Help / advice requested - exhaust glowing red hot..

[Shaun400se]

Folks - I first noticed my 2005 plate M400 playing up last weekend - it suffered from continuous stalling even when warm and then a lot of popping from the (original factory fit) exhaust system at idle. Out and out performance did not seem to be affected. The car does ordinarily do this and incidentally sounds great when shifting down through the gears after a good blat, but it's never done it at idle. I could also smell burning which as you can see is the alloy protective coating just ahead of this section of the exhaust, now all but disappeared!

I need to know if any of you have suffered similar, what has happened and is it safe to drive or shall I trailer it down south for 'treatment'. Can anyone help?

Thanks and Rgds,
Shaun+

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[Rob_W]

Blocked cat maybe?

[Blu3R]

Almost certainly a blocked/collapsed cat.

[S B C]

I had a glowing exhaust just like in your picture and it was solved by replacing the Lamda sensor.

[daddysumo]

Check to see if there is a crack where the exhaust round section exits from the shaped downpipe part that bolts to the turbo..

[AMG Merc]

Got any bacon and a couple of crusty rolls?!

[R0162]

Shaun400se said:

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I love that pic...it looks like air is slowing down at your cat causing heat build up, it could have collapsed be carefull you dont melt something.

I have a wicked exhaust system for sale if you want it...it was the stock factory fitted one off my car the sound of this thing is awesome...and i still think about removing the cats and replacing with flexi joints, enlarging the y pipe and putting it back on my car...i even have the original invoice showing this was a factory fitted extra ...

[Shaun400se]

Thanks to all, it's greatly appreciated and your comments and advice are valued. I think I'll look to get her transported down south to Peter Smith Sportscars on a 'just in case' basis as I don't want to risk going up in smoke before I get to Gretna!

Rgds,
Shaun+

[Shaun400se]

Cheers for this R0162 - did the set up as photographed come off an M400 then? What sort of money are you looking at for it and where are you based?

Rgds,
shaun+

R0162 said:

Shaun400se said:

[url][img]

I love that pic...it looks like air is slowing down at your cat causing heat build up, it could have collapsed be carefull you dont melt something.

I have a wicked exhaust system for sale if you want it...it was the stock factory fitted one off my car the sound of this thing is awesome...and i still think about removing the cats and replacing with flexi joints, enlarging the y pipe and putting it back on my car...i even have the original invoice showing this was a factory fitted extra ...

[GTO600]

Shaun400se said:

Thanks to all, it's greatly appreciated and your comments and advice are valued. I think I'll look to get her transported down south to Peter Smith Sportscars on a 'just in case' basis as I don't want to risk going up in smoke before I get to Gretna!

Rgds,
Shaun+

Shaun
Peter Smith's went bust & would suggest you seek a more specilist company, Noble Motorsport in Chesterfield or Jetstream in Lutterworth.

[Gadgeroonie]

I have seen this plenty of times

get the lambda sensor changed - problem solved

if you leave it too long then the cat will melt and collapse

[essayer]

I saw this on a Saxo that had a faulty coil pack, one cylinder wasn't sparking and the fuel was going down the exhaust and burning up in the cat, made a horrible smell and lots of smoke as the insulation around it all heated up.

So if not lambda, maybe something related to ignition.

[Shaun400se]

Ouch....! I wondered why they were so keen (desperate!?) to offload their classic Elan S1 to me the last time I was down for a service and stuff late last year....and thanks for the recommendation, I'll research both the names you suggest out on the net and doubtless will end up at one or the other. Appreciate the advice meantime.

S+

GTO600 said:

Shaun
Peter Smith's went bust & would suggest you seek a more specilist company, Noble Motorsport in Chesterfield or Jetstream in Lutterworth.

[Shaun400se]

Cheers for this advice too Gadgeroonie. The damage might have been done by now as I first noticed the exhaust popping and the car was stalling a lot as I drove Aberdeen to Dunblane last weekend, after which I came back the same way (so probably a 200 mile round trip I'd imagine) and took this photo when I arrived home. Better safe than sorry now I think so I will get the car trailered down to wherever I decide to go for repairs.

Many thanks to all for your help and advice.

S+

Gadgeroonie said:

I have seen this plenty of times

get the lambda sensor changed - problem solved

if you leave it too long then the cat will melt and collapse

[Gadgeroonie]

any mechanic can change the lambda sensor - the rear one is easy