Neal R19
Well-Known Member
Right then, hot from its recent clutch change the trusty 1.4 Xsara workhorse has failed its first MOT in my ownership 
3 issues to fix but the only one I’m not 100% certain on is an emissions fail…
Fast idle –
lambda 1.003 (pass)
HC ~170ppm (pass but on the high side – max 200ppm)
CO 0.77% (fail – max 0.20%).
Natural idle passed.
I guess the figures suggest it’s just a half dead cat?
My next question is – which replacement cat to buy? I don’t have a spare several hundred quid to spend on an OE one so aftermarket it is. My car is pre Y-reg so there’s no type-approved option. So it’s the uber cheapo option only. I have a choice of ‘React’ from the local Eurocarparts or ‘BM’ from the local independent factor. Is there anything to choose between these?
I mean they’re both around £55 so I’m assuming they’ll both be pretty crap and probably only last a year or two which I’m happy to accept as long as it gets me through this MOT. Just wondered if either was known for being more or less crap than the other!

3 issues to fix but the only one I’m not 100% certain on is an emissions fail…
Fast idle –
lambda 1.003 (pass)
HC ~170ppm (pass but on the high side – max 200ppm)
CO 0.77% (fail – max 0.20%).
Natural idle passed.
I guess the figures suggest it’s just a half dead cat?
My next question is – which replacement cat to buy? I don’t have a spare several hundred quid to spend on an OE one so aftermarket it is. My car is pre Y-reg so there’s no type-approved option. So it’s the uber cheapo option only. I have a choice of ‘React’ from the local Eurocarparts or ‘BM’ from the local independent factor. Is there anything to choose between these?
I mean they’re both around £55 so I’m assuming they’ll both be pretty crap and probably only last a year or two which I’m happy to accept as long as it gets me through this MOT. Just wondered if either was known for being more or less crap than the other!
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