Vw Lupo 1.4 Sport Failed Mot On Emissions

[LoopyLoops]

Hello,

Just put my lupo 1.4 sport (afk engine) through it's Mot and it sailed through on everything apart from the emissions which it failed on.

It does have some problems when driving with intermittent engine hesitation worse at low revs, but does happen at higher revs too. Also the coolant level keeps going down and there is white smoke (no blue smoke).

It has done 108,938 miles.

Don't know if the engine is just at the end of it's life or worth pumping more money into.

Readings on emission test are as follows:

Oil Temp Min limit= 80 Actual value - 83 Pass

Fast Idle Test:

RPM 1/min Min Limit= 2450, Max Limit 2850, Actual Value 2761 Pass

CO Max limit = 0.300, Actual value=0.640 Fail

HC Max limit= 200 Actual Value=119 Pass

Lambda Min Lmit= 0.970, Max Limit= 1.030, Actual Value= 1.012 Pass

Second Idle Test

RPM 1.min Min Limit= 2450, Max Limit 2850, Actual Value=2566 Pass

CO Max Limit= 0.300, Actual Value- 0.602 Fail

HC Max Limit= 200, Actual Value=121 Pass

Lambda Min limit= 0.970 Max Limit=1.030 Actual Value - 1.011 Pass

Natural Idle test

RPM 1/min Min Limit= 790, Max Limit 940, Actual Limit=849 Pass

CO Max Limit 0.500, Actual Value 0.534 Fail

ANY advice or opinions would be very gratefully received!

[JackRobo10]

Try cleaning the EGR valve withsome carb cleaner and possibly the Throttle Body whilst your at it. EGR valve should clean up the emissions

[Grazza]

i too have had an on going emissions problems, i've found a good old thrash to get the engine nice and hot etc it usually brings it down to just under the limit.

[LoopyLoops]

Thanks JackRobo, have cleaned the throttle body, actually replaced it not long ago thinking it would cure the hesitation symptoms, no such luck.

The EGR is blanked off on this model, thanks for suggestion though.

Hi Grazza, thanks for reply, I have heard that may help, will give it a bit of a thrash before retest.

Wondering whether the cat may need replacing...

Thanks for your advice and help so far !

[Grazza]

if you are going to replace the cat, get a genuine one as some of the aftermarket ones can be a nightmare, mine being one of them :/

[m1cr08472]

If it's losing coolant and blowing white smoke the head gasket will most likely need replacing. That will cost a few hundred quid, maybe more, and there's no guarantee it will pass the emissions test after fixing it. I wouldn't spend any more money on it unless you're going to get the head fixed, it will just get worse until it blows all the way through and starts losing oil as well.

[truCido]

If coolant keeps going down and you've got no leaks then it sounds like head gasket has gone. You can get a garage to check it.

You'll need to get the head skimmed etc as well. Probably looking at £400 absolute minimum if you're getting a garage to do it. Might as well do cambelt at the same time as well.

Edited April 6, 2013 by truCido

[LoopyLoops]

Thanks a lot, thought the head gasket might be gone :-( Looks like I will have to sell it on, maybe someone else will want it as a project. Thanks a lot to everyone that replied.

I also have heard aftermarket cats can be trouble.

Wish I had more money as really like the car. I have already replaced thermostat, temp sender, throttle body, coil pack and leads, fuel filter.

Oh well, time to cut my losses unfortunately

Thanks all.

[truCido]

Its worth getting the garage to do a test just to make sure first. I'd be interested in it though depending on where you're from etc.

[Lenry]

I've just had my 1.4 Arosa Head Gasket changed and head skimmed plus rad, cam belt, spark plugs and water pump.

£740

[Defcon5]

New cat will sort the CO levels.

[LoopyLoops]

Its worth getting the garage to do a test just to make sure first. I'd be interested in it though depending on where you're from etc.

I'm in South Somerset, near Taunton. Did a few things as suggested, retest tomorrow but I don't think I can bring myself to spend anymore on it so probably will end up being sold whether it passes or fails...think it's still going to fail on emissions. will let you know.

