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[JamesV6CDX]

Took the Veccy for her MOT this afternoon, as expected, she failed.

First of all, the failures were:

1) Nearside lower suspension arm has excessive play in a balljoint (basically bottom balljoint)**Dangerous**

2) Offside (and nearside) Front brake disks excessively worn

3) Emissions - CO2 levels excessively high at idle speed

Thankfully I know the MOT tester, and he's a great bloke. I realised the car was running on petrol when it failed it's emissions test.. (although it was set to gas, but not quite warm enough to idle on LPG) so I flicked it onto petrol, and then back to Gas - revved the nuts off it for a couple of minutes - and asked him to do the test again. This time round the car remained on LPG, and it breezed the emissions test  8-)

I have got 10 working days to go back for a partial retest, so emissions won't be tested again - phew!

So all I've got left to do, is change the front disks and pads, and the balljoint. Question is, shall I change JUST the balljoint, or should I splash out on a new pair of wishbones? Bearing in mind I'm likely (hoping) to be trading it up for an Omega asap. I would have to drill out the riveted balljoint, to fit the new one? Presume Vx would supply bolts?

Not a bad result at all to be honest.. considering the car has done well over 60,000 miles since it's MOT 11 month's ago!!!  

[STMO123]

I know where there's a good omega. Suit you sir.

[Kevin Wood]

A bit odd that it failed the CO (presumably it's CO as they don't measure CO2). I wonder if there's still a remnant of the problem that caused the valve to fail?

Do you know what the CO measurement was first time round?

Could be that the cat is a bit tired now, I guess, as it ran with a bit of a misfire for a while.

Kevin

[JamesV6CDX]

A bit odd that it failed the CO (presumably it's CO as they don't measure CO2). I wonder if there's still a remnant of the problem that caused the valve to fail?

Do you know what the CO measurement was first time round?

Could be that the cat is a bit tired now, I guess, as it ran with a bit of a misfire for a while.

Kevin

Yup, tired cat is the likely cause.. especially since I drove it about 400 miles on three cylinders, and it was puffing oil through it due to the previously worn out stem seals

Thankfully I've got it through this emissions test though.. the other stuff by comparison is easy!!

[Markie]

thats not too bad for a 210k car  

[MartinP]

Are there not lower settings for the testing on LPG  :-?

[Admin]

Considering wishbone arms are cheap for the Vectra, I would change them (get tracking set afterwards!  ).
It looks better when it comes time to sell also.

New front discs and pads + new front wishbones will impress potential buyers.

[speakingclock]

I'd shop around for the wishbones, much easier and saves your drill bits, not to mention the mess!

[JamesV6CDX]

All genuine VX Parts, Comes to £141 inc VAT with my shiny new trade club card, that's new wishbones, and a disk and pad kit

Dave - not in wales?

[Crazydad]

I think basically it depends on

1.how long you want to keep the car for until you decide to sell it.

2.how much is the car worth with new parts, and then without

3. can i repair it to a safe standard get the MOT without original parts

4.will the car be sold as a whole or will it be sold for spares

I think after you have answered yourself these questions, the decision should be easy

[JamesV6CDX]

I think basically it depends on

1.how long you want to keep the car for until you decide to sell it.

2.how much is the car worth with new parts, and then without

3. can i repair it to a safe standard get the MOT without original parts

4.will the car be sold as a whole or will it be sold for spares

I think after you have answered yourself these questions, the decision should be easy

1) About 5 minutes after it passes it's MOT - I'm gagging for an Omeega

2) 2001 Veccy Estate LPG, with a new MOT, is worth something to someone. Without MOT, it's useless to anyone... hence it needs the new parts!

3) I could definately repair to a safe standard using pattern parts, but as it stands, I'm struggling to beat GM prices, with my trade card!

4) It will be sold as a working car, with a full MOT.

Thanks for the input

[Crazydad]

I think basically it depends on

1.how long you want to keep the car for until you decide to sell it.

2.how much is the car worth with new parts, and then without

3. can i repair it to a safe standard get the MOT without original parts

4.will the car be sold as a whole or will it be sold for spares

I think after you have answered yourself these questions, the decision should be easy

1) About 5 minutes after it passes it's MOT - I'm gagging for an Omeega

2) 2001 Veccy Estate LPG, with a new MOT, is worth something to someone. Without MOT, it's useless to anyone... hence it needs the new parts!

3) I could definately repair to a safe standard using pattern parts, but as it stands, I'm struggling to beat GM prices, with my trade card!

4) It will be sold as a working car, with a full MOT.

Thanks for the input

I think that you all the answeres  before hand

get the job done asap and fullfill your dream

[JamesV6CDX]

You're right - but it always helps to get the opinions of others

[Crazydad]

You're right - but it always helps to get the opinions of others

Agree eases my mind too

Good luck with the work at hand, and lets hope you find a good Omega to replace it

[Martin_1962]

Are there not lower settings for the testing on LPG  :-?

Yes but they push it through as petrol