Corsa B MOT Issue

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 19:10

Going to put my corsa b in for an MOT once i get the brakes done and exhaust. Ive put a 1990 astra gte 2.0 16v engine into a 1996 model corsa which used to run with a cat. Problem is the mot tester says i will require a cat as i have no proof of what car the engine came out of. Would my original 1.2 8v cat be up for the job of getting it through an mot or would i have to get one for a 2.0 ltr engine?

cavalier_andy · 05-10-2008, 19:23

you will need a 2.0 cat bud as the 1.2 will be a smaller diameter to the 16v engine exhaust you will now have on but all "everyday" garages say that if you take it to a performance tuning garage they know all the legal jargon behind this sort of thing and redtops dont have cats anyways as they were b4 the emissions e.u they did try putting cats on the later models 92/93 on but still could not get the emissions down to what they wanted,which is why they stopped making them and brought the ecotec out which is more enviormental friendly

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 19:27

**** now im worried. I had the engine in another corsa which failed the mot as it need alot of welding and they said the exhaust emission test couldnt be carried out as i was missing a cat. Im gonna be fooked if i put a 2.0 cat on and it still fails. I did say the engine was out an astra gte but i have no proof. Just hope i can get it through. You know where the best place to go and get it mot'd?

Jack · 05-10-2008, 19:29

What exhaust are you using? A standard one?

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack

What exhaust are you using? A standard one?

Yea got a section of standard pipe welded to the manifold then onto a straightthrough race pipe then a standard backbox mate

Jack · 05-10-2008, 19:35

Just find a standard cat then and slip it in.

davie_slim · 05-10-2008, 19:39

surely if the then engine code is c20 xe then it will be expected to have a cat as thats what the c stands for? ideal engine could would surely be 20xe from old school vauxhalls

david

cavalier_andy · 05-10-2008, 19:45

a C is euro 1 regulations,and if you just have a standard exhaust on then just cut and weld flanges on,bang a cat in,i say flanges so you can remove after mot.

im sure there is a performance place in dundee i used to take mine to s.a.s but i think they are closed now been a while since i was last there

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by davie_slim

surely if the then engine code is c20 xe then it will be expected to have a cat as thats what the c stands for? ideal engine could would surely be 20xe from old school vauxhalls

david

The engine code is 20xe without the c but the garage i went to says i must have a cat as the corsa is a 96 and it had a cat in the first place. My mechanic mate says that they arent being arses just doing there job but i said to him that the block is even stamped 1990 and surley with this and the engine code as evidence that i wont need a cat but they wont accept it. Think i might just slip the 1.2 8v cat in there just to get it through either that or find another mot station that i can tow the car to who will accept it without cat. Mate says that they go by a computer system and if the car is meant to have a cat then i must put it on. Why cant it just be simple

dawsonvalver · 05-10-2008, 19:49

cant you get it mot'd at a mates garage? or even slip them £30 and get them to blag the emissions test on a different car? coz your only gonna take the cat back of again anyway arent you?

adidasandy · 05-10-2008, 19:52

You do not need a CAT as I have had this before and spoke to VOSA and it goes on what year your engine is NOT the year of the car. This has been covered before in one of my old threads. Basically how I got away with the year of the engine is I told him that the way you tell a year on this type of engine is take the oil filler cap off and have alook at the cam collar and you can see the year of the engine in a circle stamped on the collar. he beleived me because I was kicking up such a stick and after ring VOSA in front of him he passed it. Could have been a **** though and failed it on everything else.
Will try and find that thread.

cavalier_andy · 05-10-2008, 19:53

ye your mate is half right but if engine is stamped then they can adjust the emissions on the comp to before the euro standards emission tests,its not rocket science as the computers are simple to use,i would say the tester is being an ass and or lazy this is why mechanics are now called fitters and the majority are far from engineers,no offence to real engineers

