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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: pigtown on 31 January 2011, 19:19:13

Title: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 31 January 2011, 19:19:13
Failed the MOT today with:
Front lower suspension arms excessive play in ball joint, Front track rods end ball pin shank loose, Parking brake has no reserve travel,
Exhaust emissions failed Fast Idle lambda 1.19 (limits .97 to 1.03), 2nd fast idle CO level 2.05% (max 0.3), HC level 526 (limit 200), Lambda .93, Natural idle 1.92% (limit 0.5).

The emissions worry me - any ideas (lambda sensor, CAT)?

Now I know why the alignment is out - need to fix these before going to WIM.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: TheBoy on 31 January 2011, 19:22:06
I'd like to see live data on that before condemming anything.  Got access to a decent code reader?

I'm kind of expecting all the BLMs for idle and partial load to be stuck at 255...
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 31 January 2011, 21:09:43
The only code reader I know of near me is Entwood. He helped me with some diagnosis last year.
I'll try the MOT station to see if they can diagnose any better.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 31 January 2011, 21:11:35
Quote
The only code reader I know of near me is Entwood. He helped me with some diagnosis last year.
I'll try the MOT station to see if they can diagnose any better.

Always willing to try ... I'm around Thursday/Friday if that helps .. :)

or after 6 any evening
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 31 January 2011, 21:47:00
Hi Nige,  Thanks for the offer I might give you a call later in the week.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 01 February 2011, 18:32:46
The MOT station diagnosed further and said both Lambda sensors need replacing and quoted £400... Apparently the do not switch quick enough.  I'm not convinced they know what they are talking about though so will take up Entwood's kind offer later this week.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 February 2011, 19:27:34
Quote
The MOT station diagnosed further and said both Lambda sensors need replacing and quoted £400... Apparently the do not switch quick enough.  I'm not convinced they know what they are talking about though so will take up Entwood's kind offer later this week.

I concur!

Get some live data including coolant temp sensor readings.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 February 2011, 19:28:12
Was that on petrol or lpg?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 01 February 2011, 19:38:43
It was running in LPG for the MOT. I normally run LPG though - would that make a difference?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 February 2011, 19:45:23
It does raise a question as the petrol setup has better closed loop control.......the question is, was the lpg setup working correctly.

Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 01 February 2011, 19:50:17
The LPG is only a mixer system. I have had a problem for a while when starting on petrol first thing it splutters a bit and runs better when switched to LPG.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: mark.adams on 01 February 2011, 19:53:12
Mine were like that on both petrol and LPG, failed emissions, changed the CAT and it was sorted.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 01 February 2011, 19:58:35
How much is a new cat?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: RobG on 01 February 2011, 20:04:48
Quote
How much is a new cat?
Bloody expensive from VX. IF your cat is fubared better off trying to source a S/H genuine
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 February 2011, 20:50:11
Quote
The LPG is only a mixer system. I have had a problem for a while when starting on petrol first thing it splutters a bit and runs better when switched to LPG.

And so the alarm bells ring.......I wonder what the block learn values are....
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 01 February 2011, 21:21:05
Are they testing emissions correctly if it's running on LPG ??? 

Unless they have a "switchable" tester, or a tester calibrated for LPG (they then have to do a calculation to get the "right" value) they should not be doing the emissions test.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_730.htm

para 7
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 February 2011, 21:22:46
When you get it on "My Naff Code Reader" Entwood, check the idle block learn values, I bet there at the end of the scale.......
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 01 February 2011, 21:24:26
Quote
When you get it on "My Naff Code Reader" Entwood, check the idle block learn values, I bet there at the end of the scale.......

Whats one of them then ....   :)


Maxscan GS500 here ...  should still read, hopefully, the relevant bits ..  but it's no where near as "all singing" as an "My Naff Code Reader" ..

:)
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 February 2011, 21:29:51
Ok.

I would expect the idle on petrol to work well after they are rest and probably LPG to be awful.....so a good little test which will prove or rule out the possibility
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 04 February 2011, 17:17:26
Had Keith around today and slapped the reader on ... results are :

Fault codes - engine not running

P0650 - MIL light inop !!!! and confirmed it don't work ..

and a load of transmision faults

P0706
P1740
P1781
P1870
P1890

Started engine and rechecked ....  additional fault

P0141 - O2 sensor heater .... I wonder if that is the cause of the emissions problem ??

