Hi All,

At a recent NCT (the National Car Test - the equivalent here of the UK MOT), the attached results caused a fail. Can anyone advise me as to what parts I will need? (The test results note a ball joint issues on the front suspension, and bushings problems at the rear).


Also, I have a readout from a Smartbox (see attached "Idle Test"). I asked for mechanic to check the car because the engine management light is on, and the engine is responding oddly to acceleration - it is kind of jumpy. (I'm told by my Polish mechanic that this is a "body throttle" problem, and it can be expensive to fix. Another friend of mine, who specialises in S Type Rs has suggested that the problem might be the catalytic converter).

I've also read on the web that this problem could be caused by dampness in the boot affecting electrics. Earlier on this year, my son managed to get his hands on my key, and he opened the boot late in the evening - and I didn't realise it until morning - and a night of heavy rain soaked the boot. Could this have caused the problem?

Any advice about this?

I am a complete novice. I like driving cars, but (to my embarrassment) I know very little about engines - other than a little bit of bar talk.

 

Don't panic. But please do say which engine size & auto/manual, plus year.

Ignore P1582 it will be there in various cases and is not the kind of code to cause a fail (of the test or anything else). (It doesn't relate to the throttle body.)

P0430 is the one to focus on.

It may well mean a bad cat but need not. The exact causes (if the car's figured what's wrong properly, and often it does) are listed for each code but depend to some extent on the car details I've mentioned. A possible cause is a bad sensor (HO2S) that in effect says the cat's faulty but really it's the sensor.

You can download the codes PDF from the stickies (free) or it's part of JTIS (also free) which is the workshop manual (unless this is a diesel).

 

Doh!

I have a 2002 S Type R Supercharged V8

 

No worries! Grab JTIS / codes PDF and go hunting. You can also try Search with the code and see what others did.

Cats can be tested in various ways but mostly need a mechanic unless you've the tools (IR gun, borescope etc).

 

Which would be worse? Cat or Throttle?

Also - any ideas about the front and rear suspension?

(Oh, and thanks a million. This is the second time in two years that you've given me good advice. )

 

P0430 can't be throttle body. P1582 isn't.

Suspension that's worn needs replacing. There are posts on here and a sticky on the UK forum.