MOT emission problems?

[tvr tommy]

I'm having some trouble getting the MOT garage to pass my car on emissions. The car is a Mercedes 300ce-24 these where manufactured with both a cat and without a cat. My car was registered on the 1.08.92 which vosa state is the date the full emission test has to be carried out, which is a pain in the rear. The strange thing is the MOT garage has tested the car as an E320 (says that on the emission sheet), which is a completely different engine, these all came with cats. So is my car not listed on the emission testing equipment? If so I've read that the car has to be tested on a pre 1.08.92 emissions test. I'm I right in thinking this? Also as my car was registered on the 1st of August 1992. It would have been manufactured before that date.

After failing the MOT I've taken the car to my local Mercedes indie to plug it up to their diagnostic equipment at £45 a go. It comes up with no faults. They are now going to start doing some manual diagnostics, which is going to cost me £57 an hour. I have a feeling I'm paying them to check the car over and there really isn't any fault and the MOT station has failed my car when it really has nothing wrong with it. If they have done that is there anyway to get Vosa to pay me back for all the unnecessary work I've now had carried out.

I really need to get some ammo for tomorrow, so is there anyone in the know who can fill in the blanks for me. Any help would be great!

Thanks

I also posted this on Pistonheads, so sorry for some of the silly details.

 

[gt-83]

i dont know if this is relevant and perhaps a bit naughty.....my old 300e used to fail miserably on the emissions,,, i used to pull a hose at the back of the inlet manifold and it would pass!!,,,,,this year i replaced the fuel/ air mixer and it passed without having to resort to pulling the hose

 

[tvr tommy]

I found this letter that someone got from VOSA on pistonheads.

This is a reply from VOA

“The lack of a catalytic converter is not an automatic fail in itself, but a vehicle may struggle to meet the required emission limits without one. Prior to 31 July 1992, a spark ignition engine is required to meet limits of CO<=3.5% and HC<=1200ppm. Between 1 August 1992 and 31July 1995, the limits will depend on whether or not the vehicle is listed in the current edition of the In Service Exhaust Emission Standards for Road Vehicles book ( currently the Ninth Edition) which all MOT stations are required to hold. If there is an exact match in this book for the vehicle ( regarding engine number/type, model, chassis no, etc. The exact requirements vary between manufacturers) then the vehicle will be tested to the limits in the book. If an exact match cannot be found, the vehicle will again need to meet limits of CO<=3.5% and HC<=1200ppm. I have looked up your particular model and engine and, as stated in your e-mail, this combination is not listed and therefore the vehicle would need to meet limits of CO<=3.5% and HC<=1200ppm. From 1 August 1995, the requirements again depend on whether or not the vehicle is listed in the Emissions book. As your particular combination is not listed, vehicles of this age would need to be tested to the following limits: Minimum oil temperature : 60C Idle (450 - 1500rpm) CO<=4.5% Fast Idle (2500-3000rpm) CO<=0.3% HC<=200ppm Lambda= 0.97 to 1.03 There is one possible exemption to the above requirements. If the customer can provide a letter from the manufacturer, quoting the chassis number and engine number of the vehicle, stating that the engine as originally installed could not meet the relevant UK emissions limits. In this case, the vehicle can be tested to the next lowest limit.” Hope this clears things up...

As the MOT tester put the car as an E320 on the emission test I would take a guess he couldn't find a 300ce-24 on the system. That letter states that if it's not in the emission book, it doesn't need to have a Cat test carried out even if it has one fitted.