MOT Emissions problem

Hi everyone,

Just joined as a new member. I have been working for the last month on getting my girlfrinds Mk1 Cabriolet back on the road and have found the forums a great source of information.

At the moment I am stumbling over getting the car through it's MOT.

Heres the problem:

It passed the MOT emissions test at Garage A one month ago.

Yesterday the same car failed the MOT emissions test at Garage B.


Failure was relating to CO levels.

However comparing the Emission Test Results reveals that during the second test the car was actually putting out a LOWER CO level than during the fist test.

Why would it fail ? My guess one of the garages is applying the wrong test standard to the vehicle.

The recent results printout states on Fast Idle:

Garage B: CO Max Limit 0.300, Actual 0.505, eg FAIL


The first test printout states:
Garage A: CO Max 3.50, Actual 0.87, eg PASS


How do I prove which test station is testing the car incorrectly ?

The vehicle is a 1992 1.8 (8 valve) Golf (cabriolet) with 1.8 K-Jetronic injection system

thanks for any assistance you can give

James

Found this:

http://www.bobmckay.co.uk/p_emissions.html

Passenger cars:

First used before 1/8/1975 - Visual test only. Failure for excess idle speed, dense blue or black smoke for 5 seconds at idle or during acceleration  up to 2500rpm or half engine max speed whichever lowest.
First used between 1/8/75 and 31/7/86 - meter test CO <=4.5%, HC<=1200ppm.
First used between 1/8/86 and 31/7/92 - meter test CO<=3.5%, HC<=1200ppm.
First used between 1/8/92 and 31/7/94 - advanced emission test (CAT) if its running on petrol when presented, to the vehicle specific limits usually around CO<=0.3%, HC<=200ppm and Lambda 0.97 - 1.03.  Remember from 1st August 2001 a basic emission test will be carried out initially.

Note that the tests vehicles for first registered on or after 1/8/92 require expensive exhaust gas analyser equipment which is usually only available to the trade. However, there is DIY equipment available which is relatively inexpensive to enable emissions tests on vehicles prior to that date.

So, the question is, when was the car registered (strictly, first used)?

Thanks for that link Paul, exactly what I needed.

Now all I need to do is confirm the first used date of the car.

Cheers.

James.