I have a 1994 WRX Jap Import. Struggling to get through emmissions, fails on CO which is 4.8 and lambda.
My car is running a full Blitz Nur spec exhaust system (brand new) with high flow cat. It is running the lambda sensor in the hedders which i have checked and it's working fine (also replaced with new one). I was thinking of buying this lambda sensor off ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
But this sensor is supposed to go AFTER the cat/down pipe and having just checked my exhaust i have noticed there is only a bung directly after the turbo before the cat in the down pipe.
If i bought this sensor would it make any difference putting it where this bung is? The car has the standard wiring loom to go to this sensor also.
Cheers, Baz

 

Your vehicle does not need any cats at all to pass the emissions test.

Go here for the LS02. Fitted in the header is perfectly fine.

Read my thread here.

 

Anything after a 1993 (K onwards) needs a CAT to pass an emmissions MOT which is a 0.2 on the CO and mine's running at 4.8??

 

I've been here, done this and i have the t-shirt. It's an import and cannot be found on the data base. As my tester found!

Now go and read the thread i linked you to above.

Oooo look, answer yes=>yes=>no

 

As above mate he's right. My old scoob was a 1994 wrx, doesn't have to have a cat fitted as turbo imprezas were not about in the uk till 1995 I think. This means if they look up your car on the d.o.t emissions database, there is no equivalent model for that year so they can't reference the car.

 

Ok if that is right they would carry out a none cat test which max limit is 3.5, so mine would still fail as its running 4.8 co. I work for a garage and we always MOT Jap imports on a CAT test. and we are an JAp import specialist.
??

 

That is because your Lambda is fudged. Replace and it will pass.

In which case, your nominated tester is in need of a refresher course.
This email reply direct from VOSA:

"Dear Mr B,

Thank you for your email enquiry dated 23rd September 2010, concerning an emissions test.

The 'In Service Emissions' booklet is a UK specification booklet. If the
vehicle is an import then this information would not be captured in this
booklet. As the vehicle in question is an imported vehicle then depending
on the age would depend on whether the vehicle would be required to go
through a non-CAT test or whether it would go through a CAT test using the
default limits.

You have stated that vehicle registration B13 BAT is a 1993 vehicle. Due
to this the vehicle would be required to go through a non-CAT test and need
to meet the following limits:

CO <= 3.5%
HC <= 1200ppm

I hope this information has assisted you with your enquiry, but if you have
any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind Regards

Rebecca
VOSA Contact Centre
Operations Directorate
Tel: 0300 123 9000"

 

That may be the case but as I said above if it is done by the book I.e database is checked then there is no need to cat test them. Mine failed it's first mot with no cats in place, I printed a document of the Internet like the one above and took it back to test centre. They swiftly apologised as they did not realise, tested it on the non cat test and flew through! Happy days!

 

It's the same situation with my missus starlet as they can't reference it against anything on the database.

 

Thanks for the above help, I will have to do some more research as I have tried it with a new Lambda sensor and it makes no difference, I have checked that the sensor is working with our Diagnostic machine and it is switching as it should, and gives the correct voltage.
So now I need help on how to bring the emissions down as it is then really......

 

I had a knackered lambda sensor on my old 1993 WRX, causing high CO like you have.

Replaced with a new OEM one, but still no luck on the CO. Much head scratching, so investigated state of the 14yo (at the time) coilpacks. Two were well gone - micro-fractures due to age - so were replaced (the old ones were causing inaudible and unnoticeable misfiring causing rich mixtures due to unburnt fuel). The combo of new O2 sensor and coilpacks got the CO down to the 1000ths of a %, and passed!

But the cat was 'set alight' beforehand by ragging the car round the block for 10-15min and immediately retested.

 

What mods do you have?
Was the cat up to temp before testing?

I run a fully decatted 3" down pipe and 3" system, my CO2 was 0.57% and HC was 127 ppm.

Which Lambda did you use to replace, new or used item, cheapo universal or a Bosch unit??
I tried a cheapo and it lasted a day, less than 100 miles!

 

Its running a standard ECU, Apexi Induction kit, NGK PFR7b plugs, Blitz exhaust, high flow cat in it. Exhaust probably hasnt done 1000 miles yet.
Yeh the cat was up to temp, MOT tester at work tried for ages to get it to come down but it wouldnt.

I have a few spare genuine Lambda's I have tried them and they made no difference so we tested my mates Subaru, Same model as mine and his went through so we swapped Lambda's over and it still made no difference.

So not too sure what to do from here tbh now.

Cheers again

 

Need to check all 4 coilpacks' condition, is next step...

 

ok i'll have a go at that next then, I had them off about 500miles ago and visual inspection they looked ok with no cracks or anything

 

Sparkplugs too.

 

My coil packs fcuked up on my old wrx. They were that bad that it was missing like hell on boost. When I took them off the cracks were that small they still looked fine. Replaced them all at great expense but solved the prob.

 

That is because he was testing the emissions in the wrong way, using fast idle.
A non-cat test is done at 'natural idle' only. There is NO way it will pass other wise.

Go to work and educate your nominated tester.[/QUOTE]

 

[/quote]



He'll love that when I go back next week and tell him! He doesnt like to be told!!! I bet it would go through on natural idle then, I'll update you next week then.
Thanks again for your advice....

 

No, mine didn't like it too much either.

Your welcome Baz. Do let us know how you get on.

 

Exact what happened to me.

 

Yea it was a nightmare eh. Thank **** the impreza I've got now just has the single coil pack. Never understood why they version 1's used 4

 

the only other thing that would cause 4.8 is the engine temp sender duff making the car thing its running stone cold all the time therefore rich as firk

 

Good call by madscoob also ^^^