Exhaust emissions too high

[Leeroy]

High, I'm new to this site so excuse me if I'm asking a daft question.

 

I've owned my 98 Elise for around 4 months now, I drive it every day and think its a blast.

 

I took the car for an MOT today and it failed on the emission test, as the Lambda reading was too high. The mechanic said I may have a problem with the CAT or the lambda sensor. He also reckoned that a lot of K series powered cars suffer on this test and that a petrol additive and a good thrash, to get the engine temperature nice and high, might do the trick.

 

Has anyone else had a similar problem? If so was the fix relatively painless?

[Mark H]

I've actually heard that before, taking it for a blast has gotten it through the MOT!

 

If not do you know anyone local with an Elise that you can borrow the cat off maybe to see if its that or the lambda sensor?

[Mark H]

Forgot to add.. when you get the cat hot make sure they do the test right away, it works more efficient when its warm! Dont walk away and let it cool down before they do the tests!

[Leeroy]

Cheers for that.

 

I'll give it a go next week and post the result.

[Leeroy]

Finally managed to get the car through the MOT. Once I'd got the under tray off I could see that the standard Mild steel tail pipes were heavily corroded and the right hand pipe had a hole in it.

I've replaced the rear silencer and tail pipes and the Lamda reading has fallen significantly. I guess the hole was allowing more air to mix with the exhaust gas, giving a lean mixture reading from the tail pipe end.