Conference terri::cars_uk

    See 721.50
    
    
    Shaun

    I've read 721.50, but still don't know what to adjust to get the HC
    down to an acceptable level...is it the mixture?
    
    J 

    Amateur opinion here...
    
    I think that the 1st measurement is for fuel content in the exhaust, 
    i.e. running too rich, timing wrong etc, &
    
    the second is the soot particle count, i.e. the degree of wear in the
    engine of vital parts like pistons, valves, guides etc. which may allow
    oil & unburnt fuel to escape from the engine via the exhaust.
    
    Please shoot me if this is incorrect.
    
    	Tony.

    The best initial advice I can give is to make sure that the engine is
    properly tuned. That includes replacing the air filter and all major
    ignition components subject to wear; ie. points, plugs, distributor cap
    and rotor arm as well as HT leads if the resistance is over 15
    Kilohms/metre. Then make sure the timing is set correctly and the
    carburettor mixture adjustment is set reasonably accurately, (tuning by
    ear shoud be good enough).
    
    I was very surprised, having applied this to a friend's very neglected
    1500cc Y-reg Golf, to find that the the emission test was not only
    passed, but that the result was well within the tighter post 1984 spec.
    This on a 75,000 mile engine with camshaft rattle to compete with the
    best MKIV Cortina!
    
    Regards,
    
    Brian

    The advice I've heard from an MOT centre (2nd hand) is:
    
    1, Replace Air filter (quite important) - and plugs if you like.
    2, Adjust tickover to the level reccomended by the manufacturer, most
    people tend to have it faster than this as the manf' reccommendation
    always feels too slow.  **this is very important**
    
    It wil probably then pass.   ;-)
    
    Stevie.

    ...I believe the readings are taken at a std. engine speed, e.g.
    1000rpm.	
    

    Dont know if this has been dealt with earlier on but are there any
    allowances made for older cars (mines a 1976 spitty) ??
    
    Bazza
    
    (sorry again if I'm repeating a question but I dont have enough spare
    time to search the replies)
    

    PRE-75 CARS are exempt, so I guess your 76 Spit will have to comply.
    
    	Tony.

I can confirm that, my '76 spitfire failed the week before last for emissions.
For ten pounds (and in 30 seconds I might add) the testing garage adjusted the
carburation and I passed. All in all a fairly silly exercise.......

Terry

    
    They probably knocked the mix up so that they could charge you for
    knocking it back down again!
    
    Matt.

	Hang on chaps!  If the new emission test causes people to have their
	engine better tuned, then aren't we all better off?  You'll save
	the �10 over the year in lower fuel costs and we're all a bit less
	poluted.

	Dave

    
    I believe in what .10 says.
    
    These people have their probe up the old exhaust (great temptation to
    use other words here) while testing the emmissions. It wouldn't take
    them 5 seconds to twiddle the screw to obtain a satisfactory reading.
    With an exception for difficult cases (ie. engine totally ****ed).
    
    If a car fails for this then the test centre should be obliged to
    adjust the setting for free. It is going to be a big earner for MOT
    test centres. Turn the screw in/out, wait till owner returns, convey
    bad news, fix and charge for it.
    
    Any reputable test centre would have made the adjustment.
    
    Chris
    

    Anyone that can tune and balance twin carbs in 30 seconds is some kind
    of genius. My method: remove air filter(s), adjust mixtures using
    method appropriate to carbs, place one end of a tube in ear, wave other
    in carb intake, make *minor* adjustments, until the air intake noise is
    balanced, check mixture again. Even with electronic kit, it must surely
    be necessary to remove the air filters?
    
    On a '76 Spitfire, unless the carbs are either new or reconditioned, I
    would expect balancing them to be quite time-consuming, if indeed, it's
    possible. Personally, I doubt they're balanced, and the tune-up you
    think you got, wasn't.
    
    Sounds like a scam to me.
    
    Laurie.

    Re: .9
      My girlfriend's Citroen Dynane just got through the new MOT (after
    they'd stop saying 'Don't see many of these around anymore'!)
      It also needed a slight adjustment of the carb before it passed but
    the tester just did it for her as he tested it.

    ...I witnessed a Mini failing the test. The tester explained to its
    elderly owner what had to be done next. The tester could have turned
    the screw in less time than the explanation took.
    
    	}^(

When I think about it, if I chose to adjust the carburation myself (and save
myself the 10 pounds the garage charged) I would still have to pay them 10
pounds for the retest!!!! The retest comes free if the testing garage performs
the adjestment themselves, but if you do the repairs yourself then you are
liable to pay 50% of the test fee for the retest. Now maybe I am just cynical
but this certainly looks like a useful earner for these guys...........

The get it off you one way or another

Terry

re -1

>I would still have to pay them 10
>pounds for the retest!!!! The retest comes free if the testing garage performs
>the adjestment themselves, but if you do the repairs yourself then you are
>liable to pay 50% of the test fee for the retest. 

It depends where you go.  I have so far managed to find places which give
a free retest even if you do the work yourself.  

Carol.

Did anyone else see anything over the weekend about cracks in car windscreens 
larger than 1mm causing MOT failures ?
Sounds to me like someone in the windscreen trade has done a good deal
with someone in the Dept of transport.

Phil.

The regulation is based on a German one.  The requirement is that there
be no cracks or large chips in the driver's field of view.  How all this
is actually defined I am having great difficulty in determining.

These days cracks and chips can be repaired - the cost is about �40, and
most insurers will pick up the tab without the excess applied to replacing
the glass.

jb

    It depends on where the chip or crack is in the windscreen.  They will
    not repair any marks in the drivers field of vision.  This is defined 
    by a "map" that is placed over the windscreen on the same vertical
    centre line as the steering wheel.  Any marks within the perimeter of
    the "map" will not be repaired and a new windscreen is required.  I
    have a tiny chip in my windscreen that causes no problems but won't be
    repaired because of its position.
    
    John