14 replies to this topic

[hazpalmer14]

Right guys thought I'd post on here because I'd get a proper answer!

The misses mini has just been through its MOT today. And it failed in the emissions. Trouble is it is a standard car with pea shooter exhaust etc. Its a 92 L reg, it has a hif38 and a cat as well. Iv just fitted a new cat and wound the mixture of a little but it still fails the emissions.

Now I don't want to wind the mixture so far off it barely idles. That's just masking the problem. I understand the required emissions test surround this age/type of mini is a bit of a grey area with different people saying different things. Il post the results below.

First fast idle test

CO <=0.3% Mine was 1.53%
HC <=200ppm 61ppm
Lambda 0.95-1.09. 0.96


Second fast idle

CO 1.55%
HC 68ppm
Lambda 0.96

Natural idle test

CO <=0.75% Mine was 2.27%



Just noticed on the test sheet it's got vehicle description 1.3l auto tbi engine and catalyst equipped vehicle with close loop control.

Am I being tested under the wrong criteria?

[AVV IT]

I'm confused, not that it really matters, but surely if it's an L reg then it's a 94 model?

That aside, it appears that your car has failed the full CAT test, which it isn't actually required to pass as it's a carb model (that's assuming that it isn't an Spi that's been converted to carb of course). As I understand it, on a post 91 model, the tester is supposed to run a full CAT test first, and if it fails, then unless the engine is specifically listed in the emissions handbook (which carb engines aren't), they're supposed to then run the basic emissions test instead, which from memory allows CO at something like 3.5%.

Sadly this sounds like the all too common problem, of MOT inspectors at mainstream garages not understanding how the regulations are applied to older cars. To be fair to the inspector though, 94 was the crossover year between carb and fuel injection though, so that may be the cause of confusion.

[hazpalmer14]

L is 92/93 and it's always been a carb from standard.

[AVV IT]

You might want to check that, as an "L" reg really shouldnt be a 1992 model, the "L" prefix denotes the registration period of August 1993 to July 1994 http://www.theaa.com...mberplates.html ,so unless yours was a 92 model that sat in the dealership for over 12 months before it was registered, then it should be a 93/94 model. As I mentioned earlier, that was the crossover year from carb to fuel injection for the non cooper models, so it would be more likely to have been an earlier model (I.e a 93 model as opposed to a 94)

Either way, if it's a carb model from standard, then it's not required to pass the full CAT emissions test and is only required to pass the lower basic emissions test.

The only classic minis that require a full CAT emmsions test are those first used after 31/07/1995 (with the last carb model being produced in 1994) and also those 92-95 models with following engine numbers: (all of which are fuel injection)

Mini Model Code XN:

1.3l Auto TBi Engine Code X Serial No 059845 onwards
1.3l Manual TBi Engine Code X Serial No 059822 onwards
1.3l TBi Engine Code Y Serial No 060488 onwards
1.3l MPi Engine Code Z

All others only require a Non Cat Test (i.e. - CO <= 3.5% HC <= 1200ppm)

[hazpalmer14]

Just pulled out the log book and it was first registered 11/93 so as you say it's a late 93. The model is that the same as the VIN?

[AVV IT]

Errrr...that's a very good question!

That info is taken from the MOT/emissions handbook and I always assumed it referred to the actual engine number, (as opposed to the VIN/Chassis no), but then thinking about it, A-Series engine numbers tend to start numercialy to denote engine size/cc, not with an alphabetic prefix like "XN". So yeah maybe it is referring to the actual VIN/Chassis number instead (which from memory should begin with something like "SA" or similar, on a carb model like yours, as opposed to "XN"). Then again, I don't think I've ever had any dealings with fuel injection engine numbers, so I suppose it's possible that their engine numbers are in a different format.

[Cerberus]

I reckon the XN bit is the VIN number, just missing the first SAX bit, as my VIN on my V5 for my 92 (K) Italian Job starts SAXXN.....

 

So yes, MOT man has run the wrong test for a carb'd engine.

[AlexMozza]

You could just lean it out for the MoT and then reset afterwards.

That way tyhe car is then road worthy, then you can fix the issue for good. 

[AVV IT]

I don't think there is an issue to fix for good though, at 1.53% CO that's already a low reading for a carb model. Neither of my mini's run at under 2.5%! Leaning it off because the MOT inspector is testing to the wrong standard really isn't the answer, the OP finding a mini friendly garage that understands how to apply the regs to older cars is what's needed.

[hazpalmer14]

Cheers guys the mot tester normally deals with ferraris of all ages. He does lik classic cars but I think he's unsure of the grey area surrounding a mini of this age. Iv got a couple of links to the mot testers manual and stuff that il show him and hopefully get the correct test done

[cal844]

Your tester should really be running a basic test on the car!

 

 

But just to be sure type your engine number into the following website

 

http://www.guess-wor...Tech/engine.htm

 

if you cant work out how to use the site, pm me your  engine number ( from your log book AND the engine, this way we can work out which type of engine is fitted

[AlexMozza]

Finding an MoT tester, that can properly test Mini's seems to be a hard task! Even worse with the Injection ones. Was there not a thread with 'Friendly MoT Testers'?

[AVV IT]

Finding an MoT tester, that can properly test Mini's seems to be a hard task! Even worse with the Injection ones. Was there not a thread with 'Friendly MoT Testers'?

Yeah that's a fair point, I wasn't aware of an existing thread like that, but I suppose we could start one. I'm sure many of us here have mini friendly MOT testers we use and would recommend. I know of at least two in my area.

[AlexMozza]

 

Finding an MoT tester, that can properly test Mini's seems to be a hard task! Even worse with the Injection ones. Was there not a thread with 'Friendly MoT Testers'?

Yeah that's a fair point, I wasn't aware of an existing thread like that, but I suppose we could start one. I'm sure many of us here have mini friendly MOT testers we use and would recommend. I know of at least two in my area.

 

 

I know a good one, Your a TMF Team member, could you start a Sticky? 

[AVV IT]

I'll discuss the idea with the rest of the TMF team and let you know.