Do i need a cat?

[bennyboy]

Recently i swapped my M40 (with cat) for a M42 (with no cat). My car is
j-reg but im not too sure if it needs a cat. dont think that j-reg does but my car was built in dec'92 according to the RAC website.
Anyway, if it comes to it, i may need to put a cat on for the MOT. if i do this i need the lamda probe aswell? will an ecu on a cat car be different to a one that is of a car without?

P.S. Still need a coil mount if anyone can help!!!

[dazleeds]

im preety sure everything 92 and on musthave a cat

well for the mot anyway

[bennyboy]

it was registered march '92. however, When it was MOTed last year by a friend the station wrote '91 on the ticket. i used to be an MOT assistant and im 99% sure that it can go through on a normal emissions test if they agree on '91.

[Chris-W]

I believe it's a non-cat test for anything up to end July '92.

[ausbmwboy]

YES!

Get a cat.
I love mine.
its so fluffy and it keeps me warm in winter.

[Alistair]

what about a cat m42 into the space of a non cat m40,
will I need the cat?

[dobbie82]

YES!

Get a cat.
I love mine.
its so fluffy and it keeps me warm in winter.

Damn you beat me to it! suprised stevetigger didnt jump in ther first though!

[DaveD]

i found this

Emissions testing for petrol engines appears complex but once the date of first use and the vehicle type has been established then it's really quite simple.

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.

[dazleeds]

YES!

Get a cat.
I love mine.
its so fluffy and it keeps me warm in winter.

Damn you beat me to it! suprised stevetigger didnt jump in ther first though!

Damn good at finishing the milk, chasing rodents oh and driving insane with sticks/string and lazer pointers

so i hear

[jmc330i]

The date for the Cat is August '92 onwards.
Although my Oct '92 Cav SRi passed MOTs without the Cat fitted (it fell off due to rust, so was replaced by a straight pipe) as longs as it passes the emissions test, it should be ok.

Your J reg car will not need a Cat as it will of been registered before August '92.

[Brianmoooore]

There is no requirement for any car to have a cat. The requirement is for it to meet certain emission requirements after Aug 1992 registrations, that are much stricter than those for pre Aug 92 registrations.
Any car running on petrol is going to be hard pushed to meet the later requirements unless it is fitted with a working cat.
A car running on LPG will easily meet the later requirements without using a cat, and, I think, but I'm not sure, that a later car fitted with a pre Aug 92 engine, is exempt.

[DaveD]

[quott I'm not sure, that a later car fitted with a pre Aug 92 engine, is exempt.[/quote]


according to the website you are correct but it stresses that you have to give cast iron evidence and that the rules are as to the age of the engine

[Brianmoooore]

Most manufactuers will give the engine age in writing if you supply them with the engine number.