Vauxhall Astra Mk4 - Catalytic Converter Problem?

sarah_elton

I have a 2002 Vauxhall Astra Mk4 which is on about 97k miles.

For a little while I've noticed it's noisy under heavy acceleration; I thought the exhaust was blowing again which happened once before (no, I don't drive it like a boy racer ). The other day, there was an eggy sulphur smell for a short period as we drove. As it came and went, I'm not 100% sure if it was the car or just my home town.

My other half commented that the eggy smell is usually the catalytic converter. The car is going in for its service/MOT on Saturday anyway, so I'll mention it. Unfortunately this year I've booked in to a main dealer. I've always used my local independent before, but a couple of times they've missed minor things that have then needed fixing, and in June we'll be doing about 1,500 miles on a Lake District and Scotland holiday, so I wanted to know it had been properly looked after.

Now I have a looming sense of doom that I'm going to be slapped with a nasty main dealer bill. One of the brakes stuck on last summer and I think it's starting to again so that's already something else they'll be looking at.

I assume the worst case is a replacement catalytic converter; any idea what this would cost at a Vauxhall dealer? I have no clue at the moment. If it's just a blowing exhaust and the smell wasn't the car that's not so bad.

Also, when you book the service and MOT together, what order do they normally happen in? I believe that if there is a problem with the converter the car could fail the MOT on emissions(?). Would they do the service first, so it doesn't have a fail certificate then a re-test?

Just like to go in clued up so I don't seem like a woman who knows nothing about cars and get ripped off.

jaydeeuk1

I wouldn't mention the cat if its going for an MOT, as you can guarantee they'll fail it. Wait to see what they find. And if it does need doing, don't get it done at the dealer.

babyshoes

I think the eggy smell is usually a NEW catalytic converter, not sure if a blown one would give you that smell. The cat is the expensive bit to replace, so don't mention it to the MOT place! Maybe mention the noise though, and say you think your exhaust may be blowing a bit, and ask them to check it for you. If they say it is blowing, ask them to show you when it is up on the ramp, you should be able to hear a gentle 'chuffing' sound and feel a warm breeze at the leak, like a little hairdrier when you put your hand nearby. Be careful not to touch the exhaust pipe itself though, especially near the front as it gets VERY hot.

If it is a rattly noise you hear, it is more likely to be a heat shield on the exhaust which has come loose, if it is the exhaust at all and not something expensive in the engine! Noises tend to be a bit elusive unless you know exactly what you are listening for, and that comes with experience!

If you can describe the noise a bit better I am sure others on here will have more of a clue than I do about 'funny noises' - I still have a helluva lot to learn!

somech

bloody hell your a garages dream
don't mention the smell or they will sell you a new cat
the mot should be done first so any probs can be fixed during the service.
as for the brakes it could be simple like a sticking brake pad if they tell you the calipers pooped get a second opinion.
noisy exhaust could be worn gasket

sarah_elton

Haha thanks - that's why I posted here before going.

Noise - to my uneducated ear it sounds the same as when the exhaust was blowing before. It happens under heavy acceleration and is most noticable in fourth gear; much louder than in other gears. It just sounds rough. I don't think I've lost any power.

Brakes - last summer I was stuck in a traffic jam from London to Weymouth. At one point, I said I smelt burning. My mum and brother were in the car and said don't worry it's coming from outside. Two miles later, smoke/steam starts pouring off the front nearside wheel *sigh*. Called Green Flag; the recovery guy said the brake pads (pads? I think it was pads) had stuck on so it had run blue. He showed me where they had melted a bit. He copperslipped (sp?) it and all was fine.

For a few months before that, the whole car had juddered if I braked sharply. After the sticking was fixed, that stopped. I had mentioned this juddering on last year's service/MOT but they couldn't find anything wrong at the time. Anyway, in the last couple of months it's started juddering again if I'm forced to brake sharply, though not as badly. I've got better at anticipating and not having to brake.

Definitely won't mention the cat; that was my other half getting me all worried when he said that smell could mean trouble with it.

The thing is, I don't want a huge bill if it's unneccessary, but our holiday to the Lakes/Scotland in June is our honeymoon, so I equally don't want any car troubles taking up our time. To be fair, had the car two years and it's been a great buy; had 88k miles on the clock but the stuck brake last summer and the handbrake being loose are the only issues I've ever had. I know it'll start costing me money at some point but with the wedding approaching and a house purchase going through I hope it's not in the next few months!

But, I won't tell them I want him thoroughly checked for our honeymoon, or that his name is Oscar :rotfl: as that'll instantly stick some £££ on lol.

somech

sarah_elton wrote: »

Haha thanks - that's why I posted here before going.

Noise - to my uneducated ear it sounds the same as when the exhaust was blowing before. It happens under heavy acceleration and is most noticable in fourth gear; much louder than in other gears. It just sounds rough. I don't think I've lost any power.

Brakes - last summer I was stuck in a traffic jam from London to Weymouth. At one point, I said I smelt burning. My mum and brother were in the car and said don't worry it's coming from outside. Two miles later, smoke/steam starts pouring off the front nearside wheel *sigh*. Called Green Flag; the recovery guy said the brake pads (pads? I think it was pads) had stuck on so it had run blue. He showed me where they had melted a bit. He copperslipped (sp?) it and all was fine.

For a few months before that, the whole car had juddered if I braked sharply. After the sticking was fixed, that stopped. I had mentioned this juddering on last year's service/MOT but they couldn't find anything wrong at the time. Anyway, in the last couple of months it's started juddering again if I'm forced to brake sharply, though not as badly. I've got better at anticipating and not having to brake.

Definitely won't mention the cat; that was my other half getting me all worried when he said that smell could mean trouble with it.

The thing is, I don't want a huge bill if it's unneccessary, but our holiday to the Lakes/Scotland in June is our honeymoon, so I equally don't want any car troubles taking up our time. To be fair, had the car two years and it's been a great buy; had 88k miles on the clock but the stuck brake last summer and the handbrake being loose are the only issues I've ever had. I know it'll start costing me money at some point but with the wedding approaching and a house purchase going through I hope it's not in the next few months!

But, I won't tell them I want him thoroughly checked for our honeymoon, or that his name is Oscar :rotfl: as that'll instantly stick some £££ on lol.

right then noise is prob just a gasket on one of the joins (is held together by 2 bolts and springs which pulls apart under accelleration.

brakes if the discs and pads have got really hot (blue and melted) may be best to replace. the sticking is caused by a build up of dust on the caliper carrier not allowing the pads to release a good clean sorts that out

any issues with the cat will show up on the mot

sarah_elton

Well, the good news is there's nothing wrong with the cat.

The bad news is it failed the MOT on (1) wipers not clearing the windscreen and (2) headlamp bulb incorrectly fitted (interesting as no one has touched that bulb since it passed the MOT last year). Both of these were fixed and it passed, with an advisory on the rear brake effort.

Not MOT fail worthy, but they noted that the front brake is sticking again (as suspected), the rear brake drums are worn to the point that they should be replaced, the central exhaust box is pretty corroded, the brake fluid could do with changing, one tyre has some cracking to the outside edge (I can't see anything though), coolant fluid was low, and a couple of other bits I don't remember off the top of my head.... :eek:

Leaving the exhaust till it actually starts blowing as that's easy to fix anywhere. I think I'll have all the brake issues done before we go to the Lake District and Scotland in June though.

Hoo hum, with the mileage the car's done I guess it could be worse; this is the first real set of repairs we've needed in the two years I've owned it.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

None of those are big jobs. Don't go to a dealer.