Cats and the MOT for an S2

[Fat Audi 80]

Here' my 2p based on my experience with a '93 ABY S2.

Turned up at my local trusted MOT place the first year I had it WITHOUT the Cats installed and tired to pass the emissions test - No way! I could not even get near the figures required to pass. Now it would have been allowed to pass the MOT without cats IF it could pass the emissions test. (Bear in mind my car has a AMD chip, which I believe is bad for emissions).

With my CATS installed it is STILL tight but passes emissions... I now have to put them back on every year for the MOT!

Ergo, I believe you don't NEED a cat to QUALIFY but you may well need it to pass emissions...

Cheers,

Steve

[BRY]

Interesting side note, if you had an ABY and had the log book changed to 3B it would be non-cat. Basically its the age of the engine that should be tested not the age of the car.

So if I restamp my cylinder head to 3B then I don't need cats? :mischeif:

[Jamo]

Technically they do need them on the year K onwards. Whether some places forget or not its down to them, even if the computer states non-cat the tester should rectify this. Interesting side note, if you had an ABY and had the log book changed to 3B it would be non-cat. Basically its the age of the engine that should be tested not the age of the car.

It's not the fact the tester forgets, with the new MOT the tester must follow the computer instructions and if it says no cat test then the car is not tested. The tester cannot "rectify" this.

It seem the S2 have been recatogised to have no cats on the test.

I'm still trying to find out if this applies to all registers of S2 or if it reg dependant.

Easiest way is if we could get a spread of people go to a friendly MOT centre and ask them too type in your car reg and see if it comes up with cat test or no cat test and then post it here with your car year.

[Nush]

I can confirm what Bry said.

Mine is a ABY '96 S2 and a month ago the computer printout at my friendly and local MOT station said NO CAT TEST, saw it with my own eyes so they did'nt check it. Not that it would have mattered anyway as they checked it last year and no problems.

Will check again next time and try and get proof!

[pastures16]

So if I restamp my cylinder head to 3B then I don't need cats? :mischeif:

no bry you need to restamp your block its the engine code there after

[Jamo]

Seems more and more like this is global the no cats test, i could ask my mate who works for VOSA but dont want to alert him!
My question is the same as fatty's, without the cats how are these S2's passing the emissions test?

[martinjs]

Seems more and more like this is global the no cats test, i could ask my mate who works for VOSA but dont want to alert him!
My question is the same as fatty's, without the cats how are these S2's passing the emissions test?

Probably because the tester doesnt know his **** from his elbow and has the computer set to 3B settings.
I had a similar problem but the other way round when i last had mine done, because i have a private plate and they didnt check the year of the car they 'presumed' it was a late model, i was watching them from the office whilst they were testing the emissions, there was a lot of head scratching and they must have tested it 3-4 times, i realised what was happening, poked my head out the door and said its a 91' btw mate and started laughing, so they had to pass it, they refused to believe it was that old.

[Jamo]

Martin the MOT test has changed to computerised, the tester enters the reg and it comes back with all the details of the car and test settings, what people are saying here is that no matter what reg is entered so far it's coming back with no testing for the cat.

I didn't check when my car went for an MOT as i have cats at the moment.

[Fat Audi 80]

Can we have some clarification here?

When you are saying it is a "No Cat" test, I am presuming you mean that the car does not physically have to have Catalytic convertors. BUT is still has to pass the relevant emissions tests for the year of car.

If this is the case, can people with cars in various states of tune let us know if their car passes the emissions test.

Mine does NOT!

Cheers,

Steve.

[BRY]

no bry you need to restamp your block its the engine code there after

And where do you think your engine code is stamped, then?

[WabTheKing]

Technically they do need them on the year K onwards. Whether some places forget or not its down to them, even if the computer states non-cat the tester should rectify this. Interesting side note, if you had an ABY and had the log book changed to 3B it would be non-cat. Basically its the age of the engine that should be tested not the age of the car.

that would mean i would have to put my 91 cq through a cat test as it has a 97 engine in it,

that dosent sound right to me

[mcandmar]

Over here its the year of the cars first registration, i.e. i'm going to stick a 94 ABY into my 91 CQ buts its still a 91 car so dosent need a cat...

[martinjs]

Martin the MOT test has changed to computerised, the tester enters the reg and it comes back with all the details of the car and test settings, what people are saying here is that no matter what reg is entered so far it's coming back with no testing for the cat.

Ahh, ok, i'll get me coat then lol

[iain1067]

It's worth noting that with all the modded cars here that they do pass the mot, my S6 has just gone through the mot with it being chipped no probs on emissions, mind you it does have the cat's in place. I have often thought about taking them off cutting open the topside and welding a bypass pipe inside then welding them shut again, wonder what effect that would have on both performance and emissions??

Iain

[s2driveruk]

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_730.htm

Some interesting information about the test and age