Cat - repair or replace

[jsr26]

When I brought the car I noticed the cat was rusty and blowing slightly. I today changed the rear exhaust mounts and noticed it is blowing from the front and rear of the cat at the joins.

The cat itself is rusty (but they all seem to be!) and the lambada sensor was replaced recently for the MOT, so the performance of the cat seems ok.

Renault want, wait for it, £2,250 now for a new cat... lmao at that price...

Can you simply have the connections repaired? Both connections look very rusty, but can this be repaired easily, or would it be better than getting a cheap cat (like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENAULT-CLIO-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e60aeb0ad) and would this pass an MOT etc as it does seem pretty cheap!?

I do not want a de-cat or a sports cat. I want it to remain pretty quiet as I don't like loud exhausts AT ALL!

Who would you take it to for a repair, and any recommended garages etc in Northamptonshire/Milton Keynes area?

Thanks,

 

[unfortunately_french]

Cheapest fix could be.....buy a decat! To save hassle get your MOT done first or just keep your cat to put back on for the MOT. Your emissions light will come on eventually if it doesnt at first but can be sorted (which i'm doing with mine at the moment). I'd imagine that on a standard system it won't be much louder than standard, but just curious why don't you want a decat or sports cat?

 

[jsr26]

Cheapest fix could be.....buy a decat! To save hassle get your MOT done first or just keep your cat to put back on for the MOT. Your emissions light will come on eventually if it doesnt at first but can be sorted (which i'm doing with mine at the moment). I'd imagine that on a standard system it won't be much louder than standard, but just curious why don't you want a decat or sports cat?

Thanks for the reply - its just not my kind of thing... I don't want warning lights etc coming up and do not want the hassle changing it over before the MOT tbh. I'd have a sports cat, but they are quite expensive... I am not too fussed about squeezing out every last BHP or pouring loads of money into this car... just want it to get up and go when called! cheers, jon

 

[Liquid yellow 182]

£2,250! get a new 172 for that! are all CATs that expensive?

 

[unfortunately_french]

Thanks for the reply - its just not my kind of thing... I don't want warning lights etc coming up and do not want the hassle changing it over before the MOT tbh. I'd have a sports cat, but they are quite expensive... I am not too fussed about squeezing out every last BHP or pouring loads of money into this car... just want it to get up and go when called! cheers, jon

It's not your kind of thing? Is spending unnecessary money your thing then? It's just a pipe that helps the exhaust exit it's gases quicker it doesnt produce much of a gain and the warning light will go when I get round to it. It's really not much hassle changing it for the mot, two bolts,sleeve and a gasket to be precise! I just think in this case it's the best option because your going to have to spend more money on a new/used cat when you can just get a decat for £50-60 new, you'll get a slight gain and it won't be much louder at all. Sports cat's are just a rip off when you can buy a full stainless with a decat for the same price.

 

[jsr26]

£2,250! get a new 172 for that! are all CATs that expensive?

I know it is crazy! Just completely mad... thats exactly half of what I paid for a 2005 LY 182!!!! And they are not all that expensive, going back a few years I had to replace the entire exhaust system on my 2000 Pug 306 HDi including the cat, the whole thing came directly from peugeot and cost just over £400 (not fitted). That included cat, centre box, back box and chrome tail pipe tip... And was also french.

I think I will try and get my cat looked at to see if it can be repaired at the connections, and if not maybe consider the new cat in the link above for £100... No lights, no faffing each year...

 

[unfortunately_french]

I know it is crazy! Just completely mad... thats exactly half of what I paid for a 2005 LY 182!!!! And they are not all that expensive, going back a few years I had to replace the entire exhaust system on my 2000 Pug 306 HDi including the cat, the whole thing came directly from peugeot and cost just over £400 (not fitted). That included cat, centre box, back box and chrome tail pipe tip... And was also french.

I think I will try and get my cat looked at to see if it can be repaired at the connections, and if not maybe consider the new cat in the link above for £100... No lights, no faffing each year...

No glory either

 

[Toms_clio]

I've got one for sale. Pm me ..

 

[Tom@JMS]

Yes you can repair it, or alternatively if you have some sort of non OEM system you could sleeve it like this:

 

[jsr26]

Thanks for that tom@jms - how much would a repair like that cost? just for a ball park figure. Trying to keep the standard system as the rest seems in ok condition.

 

[jsr26]

IMG_7645 by Jsr645, on Flickr

IMG_7647 by Jsr645, on Flickr
or do you think a go with some new clamps and fixings and see if that helps... never done an exhaust before...!

 

[Tom@JMS]

Rust bugs have colonised your system!