MOT fail, but nothing too bad.......

[tandemsandy]

Vinnies first MoT came up with the following:
Horn not loud enough!
Both rear shocks have worn bushes.
Emission; CO was 10.105 against a 4.5 limit, HC was 1665 against a 1200 limit.

Horn is easily fixed. Shock bushes - can the bush itself be changed or does the whole shock have to be replaced? To be honest I'm not sure how old the shocks are, so for about £40 each its probably worth replacing them.

Emissions - have done some reading up on the forum & wiki. Got new vacuum pipes on the way which might help, then sounds like a timing check, plugs and an oil change.

Could've been worse!

Rob

[CovKid]

And air filter. All helps.

[rubarb]

Emissions - Try an additive or, if a diesel, stay in gear longer at faster speeds can give things a god blow out. Not sure if it is the same for a petrol.

[..lee..]

emissions will need to be set. speak with testing station to see if they are willing for you to do final tweek while you are there. they should as its no real hassle for them. possible get them to set it for a small tip. check air filter is clean and choke is comming fully off then get to know where your mixture screw and idle screw is. you can then adj it.

co @10 is way too high and this will also increase HC as the fuel is being wasted.

you can tweek it by ear but really it would only be close. best done on a gas machine.

[tandemsandy]

Thanks for the input so far.
New air filter on, timing adjusted (was slightly out), idle reset, was at 1200rpm, now a nice 950. New plugs and oil tomorrow. Replaced the 3.5mm vacuum pipes with nice blue silicon hose. Replacement hose for the brake servo should arrive tomorrow. Brickwerks pull down unit arrived today too. Am sure the garage would do the mixture tweaking for me, they're great people. They've suggested I remove the carb and giving it a damn good clean and blow through with compressed air.
New shocks just been ordered at a very reasonable price.

Oh, and ordered a new clutch master cylinder as that was dripping fluid onto the mats. The good thing is, with Christmas in the middle, my 10 working days to restest takes me to the 5th Jan!

Rob

[fullsunian]

The good thing is, with Christmas in the middle, my 10 working days to restest takes me to the 5th Jan!

Rob

Mmm not sure their MOT computer will see it like that. You could still end up having a full retest, once the ten days is up that is it. Dont think it takes into account of bank holidays. Just check...

[tandemsandy]

Have to admit I wasn't sure, so when I called in I asked them when the 10 days would be up and they went through the calendar and came up with that date.

Rob

[tandemsandy]

Yay, passed yesterday

And it was classed as a retest, 15 days after the initial test. New rear shocks fitted, new horn fitted behind the upper grille. Decided to power it direct from the fusebox and use the original horn wiring to control a relay. Plenty loud now!

Emissions needed a wee mixture tweak, but the numbers are now CO 3.944, down from 10.105, and HC 379, down from 1665!! Had the carb off for a good clean and new pull-down unit. Also discovered that the reason the fast idle wasn't working was because some numpty had bent parts of the mechanism, presumably because they didn't know how it worked properly and they thought it'd help!! Fortunately it bent back ok and Vinnie now starts from cold perfectly and idles perfectly. In fact he's running sweeter than ever!

One very happy pair of VW owners, and again many thanks to everyone who takes the time to share their knowledge on here, couldn't do it without you

Rob & Sandy