Exhaust issues, any advice please!

[bobby_the_one]

Just bought a fantastic 172. Absolute pleasure to drive however the exhaust sounds like it is blowing. I believe it is a magnex system, the blowing is coming from the middle section, i can also see a dripping from where the exhaust sections meet! I have been advised it might not necessarily be the exhaust blowing but it could be a gasket which has gone!

What is the best way to go about finding out the problem and does anyone know if magnex will sell just the middle section of the system i am using?

 

[DrR]

If it where the Cat attaches to the centre section think most of them do it.

 

[bobby_the_one]

so should i just leave it then? im losing power and using more fuel!
p.s what is a decat, what does it do?

 

[TheJesus]

the Magnex should carry a life time warrenty pal.

a decat is just a straight through pipe to replace the restrictive catalytic converter, makes it louder, but you generally pick up power through the rev range, especially up top where it just seems to breathe easier. personally I find you lose a bit of low end torque, but the mid range and top end makes up for it... more than makes up for it. Good mod to start with and cheap.

 

[Fred@BTM]

looks like Clarts old 172

 

[Neil G]

I'd probably go the whole way and remove the Magnex lol

Try the gasket first

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

a decat is just a straight through pipe to replace the restrictive catalytic converter, makes it louder, but you generally pick up power through the rev range, especially up top where it just seems to breathe easier. personally I find you lose a bit of low end torque, but the mid range and top end makes up for it... more than makes up for it. Good mod to start with and cheap.

You failed to mention that a decat would fail an MOT and you'd need to put the cat back in for it to pass - they're illegal on the road, and if you were stopped and the fuzz spotted you were missing the cat you'd have a hefty fine on your hands!

MB_182

 

[TheJesus]

a decat is just a straight through pipe to replace the restrictive catalytic converter, makes it louder, but you generally pick up power through the rev range, especially up top where it just seems to breathe easier. personally I find you lose a bit of low end torque, but the mid range and top end makes up for it... more than makes up for it. Good mod to start with and cheap.

You failed to mention that a decat would fail an MOT and you'd need to put the cat back in for it to pass - they're illegal on the road, and if you were stopped and the fuzz spotted you were missing the cat you'd have a hefty fine on your hands!

MB_182

decat's dont always fail MOT's, mine never did on the Williams, but either way, 4 bolts is hardly an issue, my local Kwik Fit will swap it for a tenner.

Regarding the police stopping you they cant fine you, I doubt they are qualified to start running roadside emission tests

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

^^^^^

Unfortuanatly, they are! Broad street, Birminingham of a weekend, they're stopping anyone with a loud exhaust or that looks modified. Idea is to check for cars without insurance and tax and the likes, but they're also doing emissions tests on the roadside!

Absolute w*nk I know, but I couldn't believe it the other week when I was up broad street, and they had a van there testing an evo!

Didn't see if he got away with it or not, but looking at the dustbin stuck under the rear bumper, I don't think it was likely he did!

MB_182

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

Just found a story about it on BBC website...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6945576.stm

Doesn't mention the exhaust thing on their, but this is proof they're stopping people!

MB_182

 

[TheJesus]

I honestly cant see any of that standing up in court, I doubt the officers are MOT trained to undertake such a test and cant imagine them sat there for 20 minutes reving the car at different revs to test for carbon emissions lol.

Either way, likelihood of getting stopped and having an emission test on a Clio is remote imo, an Evo stands out like a sore thumb, plus I guess it depends where you go... I don't go 'cruising' in my car which is probably the reason I never really get pulled over.

Either way, I'd not worry about it, my last 3 cars have had decats

 

[vts_saxo]

^^Same as me, put my williams in for a mot thinking it would fail with a de-cat but it passed,

 

[bobby_the_one]

looks like Clarts old 172

it is pal

 

[Fred@BTM]

its a quick one is that! brakes are good too

 

[bobby_the_one]

my mate got stopped by a copper in his classic beetle and they told him he needed to top his brake fluid! lol ridiculous!! he is a mechanic btw! they didnt however say anything about the cosworth engine it had init!

 

[bobby_the_one]

its a quick one is that! brakes are good too

ye it is quick, what do u think bout my exhaust issues then? lol. its been to the garage this morning and cost me a tenner to put some gum gum stuff around the box on the centre section of my exhaust as there was a hairline crack around it! aparently this is only a short term solution.

The system was fitted before Clart had the car and i cant see any reciept in the book for it? do i have any ground to take it back and ask them to sort it? the mechanic this morn said that its the worst bit of welding hes seen! haha, not too fust about that as it sounds alot better, just need to know what to do about it!?

 

[Fred@BTM]

try with Magnex, but they'll want proof of purchase AND i think the warranty is only valid for the original purchaser

if not, new exhaust time (IIRC the tailpipes are knackered anyway)

 

[bobby_the_one]

ye they are and the speed bumps at the college dont help think ive had a few encounters with them, poor tail pipes!:S

anywhere you could recommend to get a quality exhast fitted properly?

 

[bobby_the_one]

bump, good 172 exhaust systems required!!!

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

Depends where you are and your budget. If you're in midlands, try Yozzasport. Other than that try K-Tec

MB_182

 

[youngsyp]

The best thing to do, would be to remove it, replace any gaskets and seal any sliding joints with high temp silicon sealant.
Pop down to your local Quik Fit, they'll do it for in no time, at a very good price !

As it's stainless steel, and a Magnex (they're generally good for high quality materials), you shouldn't need to replace any part of the actual exhaust.

 

[TheJesus]

Magnex system are pants imo, hated mine... I'd personally get the GDI one if you want a nice non chav exhaust that's not raspy and stupidly loud

 

[Fred@BTM]

there you go Jesus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2YA1TJ5mfY

 

[Alan]

Yozzasport or BTB.

 

[Fred@BTM]

BTB don't do a 172 one unfortunatly

 

[TheJesus]

there you go Jesus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2YA1TJ5mfY

oddly enough I've seen that... lol

 

[Fred@BTM]

REALLY!!!????? LOL

 

[TheJesus]

probably a bit mis leading though, a standard car wont pop, bang, flame or sound anything like that

 

[bobby_the_one]

erm im in north west, budget of upto £400 :S

 

[TheJesus]

erm im in north west, budget of upto £400 :S

in the North West the only places I can think of are:

Powerflow - Top Gear motorsport Burnley - hit and miss by reputation, but this branch is generally regarded as one of the best ones about.

Blue Flame - Wigan based - very good rep on non Clio's!

JP - Macclesfield based - only system's I have seen from them have fallen to bits, mate's had 3 on his Ibizia and load of other people use them...

tbh an off the shelf system ordered from somewhere good is your best bet, then get it fitted at a local garage as you can get one anywhere. I like my system, but I had to go from the North West (South Manchester) to Cambridge to get it lol

 

[bobby_the_one]

nice one that helps a bit, i really like the system at the mo even if it is blowing like a b**ch! decision decisons :S:S:S:S