Megane MOT fail

[Gentle Ben]

Took the missus' Megane for it's MOT today.

"Rear tie bar/rod corroded and seriously weakened"

"Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive"

"Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle test excessive"

"Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fastle idle outside specified limits"

I'm guessing new lambda sensor to rectify the emissions but the first one has me baffled, where are there any tie bars on the rear of a Megane 1.6e?

 

[Peter T]

Chap. If the cat on the 1.6 is the same as the 2.0 16V job we've got a spare you can have. and the sensor should cure that. tie rod. lol. moe like damper TBH.. if it is, thats piss easy.

 

[Chet T16]

Cat is different

 

[Chris H]

its the rear axle bar thats rotten, always in stock at renault and 23 quid.

I used to change them all the time, even got doc one for his mot on his coupe.

Lambda sensor won't sort that mofo.

what are the actual readings?

 

[Gentle Ben]

Well since posting that up the supposed HC failure is a load of tosh, on the actual readings it states the HC's passed all the tests, the only failures are for the lambda and CO.

Anyway I've had it re-tested at my usual place round the corner and it only failed on two emissions related things - lambda and CO. It's booked in for a new lambda sensor to be fitted tomorrow and then it's going on the gas analyser again to see if it's improved. I'm sure hoping it's not the cat because she can't afford it.

 

[Chris H]

yeah thats the way throw money at it, top way top solve it

lambda failure can be from anything from a dodgy cts, slightly porous weld on the lambda boss, slight leak in the exhaust and so on.

but don't whinge on here when I offered to help you

 

[Gentle Ben]

Well I've no idea where to start when it comes to solving a problem like this. Fact is the car's in desperate need of a ticket and she hasn't got the money to start replacing components, in other words she needs a sure fire solution.

Anyway it went in today and went on the analyser, running rich. Tried two new lambda sensors without change but investigation found an open circuit on the lambda wiring... code was 2515 if that means anything.

So I'm just going to have a quick look see if I can trace the wires from the sensor back to (I'm presuming) the ECU for any damage or bad connections.

 

[Chris H]

what were the readings? Give me actual readings and I'll give you the solution.

 

[Gentle Ben]

Well I've got it sorted, albeit temporarily, by disconnecting the lambda sensor itself. Admittedly I wasn't expecting it to make any real improvement but to my (and hers) delight it improved just enough to pass the emissions test and we now have a years' ticket on it.

 

[mals]

That's the ticket

 

[bidderman1969]

time to look into it a bit more now then

 

[Gentle Ben]

Aye, to be honest it's got a whole heap of stuff that needs sorting on it, but it's worth fixing because of the age and the low mileage on it, the better condition it's in the more it's worth to her whether she sells it privately or uses it in part exchange.

 

[bidderman1969]

should have got her Persil dude, lol

 

[Gentle Ben]

Believe me Baz, I tried and tried to get her to give it serious thought but she wants something newer. She didn't think the Megane would be worth anything to her but it's on a T-plate, it's a 5dr in a nice colour with 54K and a years' ticket on it, must be worth something to someone!

 

[Chris H]

why not fix it up? won't cost much.

 

[Gentle Ben]

I know I'm planning too, let's just say me getting the ticket on it with no layout worked wonders for me last night!

To be honest it's a heap at the minute, both front bearings and both front CV joints sounds like they're on their way out, should be easy enough to do all at once, even for me. Only other thing it needs is a NSR door where some fuckwit reversed into the car and didn't leave any details, that could be the only costly job unless I can drop lucky for one in the right colour.

Think I may start a project report for it in fact.