Citrojim's AX, Pixo, C3, Running and Cycling Tales

[spider]

I think the 'look under the bonnet' is just familiarity maybe ?

I bet someone who has only looked at say a simple OHV petrol unit would be quite alarmed at the excess of "pipework" on say something like an XUDT or suchlike, but its all relative I guess.

[KP]

Why bother putting the cat back on Jim?? With the LPG system it can get through the MOT just fine

Put the O2 sensor on and get a good LPG map on it and you'll probably have more power than on petrol but will increase your LPG MPG and not make it any noisier

[spider]

I seem to think since the MOT laws tightened up a bit more, they will be able to compare to original specification. Even if it passes without a cat, if it had one 'at the factory' it may be liable for a fail now if its absence is noted. I'm not sure...

[CitroJim]

I seem to think since the MOT laws tightened up a bit more, they will be able to compare to original specification. Even if it passes without a cat, if it had one 'at the factory' it may be liable for a fail now if its absence is noted. I'm not sure...

You're spot-on Andy precisely and Will, that's why I have to go to all the trouble of fitting a cat to a car that does not actually need one

I could likely knock the 'guts' out of the cat and still pass as the MOT tester will have 'eyeballed' a cat being present and thus the regulation is met; the law is an ass.

[KP]

For years my coupe passed the MOT with not even an advisory on the exhaust and it had just a back box as it was LPG converted they could only do a smoke test which when not munching an engine was enough

Buy or get another cat by all means but just knock the guts out of your current one and take it to a scrappy and get some cash back but leave the carcass on there Jim and just enjoy it
Then should it ever fail its easy enough to fit the new one on and you got one while they still had them in stock

[spider]

Indeed, a good example being something like a DW8 which will fly through its emissions without a cat (in most cases!), but if its noted its missing (to be honest its less likely to be noticed at a smaller 'backstreet' station I would suspect) it is likely to fail.

I suspect this was done for those who took say the "K" light bulb out to hide a problem, even if said problem would not result in a fail. Although newer panels are mostly LED's now (still not difficult to cut a track temporarily though) so its good an bad in a way. Things like ABS lights missing would of always been noted though as its pretty obvious if its got it or not.

[CitroJim]

My XM passed the MOT catless for years Will but this is new regulations introduced this year and quietly slipped in. I have a cat here so no problem there, it's just the fitting of the damm thing...

I'm not quite sure what VOSA are trying to achieve really Andy. If you're determined enough you can hide a duff ABS problem even now and a K light too. It's all got very silly and somewhat beyond sensible. No doubt leading up to a two-yearly MOT and maybe no MOT at all for cars over twenty years old. That'll soon be my XM

[Chris570]

My XM passed the MOT catless for years Will but this is new regulations introduced this year and quietly slipped in. I have a cat here so no problem there, it's just the fitting of the damm thing...

I'm not quite sure what VOSA are trying to achieve really Andy. If you're determined enough you can hide a duff ABS problem even now and a K light too. It's all got very silly and somewhat beyond sensible. No doubt leading up to a two-yearly MOT and maybe no MOT at all for cars over twenty years old. That'll soon be my XM

you are joking, it'll end up as a bi-weekly mot

you know i'll fit your cat soon

[KP]

Sorry i meant bash the guts out and leave as is. unless they unhitch it they wont know and emmissons on lpg should be far low enough to pass when setup right

[CitroJim]

you are joking, it'll end up as a bi-weekly mot

No, if we fully embrace EU plans it'll be every two years and cars over twenty years old will be exempt completely. Already cars made before 1960 are exempt, or about to be from November I think it is. Anyone got a 1959 XM for sale? The twenty year rule will be rolling...

The classic press has been 'full of it' for months - the arguments for and against. Apparently, under the scheme, exempt cars can still be taken for an MOT - for 'insurance purposes' - and one major classic insurer is already speaking about them sponsoring and requiring a kind of private or independent 'MOT' before they'll insure an otherwise exempt car. Interesting stuff with lots of ramifications and none to anyone’s benefit except the insurance companies I expect.

you know i'll fit your cat soon

I know Chris and thanks The oxygen sensor should be here tomorrow

[Chris570]

I know about the EU rule but it might be "lost in translation" and changed to bi-weekly and the amount changed so the govt gets a nice slice

[KP]

I dont think any classic driver would really mind producing their car every 2 years for an MOT to guarantee insurance cover for the small outlay and the fact that so little could be tested on some anyway
Worth £25 in my books as it would roll in the front door and out the back door without even stopping i suspect in most cases as no need to gas tests or the like

[Xaccers]

Can't you just take one of your moggies along for the test?

[CitroJim]

Can't you just take one of your moggies along for the test?

Yes, sit one of them on the passenger’s seat and say to the MOT man. "It does have a cat installed..."

[myglaren]

I don't think that "Installed in the passenger seat" is quite what they are looking for, even if it is a Siamese.