Vauxhall Astra fails mot due to catalytic convertor
Variant: 1.4 manual petrol
Model Year: 2000
Categories:
Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Can anyone help me with this problem I have with my W reg 1.4 Astra.
Three years ago whilst out driving the engine stated to run erratically and at 2000 revs would only travel at 5pmh.
A garage diagnosed a faulty catalytic convertor and this was renewed. 10 months later the car failed MOT due to CAT, fortunately this was still under warranty and was renewed and passed. At the next MOT it failed again due to CAT (which this time was out of warranty) and it was renewed together with sensor and passed.
Ten months ago the cam belt snapped and the working part of the engine was rebuilt.
Prior to this year’s MOT I renewed air filter, oil filter and changed oil, again it failed due to CAT, renewed CAT and passed. Mechanically minded friends have no idea what the problem is, so I am hoping that someone here can come up with a solution. I have spent so much on this car, that I feel that I cannot get rid of it at this time.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Three years ago whilst out driving the engine stated to run erratically and at 2000 revs would only travel at 5pmh.
A garage diagnosed a faulty catalytic convertor and this was renewed. 10 months later the car failed MOT due to CAT, fortunately this was still under warranty and was renewed and passed. At the next MOT it failed again due to CAT (which this time was out of warranty) and it was renewed together with sensor and passed.
Ten months ago the cam belt snapped and the working part of the engine was rebuilt.
Prior to this year’s MOT I renewed air filter, oil filter and changed oil, again it failed due to CAT, renewed CAT and passed. Mechanically minded friends have no idea what the problem is, so I am hoping that someone here can come up with a solution. I have spent so much on this car, that I feel that I cannot get rid of it at this time.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Posted: May 25, 2012 (12 years ago)
when you buy a C.A.T be aware that on some cars although the cat is the right one unless it meets the car makers spec it will not always last more than 6 too 8 mths buy a cat from the dealer it may cost more but should be ok or go to a specilist you will find one in most towns
Posted May 25, 2012 (12 years ago)
Next time you buy a cat look for 1 with a guarentee that lasts more than 12 months. Could sound like I am giving a cop-out answer here but if the car is running fine but getting picked up on MOT due to the cat every year at least you can get the cat replaced under guarentee next time round.
I would though want to find the cause of the problem and would assume that the car gets serviced properly at the correct intervals, doesn't get poor fuel in the system. I would reccomend giving the car a good run once every couple of weeks to clear out the system if it is usualy only used for short trips, and also whilst giving the car a good run give the engine a couple of seconds running at high engine revs once it is up to working temperature. This will do the engine no harm and will clean any residue out of the exhaust, and will also keep the internals of the cylinder clean.
I would though want to find the cause of the problem and would assume that the car gets serviced properly at the correct intervals, doesn't get poor fuel in the system. I would reccomend giving the car a good run once every couple of weeks to clear out the system if it is usualy only used for short trips, and also whilst giving the car a good run give the engine a couple of seconds running at high engine revs once it is up to working temperature. This will do the engine no harm and will clean any residue out of the exhaust, and will also keep the internals of the cylinder clean.
Posted May 25, 2012 (12 years ago)
non genuine cats are generally smaller than genuine cats so they do not have the right amount of the expensive stuff for proper catalasys to take place.non gen cats generally need to get very hot before they will pass the mot test. if you had purchased a genuine cat in the first place you would have probably saved yourself a lot of aggrevation and money.Unfortunately cheapest is not always best option.
Posted May 25, 2012 (12 years ago)
Sorry but to me somthing in your car is killing the cats,one ok,two!!!three,yikes.
Take it to s good garage that specialises in diagnostics and tell them the fault is not that it's cat has failed the mot emissions,it's that there is a fault in the engine management system that kills the cat over a year.
or resign your self to a new cat every year.
Take it to s good garage that specialises in diagnostics and tell them the fault is not that it's cat has failed the mot emissions,it's that there is a fault in the engine management system that kills the cat over a year.
or resign your self to a new cat every year.
Posted May 25, 2012 (12 years ago)
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