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 19:57

My mate doesnt do the mot's he takes the cars to the garage that he uses. S.a.S is closed aswell and i dont trust leaving my car with people i dont use or know. I kept the cat off my corsa just incase i needed it so looks like it will have to go on just to keep the mot tester happy then once it passes ill take it straight off. My mate says that if i take it off and get stopped without a cat then i could get done. Funny thing is the bloody engine is precat but i aint got the proof except the date on the bottom end and the 20xe stamped on the engine which isnt enough. What a hassle just to get a modified car through an mot

cavalier_andy · 05-10-2008, 19:59

you will have proof once you send the v5 to dvla to register the modification,unless of course you keeping it logged as a 1.2

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavalier_andy

you will have proof once you send the v5 to dvla to register the modification,unless of course you keeping it logged as a 1.2

Thats another story mate, tried to register the engine and they told me that id have to wait till i go to tax the car at the dvla and buy tax for a 2.0 car then they will change it over for me which i think is stupid. Wish i new that before i sent away the logbook with the changes and a letter of proof that the engine was a 2.0ltr. Never thought it would be as hard as this to do everything legal. You tell them at the dvla that its a 2.0ltr and they say well youl have to buy the tax for a 2.0ltr first at your local dvla office then they will take your logbook with the engine size changes then send it away. What a pain in the aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssseee!!!

Trevor · 05-10-2008, 20:38

Quote:

MOT Testers' Handbook:

This inspection applies to all spark ignition engined vehicles with four or more wheels in Classes IV and VII.
Contained within this section are flowcharts. Carefully use these flowcharts to accurately establish which type of emission test is applicable to the vehicle being tested-

Test according to which is older, engine or vehicle.
e.g. A 1995 car fitted with a 1991 engine (of whatever make), test to 1991 standards for emission purposes.

Note: The onus is on the vehicle presenter to prove engine age.

So you need to prove the engine age, clearly a 20XE with a 20XE engine number needs no cat and it should be proof enough.

cavalier_andy · 05-10-2008, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

So you need to prove the engine age, clearly a 20XE with a 20XE engine number needs no cat and it should be proof enough.

cheers trev!

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

So you need to prove the engine age, clearly a 20XE with a 20XE engine number needs no cat and it should be proof enough.

Cheers mate ill get my friend to phone up the garage and tell them that he has seen the code and they can check it for themselves and see if they are willing to mot it without a cat. Will post back and let you all know how i got on. Cheers guys for all your advice

Galahad · 05-10-2008, 21:03

They shouldn't have this issue, if they enter the engine number into the computer, it will tell them exactly what emissions criteria is needed for the test.

hatchet78 · 05-10-2008, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galahad

They shouldn't have this issue, if they enter the engine number into the computer, it will tell them exactly what emissions criteria is needed for the test.

Thats what i think aswell. Ill give them the engine code and see what they say

hatchet78 · 06-10-2008, 20:52

Update,

Got my mate to speak to the mot station today and they are willing to test as a pre 92 so got that sorted. Also spoke to the dvla about the problem i had with the log book and they said that all i need to do is change the capacity and engine number then sign it and send it with a letter of proof of the engine size. Told them that id done that before and got it all sent back they said that shouldnt have happened so just sent it all of again today so fingers crossed. Nearly didnt make it to the garage today as when i was towing, my mate was day dreaming or something and didnt turn left at the same time i did and panicked and pulled the handbreak on.

Well lets just say i now have a george michael towbar

That'll be another headache for me to sort out.

djivesp · 06-10-2008, 21:21

it's all a load of balls to be honest.
Im about to go through this process, but to **** things up even more - my new bottom end has had the number machined off. WTF!!
my c20xe passed the Basic Emissions Test last year with a 1.4 cat on. Lucky you got the test as a pre 92

hatchet78 · 07-10-2008, 20:57

Tell me about it, got the new brakes and exhaust on today and my mate is checking over all my work just to make sure ive done everything right as its my first conversion and i aint no mechanic. Really hope the dvla dont mess me about again with the log book. Least the insurance was easy for a change, got the car covered with all mods fully comp for 420 which she says would go down next year but cause ive paid my insurance in full for my other car when i get this one t&t'd it'll only be 80-100 on top of what ive already paid which is **** hot