Ford Fiesta Encore 1998, (1.3 petrol Endura-E) - 1998 Fiesta 1.3 fails MOT on emissions

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Tue 29 Mar 2011 13:40
Ford Fiesta Encore 1998, (1.3 petrol Endura-E) - 1998 Fiesta 1.3 fails MOT on emissions - RustyFiesta

My 1998 Fiesta (1.3 Endura-E) has just failed its MOT on emissions:

Fast idle test: CO 0.65% (too high, fail), Lamdba 1.038 (too high, fail), HC 105ppm (pass)

Natural idle test: CO: 0.5% (pass)

The engine was nice and warm during the test, and I believe the tester wanted it to pass. Things I did before the test:

New air filter, oil change and new oil filter, checked valve clearances, cleaned muck from inside rocker cover, checked exhaust system for leaks, ran car at high revs for a couple of miles. The cat (around £250 on this model) was replaced 11 months ago.

My next step will be to check the output of the oxygen sensor with a voltmeter, and peer at the internals of the cat though the hole.

Changing the spark plugs is a last resort, because they will probably snap when I try. It runs fairly smoothly, with no obvious misfires. This is a rusty 13 -year-old car, so if I can't fix it for under £500, I will probably replace it.

Any suggestions on what else I should do?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 29 Mar 2011 13:48
Ford Fiesta Encore 1998, (1.3 petrol Endura-E) - 1998 Fiesta 1.3 fails MOT on emissions - injection doc

Lambda high could be an air leak , even in the exhaust system ! this will also make it run richer. Oxy sensors are common but have you tried a real good italian tune up, not just a few miles at higher revs. Check all vacum pipes etc as well.

May be find a really good long incline on a motorway/dual carrige way and make it work really hard to burn off the cat and sensor

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide