help please, catalytic converter

[jaytee]

Bought my bongo last year. 2.5litre petrol '96 imported from Japan. Was converted registered MOT'd etc.
Took it in for a MOT today. Failed as no catalytic converter and by law it should have one as newer than '92.
How it got through last year I don't know. Spoke to the importer and he has no helpful response and doesn't know why there isn't one. Any ideas where I can get a catalytic converter. Also failed on the reg plate letters not being thick enough.
Thankyou

[Simon Jones]

May be worth taking it to a more Bongo savvy garage. Have a read of the following and do some more research online. You may be ok as its an import.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... 5&t=799576

[New Forest Terrier]

definitely sounds one for a more Bongo savvy garage. Add your location so that someone local may be able to help. As non EU imports Bongos are permitted to have a much smaller plate than normal. These should be no trouble for a MOT, unless you have some type of ornamental lettering.

The missing catalyst is an oddity. Does the garage mean that it is physicaly missing? Has the original exhaust been replaced with one without a catylyst? That does not explain last year's pass though. Do they mean the catalyst is no longer operating? If there is no catalyst how is the Bongo operating without feedback from the Lambda sensor? Does the heat sensor warning light operate correctly?

One of the two garages involved do not know what they are doing, either the one who passed it last year or the one who failed it this year. Unless the exhaust has been replaced incorrectly between the two MOTs something is very wrong. All petrol Bongos should have a catalyst as original equipment. Japanese regulations are far tighter than UK.

[jaytee]

I live in kings Lynn. I bought the bongo from Andy imports last year. Andy imported the van then MOT'd, coverted, reged, etc then I bought it with a MOT and 6 months tax. Today it went for the MOT and failed on emissions and when was checked underneath, there is no catalytic converter- only a straight through pipe welded from after the O2 sensor. NO CONVERTER AT ALL .spoke to Andy. Pleading ignorance. I am not motor savvy at all. At most I can change a flat three.
Basically I need one pronto.

[Poohbear]

I think you need to go back to the people you bought it from and ask them to sort it. Threaten to contact the DOT because at the very minimum the garage that MOT'd it last year have not done their job properly and at worst they have committed an offence. Without a catalytic converter it is not fit for purpose as it is effectively not legal to drive it on the road. This shouldn't be your problem as you bought in good faith from a dealer.

[teenmal]

Hi,
I fear they'll say it was ok when they examined it and that a lot can happen in 12 months. Did you get a print out/copy of the emissions test with the MOT certificate.

Cheers.

[jaytee]

Hiya, no emissions report. However I don't understand how it got through without a catalytic converter
in the first place if its law to have one.
Any ideas where i can find a converter.
Thanks

[teenmal]

Hi,

The BF shop sell exhaust parts(or can get them for you)

[Simon Jones]

Take a look at this:

http://www.longlife.co.uk/products/cata ... tAodpEjvGg

It seems rules have changed:

The confusion has arisen due to the regulations changing in January 2012 for cars which qualify for a full gas emissions test where 'if a cat was fitted as standard, it must be there for the MOT'

Longlife's nearest depots are Peterborough or Norwich & they can custom build a replacement.

[Poohbear]

Take a look at this:

http://www.longlife.co.uk/products/cata ... tAodpEjvGg

It seems rules have changed:

The confusion has arisen due to the regulations changing in January 2012 for cars which qualify for a full gas emissions test where 'if a cat was fitted as standard, it must be there for the MOT'

Longlife's nearest depots are Peterborough or Norwich & they can custom build a replacement.

I read that to mean that jaytee doesn't need to get a catalytic converter, he just needs to re-acquaint the MOT tester with the testers manual and point out that he made a mistake. He could take it somewhere else but then he'd have to pay twice. I'd go back and have a 'chat' with the boss at the place that failed it.

[Simon Jones]

It seems to come down to whether one was fitted at the time of manufacture. If you look at most of the V6's on ebay etc they tend to list a cat as being fitted, so it's fair to assume it was a standard fitting. If it could be proved that an import is exempt as it was never appoved for UK use, then you may be ok

The MOT manual says in section 7.1:

Method of Inspection: On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter.

Reason for Rejection: A catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard

Full copy at http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/index.htm

[Poohbear]

It seems to come down to whether one was fitted at the time of manufacture. If you look at most of the V6's on ebay etc they tend to list a cat as being fitted, so it's fair to assume it was a standard fitting. If it could be proved that an import is exempt as it was never appoved for UK use, then you may be ok

The MOT manual says in section 7.1:

Method of Inspection: On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter.

Reason for Rejection: A catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard

Full copy at http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/index.htm

And what Longlife are saying is that diesels don't qualify for a "full cat emissions test" so therefore, it is not necessary to check for the presence of the cat?

[Simon Jones]

True enough, but not relevant to the OP

Bought my bongo last year. 2.5litre petrol...

[jaytee]

So basically as it can be seen that a pipe was welded in that means I have to get a catalytic converter? as I assume there used to be one in the past

[Poohbear]

True enough, but not relevant to the OP

Bought my bongo last year. 2.5litre petrol...

Aah yes, missed that. Tell them it's a very quiet diesel!