NCT emissions failure 2009 Saab 93 TTiD

Schnooks

Hi All

Could only find previous threads related to petrol engine failures, so apologies in advance.

Failed the smoke test badly last week, was 6.1 and should be 1.5

Car fully serviced recently, oil/filter etc. It passed it a year ago, although the man at the centre said it was borderline at the time. I used Dipetane at the time after the test just to clear things out a bit, but never expected it to be so bad a year later.

I know I could try Dipetane again and run it hard on the road, but I doubt this would bring it down enough when it is so high.

Just wondering does anyone know what a garage can do to fix this issue. Or is it fixable at all? I know things like exhausts, air filters etc can be checked/changed/fixed where necessary, but can a reasonably decent garage with competent mechanics do much more to get it down to a passable level?

Going to talk to them later this week and see what can be done. Kinda attached to this car, been through alot together, so would hate to see it on the scrappage trail to end it's life.

Thanks in advance and appreciate any input.

Schnooks

Hobgoblin11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058244181/nct-emissions-failure-2009-saab-93-ttid

is there much mileage on it?

Schnooks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119006223#Comment_119006223

Yes over 420,000 km. Loads of stuff replaced over the years as required, including EGR, twin turbos (replaced brand new about 2 years ago) etc. It's running well otherwise and always had it's services at or before the required intervals. Was hoping to get it up to 500k, kind of a personal goal, before letting it go

Atlantic Dawn

Are you visibly noticing the excess smoke coming from it when driving?

BlakeS94

I'd try the dipetane again and give it a good blowout on the motorway, probably just age and an old dirty diesel (no offence intended) if you're driving it calm for the year and the NCT tester gives it high revs for the smoke test it could have blown some sh1t out the back and that's why it failed so high.

Make sure the engine is nice and hot going to the test centre and leave it running while you're waiting.

Schnooks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119006977#Comment_119006977

Not really, the odd puff here and there which is posibly DPF regen related? No engine light or any other warnings and it's running really well otherwise.

Schnooks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008106#Comment_119008106

That sounds like a good plan, thanks BlakeS94. I was thinking alright I should have kept it running, as was I waiting for nearly half an hour outside for them to take the car, so it would have cooled considerably I'd imagine.

Whocare

with reading like that has it a gutted dpf i wonder. me personally would put a half litre of petrol in when diesel level is low ie went light come on

Schnooks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119015341#Comment_119015341

Apologies for the late reply. I was away on holidays last week and left it with the garage. It's the inlet manifold is boll*xed according to them. Waiting on a new one on order from Neo Brothers in the UK (highly recommended for hard to find parts btw). So between that and dipetane and a good blast on the motorway at highish revs, I will be hopeful that there's life in the old dog yet 🤞😀

thereitisgone

Did it pass

Schnooks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119120903#Comment_119120903

No thereitisgone, it failed even worse, a reading of 9.5 (last time was 6!) 😥

The garage that did the inlet manifold didn't have a diesel smoke tester, so had no way of knowing how it would do. They showed me the old manifold and it was completely b*llixed, flaps missing everywhere. It was running amazingly well and I also had alot of suspension work done, over €1600 spent in all between parts and labour 😱 I did a few extended motorway runs with Dipetane and fairly high revs

I called into a garage this morning that specialises in emissions failures and has the diesel smoke tester. They are going to take a look at it next Thur and let me know what they think from their diagnostics.

I will spend a few more hundred on it, but anything over that and it's time to cut my losses. It would be a shame really as I have already spent alot of money on it (€700 more earlier this year for timing belt and other stuff) and it is running better than ever and is a lovely car to drive. I will get f*ck all for it without an NCT so may have to down the scrappage trade in route (is this even a thing anymore?)

thereitisgone

Please tell us what they find, very unusual to be running good but get so bad reading

Schnooks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119122234#Comment_119122234

They have it sorted thereitisgone, I can't beieve it!

So the inlet manifold was already replaced as I said earlier. The guys from the specialist place rang me and said that there was a pipe going into the DPF that had snapped and they replaced it. They also made some adjustments to the turbo as he said it was boosting a bit high (these were replaced 2 years ago). They took it for a burn to get it up to temperaturte, tested it and all good.

That sure is some relief I can tell you! I mean I can afford to spend north of 20K cash on a new(er) car if I wanted, but I don't feel done with this one yet and with all the money I have put into it, I will keep her for another while. As I said to the missus earlier (while smacking her on the arse!), there's life in the old b*tch yet!! 😂😜