12a rotary 1985 rx7 failed emissions??

[smurph323]

Hi, my rex has been sat up over winter and took for mot yesterday. Failed on emissions.
Firstly i thought pre 86 rotaries were exempt and only smoke tested. But according to tester 79-86 required test and mine was just over.
I'm thinkinh running some petrol mix cleaner through before retest and get her properly hot.
Any advice here?

[adam73bgt]

According to the note on the bottom left of this page of the MOT manual

www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s07000306.htm

Pre 1987 Rotaries should be tested as if first used before 1975 so just a smoke test, so sounds like your tester got it wrong

[smurph323]

Thats what i thought but on his screen had a section with 79-86 and says that mine first use is 85 so sits in category yo be tested. Saying pre 79 is only smoke test. Dunno how i can argue with him on this really. Might ring up some other mot places and enquire.

This guy will argue the first use part

[smurph323]

aha i think ive got him. its badly worded so woudl leave him to believe it goes on first use.. which it does.. but my rotary sits in a category that counts as first use pre75


The following types of vehicle will be considered as first used before 1 August 1975
(Visual Test):

Wankel rotary engined vehicles first used before 1 August 1987.

All kit-cars and amateur built vehicles first used before 1 August 1998.
1.1 Types of test
The emissions test to which a vehicle is
subject will depend upon its date of first use
(i.e. date of registration or date of manufac
ture if used abroad before first registration
in the UK) as follows:

For vehicles first used before 1 August 1975 a visual test will be applied

[goldnrust]

Yeah it's definitely just a smoke test Hopefully you can get the tester to re-read it and sort you out. Otherwise I guess it's goto another tester I tended to try and find a way to drop in the 'these are visual emissions only aren't they?' or whatever line as i hand the keys over to the tester, so I knew whether I'd need to fight them on it.

You'll have a tough job getting the 12a through an actual emissions test, haha.

[adam73bgt]

^ Thats essentially the same statement from the link to the MOT guide I posted but yeah, pre-1987 rotary? smoke test only

[smurph323]

Feb 26, 2015 10:18:28 GMT goldnrust said:

Yeah it's definitely just a smoke test Hopefully you can get the tester to re-read it and sort you out. Otherwise I guess it's goto another tester I tended to try and find a way to drop in the 'these are visual emissions only aren't they?' or whatever line as i hand the keys over to the tester, so I knew whether I'd need to fight them on it.

You'll have a tough job getting the 12a through an actual emissions test, haha.

yeah i did mention almost jokingly as i saw him lining my car up near the emisions test machine. " you don't need to test these do you.? just a smoke test"

he went on system and found a catgeory on it saying 79-87 a-c reg and took that as yes its here so must test it. the trouble being he wasnt aware that the statement in the manual makes all pre 87 wankel classed as pre79 for testing purposes. (poorly written as its actual meaning is "form here on this car excludes itself from being its own age") so hopefully point that out and they will see the light. some people though no talking them round thier own stubborness. as it is worded in black and white but some people are well... thick.

she was very very nearly on the pass though... think pass was something like 4.7co2 and she was sitting at 5ish.


retest today armed with this manual on my phone.. fingers crossed.


she did fail on a tiny rust spot at the very tip of the rear sill, which upon firther inspection when fixing it went alot further than realised as hidden behind a covering panel. all sorted now. welded up and sorted ready for mot

[smurph323]

Feb 26, 2015 10:19:18 GMT adam73bgt said:

^ Thats essentially the same statement from the link to the MOT guide I posted but yeah, pre-1987 rotary? smoke test only

and yes sorry thats what i meant by aha got him. as in thanks you pointed me to the correct ammo to use

[adam73bgt]

Aha no worries, just thinking about it, the tester did realise it was a rotary right?....

[smurph323]

haha yeh he did. he was honestly trying to get it to pass, he put it thorugh a few times at diff revs as it was so close. but he was just blindly follwing what it says on his computer screen... not spotting that mine counts as pre 75.
in fairness to him i didnt know the actual stipulation and exact wording untill today myself, i just knew they shoudlnt be tested. but without the actual wording form manual its impossible to argue with the tester.