My 06 Roomster petrol failed emissions part of the inspection test today in Portugal 

I have to take it back within 30 days for retest but wanted to know if anyone has advice on how to reduce the emissions values . The car had been stood for a few months as I don't live here all the time  and was tested successfully only 2000km ago .

I drove it hard for half an hour on the way to the test station and kept it running while waiting for the test. 
the fail certificate is in Portuguese but I can see one test is taken while revving 0.2% and the other is taken at idle 0.3% then a line about Lambda value outside +or- 0.03 or not in accordance with engine specifications 

any advice is welcome on how I can reduce the numbers.

Hello Bob, what percentage was the fail? it doesn't sound as if it was by much - Try a new air filter, fresh tank of fuel and perhaps new, correctly-gapped spark plugs. 

Edited 5 October, 20232 yr by Warrior193
grammar

It doesn’t say any % failure just gives the figures in my original post maybe I will make the changes you suggest and then get a local garage to check the emissions before taking it back to the testing station 

2 hours ago, bobcr said:

It doesn’t say any % failure just gives the figures in my original post maybe I will make the changes you suggest and then get a local garage to check the emissions before taking it back to the testing station 

My suggestions were based on the vehicle not having had a recent service.

What part of Portugal?

It doesn’t say any % failure just gives the figures in my original post maybe I will make the changes you suggest and then get a local garage to check the emissions before taking it back to the testing station 

Central Portugal 

Catalytic convertor may not be doing its job

 

Catalytic convertor does not affect the Lambda value, it is downstream of the oxygen sensor, incorrect Lambda correction will prevent the catastrophic convertor from operating correctly and may result in its blockage.

On 05/10/2023 at 01:22, bobcr said:

My 06 Roomster petrol failed emissions part of the inspection test today in Portugal 

I have to take it back within 30 days for retest but wanted to know if anyone has advice on how to reduce the emissions values . The car had been stood for a few months as I don't live here all the time  and was tested successfully only 2000km ago .

I drove it hard for half an hour on the way to the test station and kept it running while waiting for the test. 
the fail certificate is in Portuguese but I can see one test is taken while revving 0.2% and the other is taken at idle 0.3% then a line about Lambda value outside +or- 0.03 or not in accordance with engine specifications 

any advice is welcome on how I can reduce the numbers.

This might be worth a watch. First link is to the explanation, but if you're impatient...

 

...this is probably the money shot for you.

 

An excellent video, now that is a presenter that I am happy to listen to unlike all the click bait narcissists.

Very useful info 

Bit of an update

I had some confusing symptoms recently,rough idling when cold, random misfires , epc light, check engine light, limp mode on hard acceleration  and excessive oil consumption so removed the pcv valve today and found I can blow through it from both ends.

I believe it’s only a one way valve so guessing the membrane is toast and this may be the cause of some or all of the problems and contributing to the emissions failure

Going to order a new valve tomorrow. 

Got the new pcv valve and although all over the net and youtube it says the pcv is a one way valve and you should be able to blow through it only one way I can blow both ways through the new one same as the old one, cost 40 euros which I thought was a bit steep  but fitted it anyway to see how it goes 

Yeah but you wont get black lips and a foul aftertaste with the new one!

Mystery solved its a blown head gasket