catalytic convertor

pink_boots

The car ha just failed its MOT. I need a new one and the cost will be £500. is this price fair or should I get it remoted at another garage.

AdrianC

Give us a vague hint as to what car it is...?

Ebe_Scrooge

Depends very much on what car it is. Try entering your Reg on this site to give you a ball-park figure :

http://www.eurocarparts.com/catalytic-converter

You've got to allow for fitting, but at least it'll give you an idea of whether the £500 you've been quoted is reasonable.

There's little point in getting in MOT'd at another garage ( unless you suspect that the first place is trying it on ) - if the cat has failed, it's failed.

Retrogamer

I'd avoid cheap cat replacements if you plan to hang onto the car, and go for an OEM quality one. I've seen cheap replacements fail the following year ago.

The cat works much better when the engine has heated up though as it causes the cat to get hot and do it's job properly as well.

Did they give you emissions part of your MOT when it failed as well? It usually records the engine temp on it so worth checking and posting back the temp if it does.
I've heard of places failing it before when doing the test cold, charge for "treating" the cat when really it's just drive the car hard for about 10 minutes before the MOT

pink_boots

The car is a citroen saxso 1.1 desire and was made in 2000. It passed its MOT last year and advises were front exhaust has minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.21) and that was it. Nothing more was said about that it could cause major problems or had to be fixed asap. I would have thought they would have given me a call about it. They usually let me know if something needs doing and if they can go ahead with the repair. I Know nothing about these things. Now it has come back. I will put down what it failed on. Exhaust emissions Lambda reading outside specified limit.[7.3.D.4]. Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide excessive [7.3.D.4]
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases[7.1.2]
So much for a minor leak from last year. I hope someone can make sense of all this. I did some shopping around some reputable garages and they all quoted around £200. Not only do I not have a spare £500 lying around but the car is only worth £400 and I can't afford another car.

AdrianC

So... last year, you were advised the exhaust was on the way out and leaking. This year, the leak's got much worse, having been ignored for a year. And - surprisingly - the emissions are all to !!!! as a result.

It's not a new cat you need. Well, mebbe not. It's a new downpipe, to start with. THEN possibly a new cat, since the old one's been killed by overly lean gasses reaching it for the last year.

Norman_Castle

http://www.mrexhaust.co.uk/exhausts/citroen/saxo/11i-109904_452.htm

This quotes £170-£230 so check the original £500 quote doesn't include extra work necessary for your car to pass its MOT.

nobbysn*ts

AdrianC wrote: »

So... last year, you were advised the exhaust was on the way out and leaking. This year, the leak's got much worse, having been ignored for a year. And - surprisingly - the emissions are all to !!!! as a result.

It's not a new cat you need. Well, mebbe not. It's a new downpipe, to start with. THEN possibly a new cat, since the old one's been killed by overly lean gasses reaching it for the last year.

No, last year the op was advised of a 'minor leak'. Mines got one from the joint, absolutely nothing to do with the 'exhaust being on the way out' As to the rest of the op's fail this year, without seeing it, no one could reasonably guess what it needs.

topdaddy_2

What was done to remedy the leak in the last twelve months?

arcon5

Sounds like they're trying to mug you off.

nobbysn*ts

topdaddy wrote: »

What was done to remedy the leak in the last twelve months?

Same as been done on mine probably.