I've got a 93 wrx, just passed my mot yesterday (Flew through ) I had re fitted the original cat for the MOT but he did say i needn't have bothered as it would have been fine on that year!

so i guess it is like others have said, some garages know and some dont!

Dave

 

Just perused all of the MOT PDF files on VOSA's site and as far as I can make out, the latest editions are v7.3 (not 6.4)...

The bottom line, for petrol-fuelled passenger cars that are registered on or after 1st August 1992 (following the 3 seperate flow charts chronologically), is...

- If an exact match cannot be found in VOSA's database for that particular model's emissions targets, then...

- It's ultimately subject to the BET(?) test - with or without a catalytic converter. Unfortunately, this does, indeed, mean that the vehicle has to meet the more stringent targets, i.e.


Fast idle test @ 2500-3000rpm...

* CO <= 0.2%

* HC <= 200ppm

* Lambda 0.97 to 1.03


Idle test @ 450-1500rpm...

* CO <= 0.3%

 

...Whereas before (see earlier ruling v6.4) the BET test was a bit more lenient (but still using the same targets - see above), as the car could be 2 years younger i.e. registered from 1st August 1994. When VOSA changed this ruling, however, I don't know.

 

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repo...01992-2002.pdf

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repo...CAT%20Test.pdf

The first link still indicates pre July 95 have the BET (unless i'm misreading it) and the date on the bottom is Aug 2003

 

For sure.

So cars first driven between 1-Aug-92 and 31-Jul-95 inclusive, are subject to the BET above... but ONLY if there's NO specific emissions target for a particular model. Whether it has a cat or not is acedemic - although it obviously follows that no cat = hard to pass BET test, anyhow.

 

Still wonder why VOSA haven't updated their website to include the internal memo mentioned that informs garages of the new test to UK specs?

 

Totally agree... the most important of the documents!

It comes to something when Joe Public are 'forced' to do the research to get to the truth, because of this apparent incompetence between VOSA and the testing stations ... Mind, this country is pretty much a former shadow of its once great self, so no surprise really .

 

In some cases i think it's good that we do have to look, as forums like these do make people get off their backsides instead of just going with the flow.

Have to agree with last comment not surprising that quite a few people want to leave.

 

Absolutely. Should I need to, I'll use that info to put the less informed testers in the picture, should I get any hassle (not that it'll get me anywhere ...)