Now this is his 2.2 running on petrol not LPG at idle..  Live data, I couldn't find a "block learn" so this is what I got ...

FUELSYS1 - CL
FUELSYS2 - N/A
LOADPCT% - 17.6
ETC C - 70
SHRTFT1% - -0.8
LONGFT1% - 11.7
RPM - 772
VSS 0
IAT - 22
MAF - 2.89
TP % - 2.7
02B1S1 - 0.135 - 0.74
SHRTFTB1S1 - -2.3 - +1.6
O2B1S1 - 0.425

Engine off, Cleared all faults, rechecked .. just the P0650 as expected.

Restart engine and check again

P0650
P0141 - O2 sensor heater

I'll let him take you through the rest of the fails .. but nothing a front suspension rebuild won't cure ...  :)

HTH the diagnosis by those who understand these things ...  :)


If it needs more we'll arrange for it to be redone .. but live data on the GS500 is limited to what I've put up .. :)

A Thought  ... perhaps we should have checked it running on LPG as well .. :(
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 05 February 2011, 12:51:13
Any thoughts from "them that know" .. ?

:)
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 05 February 2011, 18:51:20
Thanks for the help Nigel.

Another question for the guys out there - The MOT station quoted for replacing 2 lambda sensors but i'm only aware of one on the exhaust after the cat. Is there another? By the way they wanted £400 for the pair fitted!!
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 February 2011, 15:52:03
Quote
Thanks for the help Nigel.

Another question for the guys out there - The MOT station quoted for replacing 2 lambda sensors but i'm only aware of one on the exhaust after the cat. Is there another? By the way they wanted £400 for the pair fitted!!

There should be one in front of the cat as well. The one after the cat is only there to monitor the cat performance so changing this will certainly be a waste of money. P0141 relates to the heater in the post-cat sensor, so it may have a problem, but it's not what's causing the emissions issue, IMHO.

I can see the long term fuel trim is -11.7% on that live data. More than I would expect but not too alarming.

Is the engine getting up to full working temperature?

I would be inclined to take it for an Italian tune-up on petrol only, then try another emissions check. This time get the print-out and post up the results. Don't run it on LPG. Let's work out if there's a problem on petrol first.

Kevin
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 06 February 2011, 17:31:46
I just checked the post cat sensor and I can't get 12V on any of the wires so wonder if the voltage isn't getting through to the heater. i'm assuming it is a high resistance wire with 12V applied to create heat?
There are 4 wires Black, Grey and 2 white.

Kevin - The car was up to temperature.
I don't have a lot of faith in the original test station so will try somehwere else to check the emissions. Any recommendations in Swindon anyone.

I've had a look at the track rod ends and they are shot - lots of side to side rocking. Is it worth just changing the ends or the whole assembly?

The wishbones seem ok and only one side has any top to bottom rocking but I think that may be wheel bearing.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 07 February 2011, 13:13:42
Am I right in thinking the post cat lambda sensor heater would be the white wires and it should have 12V permanently on when running?

Also does this one feedback to adjust the fuel mixture and hence the emissions?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Kevin Wood on 07 February 2011, 13:24:12
Quote
Am I right in thinking the post cat lambda sensor heater would be the white wires and it should have 12V permanently on when running?

Yes, it will be the 2 white wires. They are controlled by the ECU, though, so it's possible it has closed-loop heating of the sensor. It may not apply 12v to these wires permanently. It certainly won't apply anything until the engine's running.

The best bet is to measure the resistance between the two white wires into the sensor with as multimeter on ohms in case the heater is open circuit. 

Quote
Also does this one feedback to adjust the fuel mixture and hence the emissions?

No. This sensor is only used to check that the cat is working. The front (pre-cat) sensor is used for mixture control. The post-cat sensor has no effect on the emissions or engine running. Hence my thoughts that the main problem is elsewhere. ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 07 February 2011, 19:16:59
The 2 white wires into the sensor measure 5.5Mohms.
That's pretty high so I'm thinking the sensor heater is dead. Anyone got one to measure and confirm?