Does anyone know how much vw lupo spor 1.6 parts out for?

[truCido]

I'm in South Somerset, near Taunton. Did a few things as suggested, retest tomorrow but I don't think I can bring myself to spend anymore on it so probably will end up being sold whether it passes or fails...think it's still going to fail on emissions. will let you know.

Does anyone know how much vw lupo spor 1.6 parts out for?

Cool, I'm in Bristol. Hopefully its alright!!

The Lupo Sport is a 1.4? Not sure how much they break for. But you shouldn't have any problem selling most bits! Engine, Gearbox, Interior, Interior Panels, Lights, body parts etc

Edited April 12, 2013 by truCido

[LoopyLoops]

Failed the emissions retest :-(

[Defcon5]

Post up the numbers, what have you done in between the tests?

[jeeprk]

Mine has the same problem. I changed everything, plugs, leads etc then a new cat and passed the MOT but still it was still running rough. I then changed the Lambda sensor and since then the engine is running perfect! Get a good Lambda sensor though, I got one made by NGK. The last one was fitted by a supposed VW specialist called Streetwise in Bristol and that failed within a year, together with the new cat they fitted as well!

Mine was getting something like 32 mpg but it went back to over 43 mpg after I fitted the Lam sensor. Good Luck

[LoopyLoops]

Hello everyone, thanks for your msgs! The readings were exactly the same as before for the restest, had an off the record test in between and the readings went even higher with a diff lambda sensor (second hand one). Basically we decided just to give it an 'italian service job' for the restest. We sort of knew it wouldn't be enough, but thought it was worth a try. I was totting up all the new parts we have got for it over the last few months and its a lot of money, so decided not to spend any more and cut out losses. Now looking to sell it as is, or perhaps break it for parts, I'm undecided about that. Such a shame! If we weren't on such a limited budget it would be a different story.

I think a new cat would've solved the emissions problem, but there are other probs with it too and I just can't take the risk of spending more money trying to sort it, can't afford garage prices, so have been getting help from a friend with some mechanical knowledge to change parts!

Jeeprk, thanks for sharing your experiences. I have heard so many similarly bad outcomes from garages! I have also learnt the importance of buying decent parts as opposed to aftermarket ones!

[jeeprk]

Hi LoopyLoops I think it is the cat if you have tried the lambda sensor. My Lupo failed with emission for the last three times and every time the garage changed the cat and it passed. The NGK lambda sensor sorted the lumpy problem and that was after the Lupo passed the MOT. The lambda sensor got changed because those idiots in Bristol broke it when they changed the cat a couple of years ago! It must be a really cheap one they fitted because I never had one changed ever since I got the car.

It is now back up to Scotland and fortunately I have found a great garage up here,

I got my cat from eurocarparts last year and it seems to be fine (will know when I put it in for MOT next week!). Try carparts4less, it is much cheaper than eurocarparts although looking at the site it is owned by eurocarparts and you get £5 discount if you spend more than £ 50.

Good Luck

[jeeprk]

I am afraid I was wrong, the Lupo failed once again and it was once again the cat! The cheap cat I bought from eurocarparts did not last for a year. Looking at the part on their website and it actually stated not typed approved "illegal to sell for cars registered after 1 January 2001"!.

I have the garage fitted a typed approved one (cost about £ 150) and I was told it just sailed through with the emission tests. Hopefully this cat will last a lot longer than the last three!

I do not think I will buy anything cheap from eurocarparts again. I got a cheap water pump from them for my wife's Jeep and it seized after 4 months. I fitted the last one myself and it lasted over 5 years. The pump from eurocarparts failed without any warning. I had to get the RAC to get the car to my trusted garage and got landed a bill for over £170. Lesson learned for getting cheap parts!

As the cat is over a year old (I got the MOT done at the end of April last year) it was no point taking it back because they will not give me a refund or credit. If I opt for buying decent parts eurocarparts' prices are more expensive than anybody else. For example, BuyPartsBy sells a Contitech timing belt kit for the Lupo 1.4S for just over £50 and a kit with water pump for around £ 87.