failed!

[auntiephil]

failed mot today on rear parking brake inneficient(13%) just wondered what could cause this, also just got thro on co at 0.29(% vol) the limit is 0.30, altho the hydrocarbons very low at 13ppm.Cant find any info anywhere as to the optimum setting for the co.what cuold be making it this high?car is 220te 1993,hfm ignition system,phil.

 

[David Nock]

Sorry if I'm not getting this but I think you mean CO is 2.9%, limit is 3%. That's OK isn't it?
Also hydrocarbons should be low as the MOT is measuring oil residues carried over into the exhaust. So rear parking brake is the only fail item?
Some recent posts on here about cable adjustment and overhaul. I'm a bit worried I'm sticking my neck out but there are people on here who will advise you better.

 

[television]

Most of the 124 only just get through, living in Sweden the tester and I had to drive the thing around at high revs to get it through.

Lubricate all of the fulcrum points on the hand brake from the drums back, and it should get through

 

[Ian B Walker]

The hand brake issue could be down to the shoes of the hand brake being worn or not adjusted correctly.

 

[auntiephil]

so, does anyone know what the level of co should be?Or is it a trade secret.Thanks for all the replies,phil.

 

[star]

The hand brake issue could be down to the shoes of the hand brake being worn or not adjusted correctly.

or the handbrake quadrant siezed/ corroded inner discs. Lots of things re co2, cheap catalist fitted ? (major issues with these), air mass? Has it a smooth idle?

 

[kth286]

Looking at my last MOT late last year (Dec 06) when it passed, the following
is shown:

Fast idle Test : max limit 0.200 actual value = 0.009

Natural idle Test: max limit 0.300 actual value = 0.008

HC (ppm vol) : max limit 200 actual value = 9

We have similar all electronic HFM engine, yours being 4 cylinder mine 6 cylinder.

Non adjustable.

Change Lambda probe in exhaust and the coolant sensor as these two items are critical for the feedback loop to ECU for correct fueling.

The rear brakes have probably been left engaged occasionally whilst car was driven, very easy thing to do. The friction material is probably glazed, change the shoes.

 

[star]

why change things b4 testing, shouldn't you test 1st ??

 

[kth286]

lambda probe of that generation are considered to be a service item at around 100K miles as they loose their effectiveness.

Also, lots of proof that coolant temp sensors go out of spec over time.

Changing my Lambda probe gave me 17% more miles per gallon on a "before" and "after" test run of 60 miles in similar weather/wind etc.

 

[star]

lambda probe of that generation are considered to be a service item at around 100K miles as they loose their effectiveness.

Also, lots of proof that coolant temp sensors go out of spec over time.

Changing my Lambda probe gave me 17% more miles per gallon on a "before" and "after" test run of 60 miles in similar weather/wind etc.

Bit that could be said of most things on a car, they all wear out sometime.

 

[jimsinessex]

I can't help with the handbrake problem but last year and the year before my CLK was also getting very close to failing on the natural idle CO reading (0.29% against a max of 0.3%) although the fast idle CO and HC were still giving as new readings.

This year I gave the car a 10 mile Italian Tune-up (i.e. blast it down the motorway) and then drove it straight into the MOT test centre. Lo and behold ALL the emission readings were close to as new readings. This from a car with 169,000 miles on the clock at the time.

The moral of the story seems to be make sure the car is REALLY up to working temperature when taking it for the MOT.

Jim

 

[frank133]

Hi I wouldnt worry about the emissions,if it passes great just adjust the handbrake,unless it has been left on when driving,the shoes should never wear out.My car is a twenty year old 190e,and has never failed a mot in the last eleven years,another mot due so I wont be complacent I will have a quick look underneath