NCT fail - advice appreciated

The_Kitty

Any advice appreciated on the fails in the photo :)

L1011

edit: missed the top of the image so this comment was useless

ongarite

High idle fail with lambda & HC perfect would point to catalytic converter issue.

What car is it?

The_Kitty

Its an old VW polo 2005, it's the first time it's failed on emissions, I really love the car even though it's not worth much. Would a cat be a few grand to put in. The car is like worth a couple hundred but has sentimental value

The_Kitty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174696#Comment_123174696

Its an old VW polo 2005, it's the first time it's failed on emissions, I really love the car even though it's not worth much. Would a cat be a few grand to put in. The car is like worth a couple hundred but has sentimental value

L1011

A generic/pattern cat will probably be a low few hundred; but it can be a bugger of a job to actually do, particularly the older the car is (more potential for corrosion, stuck bolts etc etc) and ramp up the labour costs. However it won't be a few grand.

The_Kitty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174680#Comment_123174680

No you are fine, I should have circled the main issue :)

jj880

I had higher CO% on a Corsa 2008 1.2

My mechanic recommended giving this a shot before doing any major work:

I put it in with a quarter tank of petrol. Drove the absolute shyite out of the car on a dual carriageway for 50 miles and landed to the NCT bang on time. Took my CO to zero and passed retest.

Filled tank up right after.

Edit: @The_Kitty I looked through my Halfords orders and the exact product I used was the pre-emission test petrol engine treatment (see above pic). It seems halfords.ie don't have that exact bottle at the moment but you might be able to get it somewhere else...

BorneTobyWilde

Barely failed emissions, Shirley Dipetane would sort it

The_Kitty

I have heard of that stuff and was thinking 0.06% over of a fail was unlucky, have the car a decade and it's always scraped by on the emissions!! I am thick about cars though, with the dipetane can I put it in a full tank and it mixes in itself or should I put it in an emptyish tank and fill with petrol to mix it in? How long before the test should I put it in?

The_Kitty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174781#Comment_123174781

have heard of that stuff and was thinking 0.06% over of a fail was unlucky, have the car a decade and it's always scraped by on the emissions!! I am thick about cars though, with the dipetane can I put it in a full tank and it mixes in itself or should I put it in an emptyish tank and fill with petrol to mix it in? How long before the test should I put it in?

The_Kitty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174768#Comment_123174768

So you put it in on a quarter tank and drove to NCT, thanks!

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174836#Comment_123174836

Yes. If you are close to your NCT drive about for at least 45 minutes and put the boot down.

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174830#Comment_123174830

Instructions on bottle, easy to read amount to fuel

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174714#Comment_123174714

Mick's Garage have cats to suit your Polo @ €202.00 (no idea of fitting cost) but fitting a new one in a 20 year old small car would be a last resort, try all other options first.

User1998

Catalytic converter is about €250 to €300 fitted. Other stuff is minor. You could try using a petrol additive first and make sure the engine is very hot. And keep the engine running while you check in and wait for your test. I’d recommend Auto Exhausts in Dublin, they do an emissions test before and after fitting the new exhaust

greasepalm

Dipetane is a long term solution and will not work quickly.

I would have asked if you drive the car like a grandma as down to the shops and back or motorway driving to give it a good burn.

Is that a 3 cylinder engine remembering so many issues with valves and guides , air pipes leaking and using a bottle of cataclean .

Any scanned faults on diagnostics come up?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175926#Comment_123175926

Its a 3 cyclinder alright. They all fail the NCT on emissions eventually

Murt2024

Was the engine fully heated up before you went to test center.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175954#Comment_123175954

NCT sheet says engine/oil temp 87 degrees

Fishdoodle

When did you last have the car serviced? Do you mainly drive short journeys?

The CO levels are only marginally above the limit. Heres what I’d reccomend:

1. Use Redex to help remove carbon deposits and reduce unburned fuel emissions.

2. Fill with Premium Petrol to help clean the engine (1/2 to a full tank) and a better burn to reduce emissions

3. Bring the car for a good 30 min + spin on the motorway to help burn off carbon deposits.

4. A few days before the test, put catalytic converter cleaner in the car similar to mentioned above.

Additionally, you could have the Air Filter replaced (if its been a while), and same with spark plugs Bbasically, if you haven’t had the car serviced get it done and have these looked at, a good mechanic will have you sorted on all fronts.

Right before the retest bring your car for a spin so the angine and Cat reaches optimum temperature.

………….

A CV boot replacement should set you back around €120-€140. Its a piece of rubber that fits around your axel. The labour is the tricky part. Try stick with the original part, not a split boot thats glued …they’re not as good. Since you’ll be getting this done anyway, just bring it to a garage and have them sort it all out -bulbs, lights, cv boot, check sparks and filter.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123174717#Comment_123174717

On certain models they can be taken out in a matter of seconds…

OP try the good old "Italian tune-up". Get on a 120km/h motorway and redline it through the gears, stay in the lowest gear that will allow you to do the limit (assuming it's appropriate to do so) that may be 3rd or 4th. Keep this up for half an hour or so. On test day drive the car hard in low gears and make sure the engine is hot, and exhaust (cat) is hot when you get there.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123178370#Comment_123178370

CO not CO2!!

Carbon monoxide.. it's the silent killer

That sounds pretty expensive for just a CV boot replacement, no?

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123178455#Comment_123178455

👍😅 Yep meant CO well spotted. The CV boots refit requires some disassemble of axel etc and labour takes time. Id expect €120 all in. The boot itself is cheap. Labour about 1 1/2 hour. Some mechanics will take a shortcut and basically wrap a split cv boot around cv joint with an adhesive to seal it but they dont last. Better to put a new sock on properly. If cv joint gets water/debris into it its more hassle in the long run so a good seal & lubrication is important.

greasepalm

Must be a 1 handed mechanic if charging that money for doing cv boot replacement and 30 - 45 mins i think i was doing them up on a ramp and remove cv nut tap in and with boot cut off and smack towards wheel to release inner cv clip. Trying to remember if wheel on full lock inner shaft hops out and cv boot / joint can be cleaned out and greased up. Cant remember if strut had 2 bolt mounted to hub as removing top one and bottom one loose allows more movement to get inner shaft out. Hope they have the special tools for crimping the bands.

student7890

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175954#Comment_123175954

I was always curious about this as the test centre won't let you leave the engine running. You're usually directed to the waiting room after handing over the keys. How would you keep the engine warm if its turned off. I have a three cylinder Yaris with emissions failed on NCT as there's an oil leak into the engine. Dipetane doesn't make a lot of difference. I paid €300 for a 'treatment' at the mechanics and it did pass.

student7890

.. doulbe post, please delete

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123179046#Comment_123179046

Possible your engine ran low on engine oil and glazed the cylinders and now drinks oil.

Signs are excessive smoke from exhaust and build up of deposits on spark plugs.

I never handed over keys as always sat in car awaiting the tester to come to the car and bring car in.

NCT Deansgrange.

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123178981#Comment_123178981

That’s the going rate. Using a stretch CV Boot kit would also shorten the labour time but not as durable.

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123179137#Comment_123179137

I was not running a main dealer with those prices.

Yes as had to use those stretchy boots on Asian / Japanese cars when cv would not release.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123179046#Comment_123179046

Depends on the centre then. You can leave the car running in Greenhills and Fonthill