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[henryd]

I would say the fast idle failed because tester was too lazy to connect the sensor up. I've had that fail before and still get a pass ;-)

All of the Vosa approved gas testers let you bypass the rpm pick up if the vehicle has its own tacho

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Some info here Opti http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=8&h=&t=233122

Other searches point suggest to check plugs, apparently there are 2 per chamber on these? Apparently its not that noticeable for one to fail, but will drive as normal.

Thanks, Mr Tunnie. That makes interesting reading. I'm hoping there is not a problem with the cat.

Yes.....two plugs per rotor. One leading .....one trailing. All four plugs cost  around £200 from Mazda or about £70 from Ebay. They need renewing every 36,000 miles and are a piece of piss to change. Simply remove the passenger side front wheel to access them.

Explains why these are cheap as chips on trader, that combined with oil use, garage costs must be huge. Good to DIY though 

Oil consumption of 500ml per 1,000 miles. No worse than my Omega. Very easy to home service. .....and remember that cambelt changes are "dirt cheap" to do.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Thanks Kevin and Manual Elite V6. I'll check for exhaust leaks.

I'm glad you think that the cat is Okay. Is there a code reader that can confirm or eliminate problems in any specific parts. I'm thinking coils......cat.....lambda...etc...etc

P.S. Must work on my MV6, too. 

[mantahatch]

If I had a 4 year old car with only 9500 miles on it I would be banging on the dealers door to fix it. Few years back mum got a new ECU and cat for a 99 Astra. Now I know that was a known fault, but they could have been difficult about t, but they where as good as gold.

I would have thought Mazda would want to do the right thing on such a low mileage newish car. If they don't then they are not a patch on Vauxhall dealers IMHO. I have also had 2 cars (Astra and Vectra) repaired on corrosion warranty, one of them outside the 6 year warranty. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If I had a 4 year old car with only 9500 miles on it I would be banging on the dealers door to fix it. Few years back mum got a new ECU and cat for a 99 Astra. Now I know that was a known fault, but they could have been difficult about t, but they where as good as gold.

I would have thought Mazda would want to do the right thing on such a low mileage newish car. If they don't then they are not a patch on Vauxhall dealers IMHO. I have also had 2 cars (Astra and Vectra) repaired on corrosion warranty, one of them outside the 6 year warranty.

If the cat or coils prove to be the problem, I shall certainly be asking Mazda to pay or at least contribute to the costs.

[Kevin Wood]

Some info here Opti http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=8&h=&t=233122

Other searches point suggest to check plugs, apparently there are 2 per chamber on these? Apparently its not that noticeable for one to fail, but will drive as normal.

Thanks, Mr Tunnie. That makes interesting reading. I'm hoping there is not a problem with the cat.

Yes.....two plugs per rotor. One leading .....one trailing. All four plugs cost  around £200 from Mazda or about £70 from Ebay. They need renewing every 36,000 miles and are a piece of piss to change. Simply remove the passenger side front wheel to access them.

Explains why these are cheap as chips on trader, that combined with oil use, garage costs must be huge. Good to DIY though 

Doesn't strike me as a particularly short service interval for plugs on a reasonably highly strung engine. You'd be mad to try for much more than that out of any engine, despite what the service schedule might say.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Is it possible to get an emissions test completed without an MOT?........and if I can, is it worth the hassle as the MOT is only £35.

It seems the only way  I can check if the emissions are within guidelines is to pay pay for an MOT. This could prove expensive if the car keeps failing.......F***ing Jap crap.

[Kevin Wood]

Is it possible to get an emissions test completed without an MOT?........and if I can, is it worth the hassle as the MOT is only £35.

It seems the only way  I can check if the emissions are within guidelines is to pay pay for an MOT. This could prove expensive if the car keeps failing.......F***ing Jap crap.

You should be able to get a free,or at least, cheap, re-test at the place who did the original MOT.

It'd be good to have a look at some live data first, of course, but if all else fails a good, long motorway run followed by an "italian tune-up" might wake up a lazy lambda sensor.

HC level is OK so I'd be surprised if it was a plug issue but might be worth sticking a new set in.

I'm wondering, as it's got a rather low mileage, if it's done mostly occasional short trips and that combined with a bit of oil in the exhaust has soiled the sensor, hence the italian tune-up.

[Webby the Bear]

Hahaha i'd never heard of the 'italian tune up until yesterday' and now i've heard it several times 

on a serious note, can i clarify that when we refer to changing the ''plugs'' are we talking about the o2 (lambda) semsors?

[Sir Tigger KC]

I think I'd be inclined to follow KW's advice.    Throw a new set of plugs in, take it for a damn good run and Italian tune and chance my arm on the free retest!    Does Mrs Opti use it regularly and what sort use is it getting? 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Is it possible to get an emissions test completed without an MOT?........and if I can, is it worth the hassle as the MOT is only £35.

