Help mot fail

[Iain430]

my 1999 e430 has just failed its mot on emissions
CO 3.463%
HC 288 ppm
LAMBDA 0.882
tester thinks it could be the cats but when he was testing the car it did smell
like it was running very rich:fail
any help would be gratefully received

 

[BlackC55]

You need to have the codes check on a Star first.

 

[Iain430]

there are no warning lights on the dash but will get it checked

 

[BlackC55]

The Llambda values need to be checked

 

[Iain430]

many thanks will do

 

[meoldbangar]

my 1999 e430 has just failed its mot on emissions
CO 3.463%
HC 288 ppm
LAMBDA 0.882
tester thinks it could be the cats but when he was testing the car it did smell
like it was running very rich:fail
any help would be gratefully received

What I learnt when mine failed
The oil put in by the mechanic was incorrect - semi synthetic, should of been
synthetic
Checked everything
If you give it a spin down the motorway it only reduces by 0.2% when hot (ok if you are the borderline)
Had new cat fitted
Readings of 0.01 and 0.02 for a 17 year old car thats been serviced
If your car has been well serviced its the CAT

 

[Iain430]

change the oil yesterday and 12 months(only done 5000 miles) before that only use MB spec fully synthetic oil
cheers

 

[WG M-B]

As Ollie said get it on star or a good alternative machine to check what's what on live data.
Is it idling/ running well?

 

[Dieselman]

That CO reading is way too high even for a non cat car, the Lambda value reflects that.

 

[WG M-B]

That CO reading is way too high even for a non cat car, the Lambda value reflects that.

Absolutely. He has not commented with regards to running issues etc though. I would expect rough idle and flawed power delivery with those readings.

 

[Iain430]

slight uneven idle smells a bit rich but give it sum beans and she flys

 

[Dieselman]

but give it sum beans and she flys

Oh, well. Sorted then...

 

[WG M-B]

Then a star test would be good. It can be narrowed down to either bank/ failed lambda sensors etc.

 

[Iain430]

Will be sorted if I get it through the mot
Will get it on star tomorrow will post my finding.
many thanks for all your help

 

[Iain430]

well got the car on star and it came up with a maf fault.
went to eurocarparts they had one in stock (bosch one £139.20 ouch)
back to mot station for a retest
CO 0.006%
HC 39ppm
Lambda 1.004

YAAHOOO:bannana: IT PASSED
Many thanks to all
cheers Iain

 

[Howard]

Good price for an m113 MAF , genuine Bosch too !

 

[Dieselman]

A Nice fix.

You should recoup the spend in fuel savings.

 

[Iain430]

Lol mite get 26 to the gallon insted 25

 

[Dieselman]

4% saving...

 

[WG M-B]

Excellent news