my 95 (n) impreza turbo wrx jap import failed its mot today. the co level was at 2 % and needed to be .3%. had it on fault code reader no faults were found. oxygen sensor and air flow sensor running at correct parameters. are jap imports of this year exempt from a cat test? i was told that jap imports only had one cat whereas th uk car has two? so could it be a case of banging another cat on it any help would be much appreciated

 

WRX's do have 2 cats, but mine passes with the centre cat removed.
So, there's no CEL flashing?
Make sure the car is hot when they test it, could it have been just started from cold?

 

the car was hot at time of test. i have taken it down it down to a specialised subaru place today and they said the centre one would just be a silencer even tho it looks like a cat. they couldnt even throw up any suggestions as to why it is running rich. air filter changed recently. i do have a slight misfire at about 5000 revs which i have been informed is a coil pack breaking down but no misfire at 3000 revs for the emmission test cheers. and there is no cel light flashing

 

it sounds like you got a hole inside the cat or a small leak in the exhust.

 

coil pack breaking down might mean the spark is reduced enough to not allow a complete burn of the mixture... could be getting a rich mixture from that?

my import wrx but a later model has only the downpipe cat as standard,the center one is a resonator silencer and not a cat..... could be your downpipe cat is failing also.... what was the lambda reading on the mot?