Is the pre cat sensor accessed from under the car or though the engine bay? tried a quick look and couldn't see it, although it is dark out there!
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Kevin Wood on 07 February 2011, 19:47:05
Quote
The 2 white wires into the sensor measure 5.5Mohms.
That's pretty high so I'm thinking the sensor heater is dead. Anyone got one to measure and confirm? :-/

Is the pre cat sensor accessed from under the car or though the engine bay? tried a quick look and couldn't see it, although it is dark out there!

I don't know for sure for the 2.2 sensors but typically would expect to see 10-15 ohms. 5.5M is an open circuit for all practical purposes so that explains the trouble code (but not the emissions problem, I'd say :().

As for the pre-cat sensor it'll be right up on the downpipe or even the exhaust manifold. Probably still best accessed from the underside though.

Kevin
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 09 February 2011, 20:07:01
FYI - got a new lambda sensor and the heater circuit measures 5 Ohm. Will fit at the weekend.
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Kevin Wood on 10 February 2011, 11:18:05
Quote
FYI - got a new lambda sensor and the heater circuit measures 5 Ohm. Will fit at the weekend.

OK. If that doesn't cure it try swapping the new sensor with the pre-cat sensor so the new one is pre-cat and the old one post-cat.

Kevin
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 14 February 2011, 19:01:12
Did all the suspension work and changed the post cat sensor.  retest passed all the suspension tests but still failed emissions.
The failed readings are fast idle tests 1.Lambda 1.16 (limit .97 - 1.03), 2. Lambda 1.17.
So consistently high lambda reading.
I did have a look at the pre cat sensor and it is much more difficult to get to and the wiring loom isn't standard (probably due to LPG) so I need a better look at it to figure it out.
Out of interest is the MAF reading Nigel did in range? I ask as it runs badly initially on petrol and that seems to be brought up as a common fault. That would be easier to change!

also the new sensor is about 10mm longer than the old one and hits the heatshield stud on start up!
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: TheBoy on 14 February 2011, 19:28:47
Quote
Did all the suspension work and changed the post cat sensor.  retest passed all the suspension tests but still failed emissions.
The failed readings are fast idle tests 1.Lambda 1.16 (limit .97 - 1.03), 2. Lambda 1.17.
So consistently high lambda reading.
I did have a look at the pre cat sensor and it is much more difficult to get to and the wiring loom isn't standard (probably due to LPG) so I need a better look at it to figure it out.
Out of interest is the MAF reading Nigel did in range? I ask as it runs badly initially on petrol and that seems to be brought up as a common fault. That would be easier to change!

also the new sensor is about 10mm longer than the old one and hits the heatshield stud on start up!
That needs to be resolved. Forget LPG for now.

Were the BLMs reset?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: pigtown on 14 February 2011, 19:43:18
Don't know how to reset the BLMs (Block learn values you mentioned earlier)?
Nigels reader couldn't see them. Is there a way to reset them without a reader?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 14 February 2011, 20:10:19
Quote
Quote
Did all the suspension work and changed the post cat sensor.  retest passed all the suspension tests but still failed emissions.
The failed readings are fast idle tests 1.Lambda 1.16 (limit .97 - 1.03), 2. Lambda 1.17.
So consistently high lambda reading.
I did have a look at the pre cat sensor and it is much more difficult to get to and the wiring loom isn't standard (probably due to LPG) so I need a better look at it to figure it out.
Out of interest is the MAF reading Nigel did in range? I ask as it runs badly initially on petrol and that seems to be brought up as a common fault. That would be easier to change!

also the new sensor is about 10mm longer than the old one and hits the heatshield stud on start up!
That needs to be resolved. Forget LPG for now.

Were the BLMs reset?

All the maxscan can do AFAIK is to remove all active and pending faults, which is what I did. Readings are in the post on the first page


Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: TheBoy on 14 February 2011, 20:13:27
Hmmm, my South-of-the-M4 geography isn't great  :-[, despite getting non-stop Southampton news here  >:(

But how far are you from Kevin Wood?
Title: Re: MOT fail including emissions
Post by: Entwood on 14 February 2011, 20:15:19
Quote
Hmmm, my South-of-the-M4 geography isn't great  :-[, despite getting non-stop Southampton news here  >:(

But how far are you from Kevin Wood?

It's about an hour and a quarter if there's no traffic ..  :)

70 odd miles if memory serves ..  :)