Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: vic on 22 February 2010, 17:51:51

Title: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: vic on 22 February 2010, 17:51:51
Got the dreaded phone call from the MOT tester, my omega estate auto (2.2 ecotec) failed on emissions. "Hmmm' he said, could be just a Lamda or maybe the 'cat'. We will need to run a full diagnostice tomorrow, (£49) please, plus whatever it needs to fix it. The car had a full Tech 2 a few weeks ago and to be fair the Lamda did show slightly among half a dozen 'old stored faults.However the problem I was having lead to a new cam sensor being required. I fitted that (howto on way, Photos done, just the write up to do) and it cured my 'limp home problems. If the worst comes to be what am I looking at "£" for one or both.Any suggestions on the best place to get on if I do it myself. Now have a TC
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: rustym95 on 23 February 2010, 00:26:30
could be an air leak on manifold, TC could be fault with abs or a sensor slip, how dose it sound from cold? any loud ticking.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: dbug on 23 February 2010, 01:25:57
Quote
could be an air leak on manifold, TC could be fault with abs or a sensor slip, how dose it sound from cold? any loud ticking.
What you on mate - his ref to TC meant Trade Club not Traction Control!!  Whats Traction Control got to do with emissions failure?

Not sure that 4 pots even have traction control thought it was 6 pots - may be wrong though?

Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: dbug on 23 February 2010, 01:26:35
Try an Italian tune up mate just prior to MOT  :y
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Bionic on 23 February 2010, 03:39:16
Why do some jump in with wrong advice before they understand the problem? TC on this motor? Knowledge lacking somewhere methinks, or just too keen to have a post markup.
Might help if there was less use of the dreaded abreiviations, they only serve to confuse and save very little time when writing.
A Tech2 needs to be done by someone who is skilled in its use and can properly read its diagnosis. Lots of places buy them and then believe they are instantly super technicians. For a tester to say Hmmmm - it may be - or things like that should tell you the tester is not the best scource of any advice in spite of whatever equipment he has. It shows he is totally lost for a reason and trying to look knowledgable by the use of the old Bull*hit. Lots of them about.

dbug has given the best advice, an Italian tune up just before you roll it back in. On the way there give it a decent long hard blast to clear its lungs of crap. If left ticking over for long periods the gases build up in the back box and can also affect the readings. Its surprising what clean filters, plugs and an oil change can do.
It can also sometimes be the fault of the test stations equipment because I have come across a few who do not change the probe flow filters of the test machine regularly according to the recommendations which then gives higher emission readings than it should. Fact is it happened to me last test but I told them to redo it with a new flow filter fitted!  They initially bitched like hell but when I said I had been in the same game for nigh on 40 years until retirement they eventually relented and replaced the flow filter and it then passed with flying colours. Guess what? They did not have one on stock either and had to send out to another garage to loan one!
You can always use another test station if you remain unhappy and have no confidence in the one you have used.
GudLuk
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: rustym95 on 23 February 2010, 07:07:38
Quote
Quote
could be an air leak on manifold, TC could be fault with abs or a sensor slip, how dose it sound from cold? any loud ticking.
What you on mate - his ref to TC meant Trade Club not Traction Control!!  Whats Traction Control got to do with emissions failure? Not sure that 4 pots even have traction control thought it was 6 pots - may be wrong though?

sorry reading some other stuff at same time, and there are 2.2 with TC was talking to person in stafford other day he has one and his light keeps coming on.2004 model saloon.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Auto Addict on 23 February 2010, 07:31:24
As said by Bionic, oil and filter change, clean out the breathers, throttle body.

Put some RedX, or similar in the tank and give it a good blast.

Also, is the engine getting up to temp.?

Should be running at 85deg.

My car is now 8 years old and the emissions readings haven't changed from MOT to MOT.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 23 February 2010, 08:43:11
Indeed.....lets make sure teh basics are all good.

Is the engine getting upto temperature ok?

Is the air filter etc all good and clean?

Is teh throttle body and breathers all nice and clean.

And can you post the failure figures for the emmissions.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: vic on 23 February 2010, 08:43:44
Thanks for the advice guys. The garage are doing an oil and filter change today plus diagnostics and then re-testing, I guess it depends on the call I get later today and the cost whether I take the fail cert, re-book somewhere else having done the breathers, Italian tune up etc. that you suggest. Sorry about the confusion TC was intended to be a trade card. Having the dexterity of a handcuffed crab at the keyboard tends to make me look to use abbreviations.It was running lumpy for the first minute lately but smoothly after that. Is that a pointer to where I should look for a fix? I love all this diagnostic stuff, just wish I understood more. Life long learning what a wonderful thing...'not :(
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Andy B on 23 February 2010, 08:44:35
Quote
Quote
Quote
could be an air leak on manifold, TC could be fault with abs or a sensor slip, how dose it sound from cold? any loud ticking.
What you on mate - his ref to TC meant Trade Club not Traction Control!!  Whats Traction Control got to do with emissions failure? Not sure that 4 pots even have traction control thought it was 6 pots - may be wrong though?

sorry reading some other stuff at same time, and there are 2.2 with TC was talking to person in stafford other day he has one and his light keeps coming on.2004 model saloon.

