MOT Time

Passed the MOT today at Boucher Rd in Belfast, I always find the guys there very helpful and pleased to see a classic car. Couple of things will need looked at in the coming weeks though as they pointed out that the CO was OK but hydro carbons were a little high, not enough to fail though, not to sure how to get them down. The second was the rear brakes were only 55% efficient again the pass mark is 50% so again any ideas as the car stops ok and the handbrake seems ok.
Andy

High Hydro Carbons are caused by unburnt fuel in the exhaust gas. Can be caused by bad timing, poor spark, an air leak in the inlet causing a lean mixture. First thing is to get her tuned up properly though.

Could also be a bad injector spray pattern, so the fuel does not mix well with the air and therefore does not get burnt efficiently. The head may also be suffering from carbon build up which acts as a fuel soak

Time to start looking under the bonnet, the car was serviced before the MOT and was/seems to be running fine, apart from when you accelerate hard were there is a slight mis. The fuel economy is awful but i was kind of living with that as i do not do a lot of miles. I also had the engine Terracleaned last year so am hoping that there is not a build up of carbon in the head.
Andy

My car failed MOT this year on HC, down to a faulty new HT lead, put old set back on and HC went from 1500 down to 5.

Im going to buy new leads/plugs/dissy cap and arm as i thought the garage would have changed them during the service, but he did not think they needed changing. I would rather be safe than sorry.
Andy

Mine failed its MOT in May and then sat off the road until the beginning of August when my friendly highwayman (mechanic) took it to his workshop where it sat until last weekend.
I'm now £30 short of a grand out of pocket but at least have the car back, welded to within an inch of its life and a shiney new MOT.  
Still can't believe it cost me almost a grand though  

I hope mine will not cost that much, i feel for you. I have the new parts i just need to fit them now and see if it makes any difference. I suppose the joy of owning a mk1 is there is always something to tinker with.
Andy