Emissions Test Australia

[geoff_k]

Hi,
I have imported an 88 911 from the UK to Australia.

Can anyone tell me if I need to fit a cat to the car to pass the emissions test or if I should give it a go without one

thanks
Geoff

[sc_rufctr]

I don't think it even has to pass an emissions test.

I'm in SA and I've never heard of any car having to pass an emissions test.

[percy]

There is no emission test in the ADR specifications.
I suspect there may be variations in state by state licensing rules, however, not required in WA at least (where I imported mine recently)

[geoff_k]

Thanks for reading and responding.

In NSW I have to either get my car to the Australian spec or take it to Sydney for an emissions test. The one positive is the emissions test is free.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by geoff_k

Thanks for reading and responding.

In NSW I have to either get my car to the Australian spec or take it to Sydney for an emissions test. The one positive is the emissions test is free...

Nice car.

OK So you need to find out what the Aust Specs were or are for your car.
Is that Aust specs now or as they were in 1988?

Being in NSWs, I'm sure you know that it needs to get an annual inspection done as well so it can be registered.

It all sounds like such a pain in the a$$.

Why not talk to someone who imports second hand Japanese cars.
They'd be able to point you in the right direction.

[clutch-monkey]

^ maybe j-spec imports, there is some euro stuff on there that they bring in.

[geoff_k]

I have had the car on a hoist and noticed that I could just bolt in a Cat. Will I need to do any other engine mod to get the car to run correctly or will the management system adjust accordingly?

I am thinking I don't as you can bolt in a Cat Bypass for track days ( I am sure no one does anything illegal like drive with a Cat Bypass in at all times

[geoff_k]

Can anyone tell me if I can just bolt in the catalytic converter instead of the cat bypass without having to do any engine tuning?

Geoff

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by geoff_k

Can anyone tell me if I can just bolt in the catalytic converter instead of the cat bypass without having to do any engine tuning?

Geoff

Most likely the EFI Computer in your car wasn't changed in any way when the catalytic converter was removed and replaced with a cat bypass. (This is a very common mod in the UK)
But the PO may have put a performance chip in.
If you could open the EFI Computer and take a good in focus photo and post it here people will chime in and tell you what chip is installed.

If it was my car... I would put in a brand new or good S/H catalytic converter and get the car tested.

Even if your car has a performance chip installed it shouldn't affect emissions.

[johnsjmc]

I am unfamiliar with the UK standards for 1988. If originally equipped with a Cat the engine requires an oxygen sensor circuit for the Cat to function correctly. If built to ROW specs without cat I believe there is no O2 sensor installed. Do you have an O2 sensor now??

[Joe Bob]

You should have an 02 sensor anyways on a Motronic engine. Addition of the cat will restrict the exhaust flow a bit, quiet the exhaust tone but otherwise not effect the engine management.

[johnsjmc]

Row engines were built with and without cats. If you have option 155 or 157 on the under the hood option sticker it has the motronic for cats. You can also look for the last digits on the DME ending in 051 had no cat and the ROW harness hasn,t got pin 24 wiring either. Again I don,t know what was required in UK but ROW cars could be built with or without. Look for posts by Loren about ROW oxygen sensors.

[geoff_k]

Thanks for the advice.

The emissions test is required in NSW or I have to prove it is the same as the Australian Spec (which isnt going to happen as the UK engine is a higher performance than the OZ spec one)

Priced a new Cat - $3300. Rang around and got a price of 300 for a second hand one. Ended up borrowing one. My emissions test is on Wednesday. Luckily in NSW the test is free.

The emissions test is the only thing on my list to get the car passed for rego.

Geoff

[ischmitz]

As others said, check if you have an O2 sensor installed in the cat bypass tube. Then check and post the model number of the DME under the drivers seat. You can tell whether it has been opened by carefully looking for pry marks around the metal tabs. If there are none it is safe to assume the DME is stock. If there is any sign of pry marks you would want to open the DME and check what chip is installed. And once you have it open post an image of the lower circuit board. Then we can quickly tell whether it is an O2 capable DME. You can get a correct chip for it if it has the O2 portion of the circuit.

To get a cat working you need a DME that has the O2 sensor portion of the electronics, a correct chip, and a good O2 sensor. This will make sure the DME keeps the A/F ratio in acceptable ranges for the cat to work.

Ingo

[geoff_k]

yesterday was the big day. Went to to Botany, Sydney where the RTA does the testing.
Car passed with flying colours. In fact nearly passed the 1997 benchmark.

Speaking to the gentleman and he said if a car is found to have the CAT removed, it is a 16 grand fine....

Next big day is the 2nd May where it will get an engineers compliance certificate (already been there for a list of work that is now all completed)

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by geoff_k

Speaking to the gentleman and he said if a car is found to have the CAT removed, it is a 16 grand fine....

Yeah right...I've never heard of anything so ridiculous!
In Tassy we don't even have MOT/RWC.
NSW=police state. I hear they have automatic parking space sensors now that alert the meter cop when you arrive and (don't) depart. That's nice.

btw congrats on your grey import! Pump some carbon into the atmosphere and see if anyone in the govt really cares!

[johnsjmc]

It,s illegal to remove them in Canada and most or all of the US also but unless they are routinely testing tailpipe emissions they won,t find the hollow or defective ones.Personally I hate the stink of an overly rich or pre catalyst car. Modern cats don,t affect performance much anyway. Guess you should get that used one. Congratulations on your import.

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

Personally I hate the stink of an overly rich or pre catalyst car. .

I hate the stink of modern cars (rotten egg gas smell) and of diesel engines! My P cars dont filter the smells out very well so that is an excuse to overtake
If I had a car that smelt of farts , I'd be a little embarassed

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by geoff_k

yesterday was the big day. Went to to Botany, Sydney
Speaking to the gentleman and he said if a car is found to have the CAT removed, it is a 16 grand fine....

yeah yeah and 'up to' 30 grand if caught with a screamer pipe..
reality is the cops hardly ever check p cars (or under them) and the crucial bit being the 'up to' worst i've seen personally is a few hundred dollars and a tow truck home

[tazzieman]

Facts revealed - he was right , if 1 PU = $110 you could be hit with over 40k fine...but only 22k if you are an individual...

NSW Legislation

1) An owner of a motor vehicle is guilty of an offence if the vehicle emits excessive air impurities while being used.
Maximum penalty: 400 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 200 penalty units (in the case of an individual).

2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this clause if the owner proves that the motor vehicle was at the time of the commission of the offence a stolen motor vehicle or a motor vehicle illegally taken or used.

Therefore, always drive like you stole it

NSW Legislation

21 Use of motor vehicle requires anti-pollution device
(1) An owner of a motor vehicle who uses the motor vehicle, or causes or allows it to be used, must ensure that each anti-pollution device that is required by this Regulation to be fitted to the motor vehicle is fitted to the motor vehicle in the required manner.
Maximum penalty: 400 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 200 penalty units (in the case of an individual).
23 Removal or adjustment of anti-pollution devices
(1) The owner of a motor vehicle who uses the motor vehicle, or causes or allows it to be used, must ensure that at the time of that use, any anti-pollution device that has been fitted to the motor vehicle has not been:
(a) removed, disconnected or impaired, or
(b) adjusted or modified and the adjustment or modification results in the emission of excessive air impurities by the motor vehicle.
Maximum penalty: 400 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 200 penalty units (in the case of an individual).

Don't let the cat out of the bag!