Getting Ready For The Mot Test

[Hampshire Carina E]

1994 Carina 2.0L, 3S-FE Engine

Well, nearly that (MOT) time again and I'm getting ready. An annual problem is the dreaded emissions test, always seems to fail. Obviously this problem only comes up in the MOT, I never notice it whilst driving. I had a new lambda sensor fitted a couple of years back but the next year that still needed "cleaning" (the mechanics term, not sure how exactly) in order to pass.

My thought this year is to buy a new generic Lambda sensor (probably eBay, ~£35) and fit this (well try to) before the test. That way no problems? What I won't do is switch them back after the test so I had the new one for the following year, that would be cheating I suppose. ;)

Any thoughts on just fitting a new sensor, sounds easy on the face of it?

Max

[DodgyKnee]

1994 Carina 2.0L, 3S-FE Engine

Well, nearly that (MOT) time again and I'm getting ready. An annual problem is the dreaded emissions test, always seems to fail. Obviously this problem only comes up in the MOT, I never notice it whilst driving. I had a new lambda sensor fitted a couple of years back but the next year that still needed "cleaning" (the mechanics term, not sure how exactly) in order to pass.

My thought this year is to buy a new generic Lambda sensor (probably ebay, ~£35) and fit this (well try to) before the test. That way no problems? What I won't do is switch them back after the test so I had the new one for the following year, that would be cheating I suppose. ;)

Any thoughts on just fitting a new sensor, sounds easy on the face of it?

Max

Hello,

I bought a new lambda sensor from http://www.ntklambdasensors.co.uk about four years ago for my 2.0L 3S-FE Carina E too. Cost £82, delivered within 24 hours and still working well. It's a doddle to fit - just unscrews from the top of the exhaust just above the cat (but I needed to turn the (corroded) nuts with a set of vice grips rather than a spanner). The other end just plugs into the connector - entire job took about three minutes.

[Hampshire Carina E]

Hello,

I bought a new lambda sensor from http://www.ntklambdasensors.co.uk about four years ago for my 2.0L 3S-FE Carina E too. Cost £82, delivered within 24 hours and still working well. It's a doddle to fit - just unscrews from the top of the exhaust just above the cat (but I needed to turn the (corroded) nuts with a set of vice grips rather than a spanner). The other end just plugs into the connector - entire job took about three minutes.

Three minute job sounds good - having read around and as it's only 2 years old I now fancy given the current one a clean before the MOT. Using isopropyl alcohol seems good and I have some - being very careful not to touch the electrodes of course.

BUT - I cannot find the sensor. Haynes manual states it's on top of the exhaust downpipe, well I've looked over that and just can't see it. Can anyone mark up the picture below with an arrow to help me. Of course I am assuming I can get to it from the top, maybe I need to go underneath but when I looked I couldn't see much given the covering underneath.

Feel free to pop an arrow where it is please !!!

Thanks,

Max

[DodgyKnee]

Hello,

I bought a new lambda sensor from http://www.ntklambdasensors.co.uk about four years ago for my 2.0L 3S-FE Carina E too. Cost £82, delivered within 24 hours and still working well. It's a doddle to fit - just unscrews from the top of the exhaust just above the cat (but I needed to turn the (corroded) nuts with a set of vice grips rather than a spanner). The other end just plugs into the connector - entire job took about three minutes.

Three minute job sounds good - having read around and as it's only 2 years old I now fancy given the current one a clean before the MOT. Using isopropyl alcohol seems good and I have some - being very careful not to touch the electrodes of course.

BUT - I cannot find the sensor. Haynes manual states it's on top of the exhaust downpipe, well I've looked over that and just can't see it. Can anyone mark up the picture below with an arrow to help me. Of course I am assuming I can get to it from the top, maybe I need to go underneath but when I looked I couldn't see much given the covering underneath.

Feel free to pop an arrow where it is please !!!

Thanks,

Max

Hello,

You need to get under the car (the sensor is far enough back that you don't need to take any of the plastic covers off). The lambda sensor is located on the upper side of the exhaust pipe near the catalytic converter. Please use axle stands with your jack. Many years ago, I also had a Carina E 'lean burn' engine for which the lambda sensors were about £350. Rather than selling a kidney to buy one, I immersed the sensor in vinegar (Sarsons!!) overnight then rinsed it under the tap before refitting it - worked a dream. You can also use Coca-Cola. The acid in the vinegar/coke strips away years of exhaust deposits. If the sensor really is dead, this may not work, but it's basically free to try and it saved me having to sit next to a cashpoint with a scraggy dog.

[Hampshire Carina E]

I found the sensor, took it out and cleaned it. But, the car still failed the MOT on emissions. The mechanic has suggested it might be the catalyst - I had that changed 25,000 miles back. I now have the car back as he cannot fix it at the moment so I'm deciding what to do next.

I'm tempted to buy the new sensor (£35 on ebay) and stick that in for starters. The mechanic did give me a scare story by saying a new EU law states only approved cats can be fitted, £5000 fine if a non-approved is fitted. I kind of thought that has been the case for a while with car spares items. Anyway, he didn't give me a quote for the cat, any ideas there? They seem to be ~£80 on eBay (again, always seem to look there).

Any help appreciated. I have read the engine needs to be really hot to ease through the emissions, bit difficult for me to ensure as I drive it in and leave it, they test it during the day. So even if I did 20 miles at high revs it would no doubt cool before testing. I suppose I could swap to a while-u-wait place if that would really help.

Max

[Hampshire Carina E]

To close this in case anyone reads in the future the new lambda sensor was put in and MOT test passed. I will defnitely buy a spare for next year, £35 from eBay seems a bargain. In the meantime I'll ponder on the like of Redex fuel additive but have a gut feeling they really don't do anything.

Just have to work out how the probe plugs in, I couldn't suss it working "blind" under the car so left the probe with the garage and they did the honours. I guess the latch either lifts up or presses down, I'll work on that later. Any tips appreciated.

Max