Failed Mot

[mankeycat]

Hi there everyone!

First time here, but wonder if any you guys out there have any input on my problem?

The car:

Toyota Avensis 1.8VVTi

Registered 24th July 2000

Had problems with emissions test 1+1/2 year back, engine management kept going on, even though changed the lamba sensors, but the guy at one MOT station fixed it by taking out and cleaning air sensor and ok since.

Took it for MOT now at KwikFit and failed on emissions, was told it was "burning oil,mixture wrong".

Was told at KwikFit that could be piston seals, but to get someone to check that it would be better to get a second-hand engine and replace it.

Was told by them that there is slight blue smoke during idle test, but I could not see any this.

Should I fork out a diagnostic test at local Toyota dealers first?

The engine management light has stayed off since last time, so shouldn't it picked up the 'wrong mixture' before today?

And would replacing the engine solve everything and make it pass its MOT?

I would appreciate any input before forking out the quoted £800+ for replacement engines.

Thanks.

[jamesholden]

Has the current MOT run out fully, if not it might be worth trying to sell it and buy another car, £800 is a lot of money to spend on an 8 1/2 year old car thats probably not worth much more than £1500. Other than that it might be worth trying some molyslip if you can still get it to try and seal it up a bit, its certainly not a long term solution but might be good enough to get it through its MOT.

[Q.S.]

Has the current MOT run out fully, if not it might be worth trying to sell it and buy another car, £800 is a lot of money to spend on an 8 1/2 year old car thats probably not worth much more than £1500. Other than that it might be worth trying some molyslip if you can still get it to try and seal it up a bit, its certainly not a long term solution but might be good enough to get it through its MOT.

If your problem is that it is burning oil, it is a well documented problem with the VVTi engine, check out this link.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...ngine_woes.html

If you are using over 1 litre per 1000 miles and have full service history, Mr T will fit you a new short motor (cylinder block, crankshaft, con-rods, pistons etc.) F.O.C.

[mankeycat]

After I started this thread, I phoned a mate in the local Toyota Dealers.

Am going to take it down for him to clean the air sensor as he says that might fix the problem, since he says that the engine management light should have come on long before the emissions reached levels that would fail a MOT.

Fingers crossed since am really poor through this credit crunch. :( :( :(

[cablecar]

Hi there everyone!

First time here, but wonder if any you guys out there have any input on my problem?

The car:

I would appreciate any input before forking out the quoted £800+ for replacement engines.

Thanks.

Try Dipitaine in it then get it tested to check emissions before you put it in for MOT. Its only a tenner for a litre, maybe worth a try. Cheers and good luck

[mankeycat]

Just back from diagnostic at local Toyota Dealers.

Looks like main reason for emission failure was the CAT and just need a new one to pass its MOT.

NOT THE WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY !Removed! KWIKFIT!!!!!!!!!!

Will replace CAT then see what Kwikfit says at its retest. maybe they'll say replace the whole car??? :D :D :D

[mankeycat]

Sorry, some late info.

Asked officially at Toyota Dealers for price on CAT, but they told me that there are TWO Ctas on this car.

Is this true??

[Matt Black]

Yeah, probably right.

On the front of the engine you may have a lump under a heatshield that looks like this, in the middle picture;

http://www.autobits.co.uk/store/store.php?cat_id=1955

Depends exactly what model you have obviously, you may have the earlier one, single CAT.