gavinp Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 OK, so we have been trying to get the emissions down on my standard SLR (swan neck TBs) for over a week now. The following has been tried: lambda probe change, moved temp sensor to trick ECU into thinking the engine running too hot (leans up mixture?)(I think this is what was done), tried a different SLR MEMS, and everything seems to be running as it should. Garage is getting same readings on their machine that the MOT station is, so there is consistency. Caterham seem to be not a lot of help. We think the emissions test has got harder recently but surely if I have a problem with a standard car, others will too. I really think it will be going a bit far to have to upgrde the ECU just to get through a bl*&dy MOT Running out of ideas... g Superlight R #41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Jones Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Was it factory built then your stuffed If not and Amateur built then for emmission purposes only it is traeted as pre 1975 Vis smoke only its all in the MOT testers hand book Paul. See My Car Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simos Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Forgiving my ignorance, is the mems programmable at all, could you download a bastardised map that will get you MOT and then reload the proper map afterward. An easier way of doing this is to go to a different MOT garage which is more favourable to 7's.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 MEMS is not user programmable, although there are people who reckon they can do it. However, a set of readily available alternative maps is not available. I only have 2 suggestions: 1. Try a different garage. 2. Try a different ECU. You are welcome to borrow mine (Emerald) if you want, and I can book you into my local MoT place while you're up here (Midlands) which is recently set-up specifically to specialise in kit cars. Do you have a catalyser? If not I have one you can borrow too, which will fit the standard SLR exhaust, replacing the 4-2-1 collector. With cat in place and Emerald ECU with suitable map installed we can mess about at the garage until you get a result. Now, do not be fooled into thinking all you need is a lean map. This is not so. There are 4 measurements (I cannot remember what they're called) but simply leaning off the map may decrease the readings of one but may lead to the rise in another. When I had problems last year I had to hold the revs at the prescribed rpm and then increase the ignition advance around 15 degrees until all the measurements went green. Of course it all went back to standard again before I left the garage. The owner admitted that he is only interested in the measurements during the test and acknowledged that someone from the MoT-Tester-Squad (dunno the official body) understands that this is normal practice. Neither care what you run in the real world (although I suppose it is within the Police's authority to test you by the roadside if they so choose). Have a think about the options I presented above, and the offer. I admit that until next weekend is over with I am short of time (there's a Se7ens List tour to attend and prepare for) but after that I certainly can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavinp Posted May 13, 2004 Author Share Posted May 13, 2004 V7 (don't know your real name!). Thanks for the offer. I'll give the guys a few more days and then we will see. I have an RMA day booked at Brands GP in June and I am not going to miss that! Thanks again, g Superlight R #41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris__ Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 What would be the ramifications of saying the car is home built and saving this palava. Is it written on any documentation an MOT tester would need to see 🤔 [/cheeky] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrelevant Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 What would be the ramifications of saying the car is home built You'd have an MOT 😬 If you're that worried, caveat your statement by saying "I think those letters(on VIN tag) mean it's" home built...just as I'll caveat this by saying, you shouldn't do it becasue a false declaration would be illegal 😬 J351 TPE - In one piece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Guys, home built is NOT the panacea you think it is. It DOES NOT mean you can get away without a catalyser or a proper emissions check unless the car was built before something like the beginning of 1999 or end of 1998 (can't remember). Certainly my end of 1999 HOME BUILT car cannot buck the system. It needs a proper emissions check with catalyser. There's details in the FAQ here. Anyway, Gavin, in your first statement in this thread you said you didn't want to change the ECU just to pass the MoT. You'll have to trust me when I say by changing the ECU and the cam pulleys for verniers, the SLR really comes on song. It is quite poorly mapped as standard and the cam timing is seriously way out. Anyway, my name's Nig. Gimme a shout if I can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavinp Posted May 13, 2004 Author Share Posted May 13, 2004 Nig. I'd love to change the ECU but have spent a fortune on gizmos since Jan (when I bought the car - dials, autocom, bullet cam, DL1 logger, aces sureshift and the list goes on - it's all blatchat's fault, but the reason I bought an 'old' SLR rather than a new, 'finished' R400) and my wife is getting a little suspicious of parcels turning up every 3 days! I was also going to spend the cica £1.3k on a superlight roll cage next week. I'd seen your posts about engine mods before and had begun my list but wasn't expecting it so soon! g Superlight R #41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Oh God, does your wife think I'm responsible for the upgrade illness then? 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_E Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Amateur build before end of May 98 is visible smoke test. All other have emissions test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfourth Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 i think you need to find a petrolhead garage not a jobsworth garage Mine failed miserably on emmissions but the tester retested it but mistakenly forgot to put the probe on the right car silly billy 😬 Blatting round aberdeen wondering wether to buy a jumper or heater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Mine failed emissions first time, different garage, bloke who was interested, he knew the tricks to get the emissions down..Well worth finding one of these........Passed easily! Dannyboy - *tongue*back in blat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Do a search... there is a statement from Caterham. Bottom line is if you are pre-SVA (something like Aug. 1997) then it is 1975 spec of visual emissions. If you are post that, then your emissions are linked to your SVA ticket. I had mine MOT'd on Monday, v. friendly garage who we had dealt with for years. Worried about the extra stick they have been getting from officaldom, they phoned up Bristol for a reference on my Seven. The person at the other end said, "we have endless call about these cars - put my name as a reference on the ticket and treat it at 1975 visual spec" The important bit is that the car must be non-factory built... So I have another 12 month to play... but not right now, as I'm taking the engine out - well its a nice day for it! JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 222bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 As thinforth suggests its not unheard of for some garages to poke the probe up the rear of another exaust, that just happens to be running nearby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k80rum Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 I'll add my voice to the ones suggesting finding another garage if possible. My 1999 home-built SLR passed it's MOT in de-CAT'd form, simply because the enthusiast tester didn't bother with an emissions check (very kind of him) I'm now considering a 300 mile round trip back to my 'tame' garage if for no other reason than it'll save this kind of hassle.. Darren E K80RUM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted May 14, 2004 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Darren may have a point. I am always asked whether I have a cat or not. Replying "yes" means I get a full emissions check. I wonder what would happen if I said no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 here,s an odd one Ive probably built one of the last crossflow engined caterhams ever not due for mot until next year. The engine block is 1973 surely the current emmission standards don,t apply the engine is in good nick (rebuilt recently) but the carbs were probably off a Daimler which was on the first London to Brighton run in 1903! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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