View Full Version : Problems: Is this my cat pipe and radiator nailed?
After getting the car up again on the ramps and doing a few tests, its become apparent i may end up having a big hole in my wallet soon enough!
First of all, im assuming this is the cat section?
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/astra-sport/DSC01764.jpg
Anyone, if you can see the nums on the pic, number 1 (it doesnt seem to be blowing from here, but looks damaged)
Number 2, at the back of this, its blowing quite badly, so this is where the problems are coming from.
As far as i can tell, this is a 1 peice pipe? meaning i need a whole new one. Any ideas how much they are? i was just looking at the courtneysport cats, but theyre £400?? cant really afford that.
Second problem, im losing loads of water.. and its dripping but we cannot see where from yet.. im going to take the bumper off in a sec.
This looks pretty bad, surely it should be like this lol?
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/astra-sport/DSC01769.jpg
As mentioned, i cant seem to see where its dripping from yet, so any ideas?
Are both my radiator and cat heading towards vauxhall heaven?
The exhaust is the flexi joint, not the cat, so it should be a reasonably cheap fix to get that cut out and replaced. The cat is the beigey fat cylinder further to the right in the piccy.
On the second pic - that's just a cooling vane for the aircon (by the looks of it), and that particular one is prone to falling off - mines been like that over 2 years with no detrimental effects. Try and fasten it back up with a zip tie
Geordie-Chris
28-10-2006, 10:25
Right, I'm not 100% sure, I'm sure someone else will be able to give you proper advice, but here goes.
1 - It looks like a two piece cat to me, the bit on the left of the pic is the join between the pre cat and the 2nd cat. If their is wear/holes in the flexi braiding it doesnt neccesarily mean its knackered, but if its blowing from this section, then yes it is.
2- Cant really tell from the pic 100%, but that looks like a pic of your Air Con Condensor radiator, not coolant radiator. And no, the fins shouldnt be coming off like that, but its the bars between the fins that would leak if they are damaged. If the Air Con condensor was leaking it would leak gas (maybe illuminous dye too) and the aircon wouldnt work due to no gas!
The exhaust is the flexi joint, not the cat, so it should be a reasonably cheap fix to get that cut out and replaced. The cat is the beigey fat cylinder further to the right in the piccy.
On the second pic - that's just a cooling vane for the aircon (by the looks of it), and that particular one is prone to falling off - mines been like that over 2 years with no detrimental effects. Try and fasten it back up with a zip tie
good news about the cooling vane..
still havent found the leak yet, but it looks like the radiator.
regarding the flexi joint, do you mean i can just get this fixed, highlighted in white?
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/astra-sport/cutout.jpg
how would they go about that?
sorry if im not getting what you meant :p
Yep, you should be able to get that chopped out and a new braided section welded in
Yep, you should be able to get that chopped out and a new braided section welded in
ahh, thats a bit of relief then i suppose. Sorry for all the questions, but where can i just get that braided section? this is why i was getting confused, because thats all sealed, wouldnt i only be able to get the sealed unit, rather than the individual braided section?
Cheers for the help though!
I'm not sure where to go exactly in the W,mids, but you'd probably be looking at a place that does custom exhausts rather then a normal kwitfit type place.
But have a phone around and just ask if they can replace a braided flexi joint - it's not a difficult job to do, literally 2 cutsand 2 weld. It might be worth measuring the diameter of the pipe each side of the join before you make the call tho
ok, ill go make a few calls. Last question, do you think these places would sell the braided flexi joint, or would it be a case of getting one from vauxhall?
Thanks
Exhaust specialists should be able to supply and fit it for you - it's a pretty common part in ehhausts these days.
This is the bit you need..
http://www.predatormotorsports.co.uk/Picts/Stock_PAM10042ILOK00000007.jpg
Vauxhall (AFAIK) don't do just the joint and will only try to sell you a complete cat section, for a silly amount of money :eek:
good luck!!
reggie69
28-10-2006, 12:09
jonesy try mij performance in walsall i always go there resonable price too..
they will definatly have the join you need has they secialise in custon exhausts...
jonesy try mij performance in walsall i always go there resonable price too..
they will definatly have the join you need has they secialise in custon exhausts...
just rang them matey.
£80 all in, would you say this is reasonable, for a stainless steel flexi joint?
