How do I frig the car about to pass an emissions test at the MOT station? Any means, fair or foul...

Kick the probe out of the exhaust is the usual method.

Make sure the air filter is nice and clean, turn the mixture screw down a smidgin.

Tell the tester in a star wars style "you don't need to check my emissions, everything is fine"

tappets , timing, mixture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOxxS1EMphU

i know its a single venturi and its VW but its a Solex of the same era and so the adjustment is the same as ours.

Has it failed on emissions and if so, what were the figures for CO & HC?

I managed to get a complete heap through its test by plugging the pipe between the breather and the air filter box.
That was only as a stopgap until I could pull the engine down and repair the damage done by the owner's pal making a b@llsup of the timing. The same pal thought that putting fresh engine oil in would improve the emissions.
There's really no hope, sometimes...

This was what I found when the engine came apart a month after it had passed that MOT test.

As Sean has advised, check and adjust tappets and timing, if needed.


Oh dear, what can the matter be? by slcchassis, on Flickr

I can't beat that... noticed things weren't okay way before...
Anyway, did you find the bits of ring in the crossbox?

they didnt check the emmisions on Jeremy plus the mot was £10 cheaper than D*lly as less to test on older cars i guess?
On D*lly they checked with the probe but it wouldnt read anything until he gave it some beans. Was abit lean apparently but I have checked the mixture etc and its fine.

Cant see it failing tbh mate.

Anyone know the rules on ages of cars and tests required? (e.g. fog lamps, emmisions etc)

I know that the Ami (1966) didn't need anything other than a visual emissions check. There's also no requirement for a fog light or hazard warning lights.
It's all in here.

My car is 1979 and apparently had to have an emissions test which it failed. I don't know whether this is right or wrong for the year but I don't think the right way to go about passing a retest (if I can be arsed) is to tell the tester he doesn't know his job! I'm not too enthusiastic about taking it for a retest anyway, I'll probably leave it in the garage until I *need* a car now. Unless anybody has a very clean escort 4dr ghia or cortina mk4/5 they'd like to swap or p/x?

Ill show you this weekend.