Oh B*gger!!- In for a penny!
Discussion
Well as previously discussed one of the 5 failures on the MOT was the exhaust which is blowing. So having peered under the car and seen how it had been welded and was clearly in need of replacement I decided to order a replacement system from Tim at ACT.
Well it's going to be a few days before it arrives so I thought I ought to try to patch the problem in the meantime to see if I could get it through the MOT on a partial re-test. But as the years pass by I am less inclined to lie under the car for longer than I have to. So I went back to the guys who did the MOT to ask where exactly the leak was coming from only to be told that it's not actually coming from the exhaust but from the downpipe!
So having thought I was investing a lot of money in the exhaust system I now find I'm going to have to double my investment.
It's pretty certain that the exhaust would have fallen apart if I had tried to just remove the downpipes so I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. It's just that it's a bit of a shock to the wallet!
Anyway, I got under there this morning to try to achieve a temporary fix. The hole is right by the connecting bracket between the O/S downpipe and the exhaust. Not easy to get the flexible bandage and gun gum in there. But I think I managed. I've just got a gentle heater on there at the moment to try to dry the gun gum off so that it doesn't blow a hole in the morning when I start the car to take it to the MOT station.
Everything else is done. I feel like I've learned a bit about the car. I replaced the wiper arm, replaced the handbrake pads and serviced the handbrake calipers, fixed one of the pod mechanisms and replaced the headlight mounting bowls and rims. I've also fixed the power steering leak, which was just a minor leak at a union.
So fingers crossed for the MOT tomorrow.
Wish me luck!!
Adi
Well it's going to be a few days before it arrives so I thought I ought to try to patch the problem in the meantime to see if I could get it through the MOT on a partial re-test. But as the years pass by I am less inclined to lie under the car for longer than I have to. So I went back to the guys who did the MOT to ask where exactly the leak was coming from only to be told that it's not actually coming from the exhaust but from the downpipe!
So having thought I was investing a lot of money in the exhaust system I now find I'm going to have to double my investment.
It's pretty certain that the exhaust would have fallen apart if I had tried to just remove the downpipes so I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. It's just that it's a bit of a shock to the wallet!
Anyway, I got under there this morning to try to achieve a temporary fix. The hole is right by the connecting bracket between the O/S downpipe and the exhaust. Not easy to get the flexible bandage and gun gum in there. But I think I managed. I've just got a gentle heater on there at the moment to try to dry the gun gum off so that it doesn't blow a hole in the morning when I start the car to take it to the MOT station.
Everything else is done. I feel like I've learned a bit about the car. I replaced the wiper arm, replaced the handbrake pads and serviced the handbrake calipers, fixed one of the pod mechanisms and replaced the headlight mounting bowls and rims. I've also fixed the power steering leak, which was just a minor leak at a union.
So fingers crossed for the MOT tomorrow.
Wish me luck!!
Adi
RayTVR said:
I recently ordered a SS exhaust for my S3 from ACT - I was surprised (and delighted) that this also came with a pair of shiny SS downpipes (hockeysticks)which I didn't expect and wasn't mentioned in the advert - so worth a check before you splash out.
Thanks Ray. That's worth bearing in mind although they do advertise the downpipes seperately and they are more expensive than the exhaust system itself so I'm not sure how lucky I will be!!It's even more frustrating as I was hoping to change the shocks and springs in the near future but that will have to wait now!
Adi
chapperssx said:
Best of luck Adi it sounds like your on top of things! The SX is coming up for its MOT in a few weeks so hope mine doesn't prove to problematic !
Presumably not your first MOT with the car, is it?Mine is this time and I'm pleased that it failed on relatively little and it was all managable stuff.
Next year should be better still!!
A.
Good luck, hope it gets through. Mines booked in for next Saturday. There's a suspicious "clonk" at low speed at the front end which I've not tracked down. I can feel it right through the steering so at least Mr MOT man will hopefully point me in the right direction as to what it is.
KKson said:
Good luck, hope it gets through. Mines booked in for next Saturday. There's a suspicious "clonk" at low speed at the front end which I've not tracked down. I can feel it right through the steering so at least Mr MOT man will hopefully point me in the right direction as to what it is.
I like that! Using all the resources at your finger tips to identify the problem!!If mine passes tomorrow then I can concentrate on other jobs. Been looking at Woolies with a view to changing door and boot seals. The boot isn't popping up when the button releases it, I think due to lack of spring in the seal.
Does anyone know eher to get the V shaped trim which runs over the front of the rear hood section? Couldn't see it at Woolies.
Adi
The hood front seal should be the same as the door seal rubber...The side's of the targa panel is a combination of two seal with one being stuck to the other...You could try these guys...Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...
Regarding gun gum I don't faff about with gentle heat - my top tips:
a) make sure you gun gum tin always has a little water in
b) wet the area to apply gun gum to
c) use a blowtorch on it to cure it before starting up - it bubbles a bit but cures "inwards" into the hole which seals much better.
a) make sure you gun gum tin always has a little water in
b) wet the area to apply gun gum to
c) use a blowtorch on it to cure it before starting up - it bubbles a bit but cures "inwards" into the hole which seals much better.
Edited by adam quantrill on Saturday 19th April 10:00
Interesting thought Adam.
Unfortunately the blow is so close to the gearbox I'm not sure I would want to get my blow torch in there. But the logic is certainly sound. I've had a heater blowing onto that area for a while yesterday so hopefully it will be fairly well cured. I'll also start the car and let it tickover for a while this morning.
Hopefully it will get it through anyway.
Adi
Unfortunately the blow is so close to the gearbox I'm not sure I would want to get my blow torch in there. But the logic is certainly sound. I've had a heater blowing onto that area for a while yesterday so hopefully it will be fairly well cured. I'll also start the car and let it tickover for a while this morning.
Hopefully it will get it through anyway.
Adi
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