, it won't hurt to start using fuel injector cleaner today.

Well I'd assume the sparks were checked, but I'll ring the chap & ask him did he check them last time.
No smoking or anything like that

Ran it down the motorway on the way to the test... and it would have been within your parameters of 'spirited'.

challengemaster

Maybe fill it with maxol e5 aswell, should lower the emissions a bit

Viper_JB

Your lambda sensor or cat might be gone.

rolion

My car passed NCT last april with airbag light going on when you turn the engine and then going off. Possibly is disabled due to baby sitting in the front...

biko

It's probably running rich because there is an issue in the intake somewhere, like a cracked vacuum hose.
Change spark plugs if it wasn't done last service.
Inspect all hoses for cracks. Duct tape or replace hose if you can find replacement.
Check that the air filter has been changed.
Clean throttle body.
Clean MAF.
Double check that oil is at right level.
Drive to Athlone and back with a bottle of injector cleaner and 1L Dipetane in the tank.

Mind - it could be more serious like piston rings.

Some tips from the internet about sensors.
http://www.smogtips.com/failed-high-carbon-monoxide-CO.cfm

star-pants

Thanks for all input by the way

challengemaster wrote: »

Maybe fill it with maxol e5 aswell, should lower the emissions a bit

Will do thanks

biko wrote: »

It's probably running rich because there is an issue in the intake somewhere, like a cracked vacuum hose.
...

Cheers Biko, I'll take all that on board, unwell today so can't do anything but I'll get on top of it as soon as possible.

unkel

star-pants wrote: »

the fault light of airbag before I got it anyway, so to just get diagnostics checked on it.

There's no point in looking at any of the other issues until the airbag is diagnosed first. Could be just a wiring / sensor issue, but in a bad case it could mean it is not worth it to fix. After that, get estimates of the total costs of all the work needed to pass the NCT, before you have any work done on the car and then decide what you'll do.

patrickc

an airbag issue on my car cost 1500 to fix, so unkel is right check that first

star-pants

Thanks Unkel/Patrick

My mechanics gonna have a look at it on Wednesday, he'll check out what/how bad it is and he'll let me know how much/if tis worth fixing. Just a lil sad because I love my Polo, but obviously if it's big money it won't be worth it.

Related so i won't post it somewhere else

My new car failed the NCT yesterday. Thankfully it was just the two back tyres.
Saw an ad on the back of the paper for a place selling tyres on sale.

They were banded in 3 different groups, ''Economy-mid range- high end'' or something to that effect. Would the economy ones be grand for passing the test?.... it is just a case of getting two new tyres or could some not be up to standard?

star-pants

Ok so, they hooked it up to diagnostics and got the following
DTC 16518 O2 sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (bank 1 sensor 1)
DTC 16500 Engine Coolant Temperature circuit range/performance problem
DTC 18044 CAN : Communication, engine - airbag

Now, the first one is the Lambda (€220)
second one is as it says the temperature thingy (€60)
the third is the unknown -- says that it's a communication error, which could be something at the dash, could be a wire somewhere along the way, he won't know until he starts looking, said could be a 5minute job, or a few hours, honestly doesn't know. So I've no ballpark price even for that.

Anti roll bar bushes & links for both sides (€110)
Labour on lambda/temp/antiroll bar (€150)

So I'm at €540 and can't even guess the airbag.

Any opinions on what you would do? Cars great otherwise, but it is 10years old and I could be looking at a lot of money (depending on airbag) and I'm just kinda confused right now.

Cheers

coronaextra

Your carbon monixide (CO) values are also very high. I would say that your catalytic converter is goosed too (although I could be wrong)!
Its hard to know what to do when you start to add up all the bits and pieces!

bazza1

Recently I had hi emission problem. Turned out to be the air mass meter. Replaced it and no further problem

rebel.ranter

gilberto_eire wrote: »

it is just a case of getting two new tyres or could some not be up to standard?

As long as the tyre has the E mark then they will be fine for the test. All tyres being sold now should have the reuired E mark.

The higher end tyres wll have better grip die to the compound used. I would always advise people to het the best tures you can afford. After all it is the only thing between you & the road.

biko

star-pants wrote: »

DTC 18044 CAN : Communication, engine - airbag
says that it's a communication error, which could be something at the dash, could be a wire somewhere along the way, he won't know until he starts looking, said could be a 5minute job, or a few hours, honestly doesn't know. So I've no ballpark price even for that.
So I'm at €540 and can't even guess the airbag.