4 pot Omegas do NOT have Traction Control!
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: rustym95 on 23 February 2010, 08:45:41
well tell his car not me TC light was on.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Auto Addict on 23 February 2010, 08:46:59
Quote
Thanks for the advice guys. The garage are doing an oil and filter change today plus diagnostics and then re-testing, I guess it depends on the call I get later today and the cost whether I take the fail cert, re-book somewhere else having done the breathers, Italian tune up etc. that you suggest. Sorry about the confusion TC was intended to be a trade card. Having the dexterity of a handcuffed crab at the keyboard tends to make me look to use abbreviations.It was running lumpy for the first minute lately but smoothly after that. Is that a pointer to where I should look for a fix? I love all this diagnostic stuff, just wish I understood more. Life long learning what a wonderful thing...'not :(

Clean out the breathers and throttle body, also, when was the last time the fuel filter was changed.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Andy B on 23 February 2010, 08:58:27
Quote
well tell his car not me TC light was on.

Perhaps the car or driver was on hallucinating drugs! 4  pot cars Omega don't have TC  :-?
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: rustym95 on 23 February 2010, 09:01:16
no sore it sarted car no light moved it 2 feet and light on dash came on only TC light in bright orange.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: rustym95 on 23 February 2010, 09:03:38
no sore it sarted car no light moved it 2 feet and light on dash came on only TC light in bright orange.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Andy B on 23 February 2010, 09:10:36
Quote
no sore it sarted car no light moved it 2 feet and light on dash came on only TC light in bright orange.

Could you translate to English please!  :-?
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Jimbob on 23 February 2010, 09:12:07
2.2 petrol were not fitted with TC.
2.2 DTi does have TC.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: tunnie on 23 February 2010, 09:14:32
Quote
no sore it sarted car no light moved it 2 feet and light on dash came on only TC light in bright orange.

might be worth proof reading some of your posts  :-?

Also half the dash lights are Orange, EML/Emissions. Its a pure fact the 2.2 petrol cannot have traction control, nor can it be enabled via tech2. ECU does not have the capability.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Auto Addict on 23 February 2010, 09:19:13
A 2.2 does not have Traction Control, end of.

This is a thread about emissions, no more Traction Control arguments
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 February 2010, 09:31:00
Sorry to hear this, Vic.

Can't recall what codes we cleared out when the cam sensor was diagnosed but I believe we wrote them down. I will have a look to see if I have them.

Anyway, I'd be happy to drop by again and have another look.

IIRC, I remember the Lambda sensor was a little slow at "waking up" and needed unusually long at fast idle before activity was visible. This was all with a failed cam sensor and a consequent misfire so it would be good to check it now the cam sensor is OK. Doesn't necessarily mean the Lambda sensor is the problem, of course...

Kevin

EDIT: And yes, check basic servicing jobs, clean throttle body and breathers, ensure it's getting up to the proper temperature, spark plugs are OK, etc. Also try and give it a decent motorway run if it's been pootling around recently. If you post the emissions failure results it might tell us a little more.

Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: vic on 23 February 2010, 11:04:41
Hi Auto Addict. I suspect the car has never had the fuel filter changed and I had asked the garage to fit a new one when I took it in for MOT so that should be Ok as of today. Last week I fitted new air filter plus carbon pollen filter and a new GM cam sensor (thanks Andyc). On Sunday I fitted new spark plugs but found the plug wells to be full of oil so I have a gasket to do there when the car comes back. Never had a car fail on emissions so it took me a bit by surprise  :o Thanks for the advice, please do keep it coming.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: vic on 23 February 2010, 11:21:12
Hi Kevin,......You're a true Gent' thank you.
I pasted the list of codes in the back of my Haynes manual.
Here they are;
P O335..crank sensor open cuircuit
P O100..MAF circuitP low Input
P 0136..02 sensor 2 open cicuit
P 0170..rich exhaust
P 0335.. crankshaft signal incorrect signal
P 0340..camshaft position sensor circuit no signal
P  1613..immob wrong signal

Gearbox presented;
P  1781
P  1625
You may remember some codes were reported as not present on the Tech 2 and we cleared them down. As you say one of the lambdas was slow waking up and was only resposive after tweaking the revs. On balance it did appear it was Ok but may have been marginal I guess. The cam sensor was 'right on the money as that solved my limp home problems as soon as I fitted it. As always I would appreciate your thoughts.
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 February 2010, 12:49:46
If the cam cover gasket has failed that might have been causing a misfire, perhaps? It's also an indication that the breathers might be blocked, so certainly worth sorting them while you're at it. See what happens after that. Sounds like servicing's up to date. :y

IIRC Only the cam sensor fault remained after clearing it and letting it run. Might have changed after some more driving though, of course.

Kevin
Title: Re: Failed the emissions help!
Post by: vic on 23 February 2010, 13:47:58
Kevin,
You're memory serves you well. We tried clearing down the faults twice and the cam sensor came back both times. can't post the emissions results as I took the car in yesterday and got the call in the afternoon that it had failed and left it with them for further action. Nerve racking waiting for the call again now for the results. Will post the emissions test results once I get the car back. Then perhaps I can do the work suggested on the forum and take you up on your kind offer of a revisit if necessary.