It seems the only way  I can check if the emissions are within guidelines is to pay pay for an MOT. This could prove expensive if the car keeps failing.......F***ing Jap crap.

You should be able to get a free,or at least, cheap, re-test at the place who did the original MOT.

It'd be good to have a look at some live data first, of course, but if all else fails a good, long motorway run followed by an "italian tune-up" might wake up a lazy lambda sensor.

HC level is OK so I'd be surprised if it was a plug issue but might be worth sticking a new set in.

I'm wondering, as it's got a rather low mileage, if it's done mostly occasional short trips and that combined with a bit of oil in the exhaust has soiled the sensor, hence the italian tune-up.

I truly believe that the Mazda dealer who performed the MOT had no idea what an Rx8 is. So no retest there.

I agree that the car has probably been used for short trips, Kevin. It has only done 1200 miles since the last MOT (1000 of those in the last two months)

[Lazydocker]

Is it possible to get an emissions test completed without an MOT?........and if I can, is it worth the hassle as the MOT is only £35.

It seems the only way  I can check if the emissions are within guidelines is to pay pay for an MOT. This could prove expensive if the car keeps failing.......F***ing Jap crap.

You should be able to get a free,or at least, cheap, re-test at the place who did the original MOT.

It'd be good to have a look at some live data first, of course, but if all else fails a good, long motorway run followed by an "italian tune-up" might wake up a lazy lambda sensor.

HC level is OK so I'd be surprised if it was a plug issue but might be worth sticking a new set in.

I'm wondering, as it's got a rather low mileage, if it's done mostly occasional short trips and that combined with a bit of oil in the exhaust has soiled the sensor, hence the italian tune-up.

I truly believe that the Mazda dealer who performed the MOT had no idea what an Rx8 is. So no retest there.

I agree that the car has probably been used for short trips, Kevin. It has only done 1200 miles since the last MOT (1000 of those in the last two months)

I'd look into that... I'm fairly sure that you are entitled to the free retest (if it only failed on emissions) by VOSA guidelines

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I think I'd be inclined to follow KW's advice.    Throw a new set of plugs in, take it for a damn good run and Italian tune and chance my arm on the free retest!    Does Mrs Opti use it regularly and what sort use is it getting? 

 TH. She prefers her 53 plate Corsa. I'll never understand women.......I only bought it for her because she wanted it. Crazy bint.

[Kevin Wood]

Is it possible to get an emissions test completed without an MOT?........and if I can, is it worth the hassle as the MOT is only £35.

It seems the only way  I can check if the emissions are within guidelines is to pay pay for an MOT. This could prove expensive if the car keeps failing.......F***ing Jap crap.

You should be able to get a free,or at least, cheap, re-test at the place who did the original MOT.

It'd be good to have a look at some live data first, of course, but if all else fails a good, long motorway run followed by an "italian tune-up" might wake up a lazy lambda sensor.

HC level is OK so I'd be surprised if it was a plug issue but might be worth sticking a new set in.

I'm wondering, as it's got a rather low mileage, if it's done mostly occasional short trips and that combined with a bit of oil in the exhaust has soiled the sensor, hence the italian tune-up.

I truly believe that the Mazda dealer who performed the MOT had no idea what an Rx8 is. So no retest there.

I agree that the car has probably been used for short trips, Kevin. It has only done 1200 miles since the last MOT (1000 of those in the last two months)

I'd look into that... I'm fairly sure that you are entitled to the free retest (if it only failed on emissions) by VOSA guidelines

Yep, I think so, and they should be displayed in the premises too.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Is it possible to get an emissions test completed without an MOT?........and if I can, is it worth the hassle as the MOT is only £35.

It seems the only way  I can check if the emissions are within guidelines is to pay pay for an MOT. This could prove expensive if the car keeps failing.......F***ing Jap crap.

You should be able to get a free,or at least, cheap, re-test at the place who did the original MOT.

It'd be good to have a look at some live data first, of course, but if all else fails a good, long motorway run followed by an "italian tune-up" might wake up a lazy lambda sensor.

HC level is OK so I'd be surprised if it was a plug issue but might be worth sticking a new set in.

I'm wondering, as it's got a rather low mileage, if it's done mostly occasional short trips and that combined with a bit of oil in the exhaust has soiled the sensor, hence the italian tune-up.

I truly believe that the Mazda dealer who performed the MOT had no idea what an Rx8 is. So no retest there.

I agree that the car has probably been used for short trips, Kevin. It has only done 1200 miles since the last MOT (1000 of those in the last two months)

I'd look into that... I'm fairly sure that you are entitled to the free retest (if it only failed on emissions) by VOSA guidelines

Yep, I think so, and they should be displayed in the premises too.

Sorry, Kevin and LD. By the words "no retest there" I meant that the dealership was shite, and I wouldn't allow them to MOT my Trabant. ( should I ever own one)