Its either that, or how much would it be to replace the whole pipe, im assuming that £400 on the courtney site is a average price for the sports cat etc..
reggie69
28-10-2006, 12:26
mmm... i think so has it would be stainless with a lifetime warrenty and the actual flexi its self??
i think so unsreu how much vx or someone else would charge you could also try topgear in west bromwich..
That's not a bad price considering that a flexi joint will usually cost between £30 and £60 depending on size.
hmmm, cant get a new rad til atleast tue, so it looks like the cars off the road til then.. great
Is your engine cooling rad defo k-nackered then?
Is your engine cooling rad defo k-nackered then?
yea mate, did a few tests, and its leaking v.badly on the bottom right hand side of the radiator. looks like a few different places too.. god knows how it happened, but not impressed.
reggie69
28-10-2006, 16:37
i reackon mate you have hit or caught the car on something due to the damage on the bottom side of the aircon rad and the same side you have damage on the coolant rad no damage to anything else?
Yeah a Mc Donalds speed bump :rolleyes:
at least it aint as bad as you thought with the cat pipe
and a rad aint that bad to do
vxgsiturbo
28-10-2006, 18:01
have you got a unipart automotive (partco) near you if so go in there and they can order you one they are made by arvin timax why are illustrated in their catalogue just go into any kwikfit and ask to have a look in theirs as thats what we all use
have you got a unipart automotive (partco) near you if so go in there and they can order you one they are made by arvin timax why are illustrated in their catalogue just go into any kwikfit and ask to have a look in theirs as thats what we all use
i work for a large motor factors and have all timax and walker exhaust parts. ive seen these braided sections at work and i can get them cheap.
if you need one mate, give me the exact dimensions and i will find out how much it is and to send to you 8)
You can get a sports cat from LMF for about £325 BTW!
Just thought I would add that. ;)
There is a front section in the for sale section too
http://www.m1gst.com/vb/showthread.php?t=83176
Heres an update on my issues.
Removing the parts etc did prove a bit of a mission and took a fair while, but thanks to me annoying Norm on msn, he managed to point me in the right direction, cheers mate :)
After identifying that it was the flexijoint that had gone(cheers Ffoeg) i phoned around a few companies for prices on fitting one. I would have like a full on sports cat, but funds were low, so the best company i found to do this were MIJ (http://www.mijperformance.com/) in walsall - Cracking service guys! that cost £80 in total.
Anyways, the next task was sourcing a radiator. I had a fair few people on the lookout for these, and the biggest thanks has to go to Jam for all the help about this, the phone calls, emails and running around :p cheers mate, i owe ya!
Most vaux places were going to take a few days, and i was running out of time as i wanted it up and ready for the meet.. so went with Adrad.
Got it all put back together within about 2 hours i think, the only hard task was squezing the radiator back in past the body shell, but it worked eventually.
After MIJ fitted the flexijoint, it still sounded a bit dodgy, but the bloke who was looking after my car, said that the gaskets had gone that fitted to either my downpipe or the one my turbo sits on(thats for another thread).. but its running a load better now definately..
Cheers for the help everyone(Norm, Jam, Geoff), again it just shows how helpful AS and its members can be! :)
MikeWarner
06-11-2006, 10:37
yea mate, did a few tests, and its leaking v.badly on the bottom right hand side of the radiator. looks like a few different places too.. god knows how it happened, but not impressed.
Mine went in exactly the same place on the way to Courtenays last week. There were no GM ones in stock in the local area so had to get an aftermarket one. Some brackets were mising though and Courtenays had to take it to a welders to have some brackets welded on. If you buy an aftermarket one, make sure it has all the brackrey - luckily I was in the right place when this happened! lol.
MikeWarner
06-11-2006, 10:38
D'oh, I should have read the last page before posting. Glad it is all sorted mate. :)
D'oh, I should have read the last page before posting. Glad it is all sorted mate. :)
lol no worries mate, i read your thread aswell.
I was considering fitting an aftermarket one, or even two smaller ones, but im not sure how many people have done that, i may look into it in the neat future ;)
think i paid £205 fitted at vauxhall for a new radiator after the aircon pipe rubbed against the back of the raditor and caused a nice big hole
UPDATE:
This bloody speedbump has not only killed my radiator, my flexijoint, but now my precat, and the bearings in my turbo have gone!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e66/astra-sport/DSC01787.jpg
How tall is the speed bump?
Pretty sure they can only be a certan height and you maybe able to claim off the council