You need that last quote.

If you fix these issues, will it still be cheaper than a new used car?
Are there other issues you need to address in 6 months/a year?

It comes down to choosing between an unknown (new used car that you don't know anything about) or a known (continue putting money towards this car).

You can get the lamba fitted cheaper if you get the part here or here and get a quote from a few places for fitments only.
Don't be afraid to go somewhere else and get a quote. It's a buyers market and there is no need to be loyal - they charge you just to diagnose, you can go somewhere cheaper.

Search around for mechanics locally that'll fit your own parts and get 2-3 quotes.
m2c

Bawnmore

biko wrote: »

You need that last quote.

If you fix these issues, will it still be cheaper than a new used car?
Are there other issues you need to address in 6 months/a year?

It comes down to choosing between an unknown (new used car that you don't know anything about) or a known (continue putting money towards this car).

You can get the lamba fitted cheaper if you get the part here or here and get a quote from a few places for fitments only.
Don't be afraid to go somewhere else and get a quote. It's a buyers market and there is no need to be loyal - they charge you just to diagnose, you can go somewhere cheaper.

Search around for mechanics locally that'll fit your own parts and get 2-3 quotes.
m2c

Looking at prices on the site and they seem very good. Is there much difference between a universal sensor and OEM?

star-pants

biko wrote: »

You need that last quote.

If you fix these issues, will it still be cheaper than a new used car?
Are there other issues you need to address in 6 months/a year?

It comes down to choosing between an unknown (new used car that you don't know anything about) or a known (continue putting money towards this car).

You can get the lamba fitted cheaper if you get the part here or here and get a quote from a few places for fitments only.
Don't be afraid to go somewhere else and get a quote. It's a buyers market and there is no need to be loyal - they charge you just to diagnose, you can go somewhere cheaper.

Search around for mechanics locally that'll fit your own parts and get 2-3 quotes.
m2c

He can't really give me a quote on the airbag though, he reckons it's probably a wire along the way that's broken or something, as he said it's the signal not getting through. Or something in the dash. So he said he won't know til he starts looking, i.e. he could find the problem in 5mins or could be a few hours trying to figure it out.

Regarding a new car, well given the airbag issue is an unknown price - I don't know. Obviously if I had to get a new used car I'd like a decent one so we'd be talking more than fixing this car.
Other issues in 6months/a year - I don't know, the car seems fine other than that, been told it's in great nick, only thing I can think of needing replacement would possibly be the tyres (not now but in the next year maybe).

Are the parts that you linked to as good as ones you'd get from a dealer or whatever?
The chap who's doing this is decent, he's a friend of my dads friend, he worked on the car before and he's not likely to rip me off. But I guess if I could get the part cheaper he'd probably fit it, but I'd want to know the part was a good one.

He didn't charge me anything to run the diagnostics etc, he said I can have a think about things and get back to him if I want the work done.
Might be as you said, have to make a decision/choice.

biko

I can't guarantee for parts from the net but most often they are good, maybe will last 4 years instead of 8 or something similar.
Some are actually the same part, just not labelled.

Anyway that's where research comes in. Find out everything you can about a particular part before buying it. Either you have to have money, or put in the time to research/learn everything.

star-pants

Cheers biko - really appreciate the input

Gave the chap a ring again today to ask about the airbag again, seems perhaps I misunderstood him last time or maybe he didn't say it the right way, but he said he needs to manually diagnose what the problem is with the airbag. So I'm dropping the car into him next week and he's going to go through it all and see if he can find the problem and *then* we can make a decision (Based on what needs replacing). So at least then I'll have a proper total to work off and decide on.

Yawns

best of luck

star-pants

Forgot to get back to this.
After a day of fiddling about - came up with an Airbag Module needing replacement, which new is 800-1k kinda range, he rang about a few places he knew, looking for a second hand one with no luck.

So bascially, it was either pay 1500 ish to fix the Polo or see if I could trade her in.
Managed to (sadly) trade her, as part payment for a Ford Focus 1.4LX 2002 hatchback which I got yesterday morning.
Very sad to say goodbye to my wee Polo - she was good to me.
But now have a Focus in the driveway, feels bad saying it, but it's nice to have electric windows & central locking!! lol.

So thanks to all for advice, but unfortunately it wasn't for me to keep the Polo, hope she gets a nice owner soon.

unkel

Thanks for the update and well wear on the Focus