Garage say MOT is a FAKE!! UPDATE!!!!

SnowWhiterThanWhite

facade wrote: »

Not if it should be subject to a full cat emissions test, and one was fitted as standard.

Corsas can have different catalysts fitted, the one I had the catalyst was part of the exhaust manifold, and could not be removed easily, others have the catalyst as a bulge on the front exhaust pipe beneath the footwell.

However, if he is handy with the spanners you can replace the whole system, catalyst and all for well under £200

http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/Vauxhall_Corsa_Exhaust%20System.aspx


On a 2006 car I would expect the engine management light to be on if there is no working catalyst though, if it has been removed, then there may be an oxgen sensor eliminator in place of the post-cat sensor.

I'd take the car to an independent vauxhall specialist (there are loads) to get an opinion as to what needs doing to bring it back to standard.

Thanks for that. I did call my local REVS and they have quoted £270 plus VAT for the CAT alone, so these prices look pretty good.

Mankysteve

SnowWhiterThanWhite wrote: »

Thanks for that. I did call my local REVS and they have quoted £270 plus VAT for the CAT alone, so these prices look pretty good.

euro car parts will do a new cat for much less than that.

facade

at the risk of continually restating the same points:

1) First find out what is required to bring it back to standard.

2) Then get the standard parts.

3) Get them fitted.

in respect to 1) clearly there must be an obvious difference between what you have and standard. The boy racers don't usually have loads of cash, so it would surprise me if it had a full system, from new sport manifold to tailpipe, but it is possible. They tend to fit a cone air filter, and one of those ebay "chips" that increase fuel consumption piggy backed on the inlet air temperature sensor. (The cone air filter is also a modification that can void the insurance if not declared)

They "decat" by replacing the catalyst with a plain pipe, or fitting an exhaust from a different model that doesn't have the catalyst in the same place, or even removing the catalyst and knocking the inside out with a metal bar.

We don't actually know the catalyst has been removed, but Kwikfit do deal with these cars daily, so they should have a idea where the catalyst should be.

Removing the catalyst will put the engine management light on unless something has been done to the sensors, this needs undoing.

You should find that it is a simple bolt on a new exhaust job.

topdaddy_2

Sounds like a lot of faith is being put in to ATS' opinion.

forgotmyname

If its the 1.4 a CAT is under £110 for a decent brand one.

The 1.2 is about £180 though.

£270 + vat is way over the odds...

Retrogamer

As someone who used to own a modified Corsa, this seems unlikely.

As mentioned to remove the CAT on this engine usually requires a different exhaust manifold to be fitted. These are usually very expensive. It would be strange for someone to just fit an aftermarket manifold on it's own without the rest of an aftermarket / performance exhaust.

The cost of a full aftermarket "performance" system on one of these would be approx £500 i'd imagine. That's a lot of someone to pay when it won't really give them any power. It would also mean the engine management light would be on (EML) as they don't like having their cats removed on these engines. It causes them to run like crap and overfuel as well.
It would sound very loud / raspy as well with aftermarket manifold.

mattyprice4004

facade wrote: »

at the risk of continually restating the same points:

1) First find out what is required to bring it back to standard.

2) Then get the standard parts.

3) Get them fitted.

in respect to 1) clearly there must be an obvious difference between what you have and standard. The boy racers don't usually have loads of cash, so it would surprise me if it had a full system, from new sport manifold to tailpipe, but it is possible. They tend to fit a cone air filter, and one of those ebay "chips" that increase fuel consumption piggy backed on the inlet air temperature sensor. (The cone air filter is also a modification that can void the insurance if not declared)

They "decat" by replacing the catalyst with a plain pipe, or fitting an exhaust from a different model that doesn't have the catalyst in the same place, or even removing the catalyst and knocking the inside out with a metal bar.

We don't actually know the catalyst has been removed, but Kwikfit do deal with these cars daily, so they should have a idea where the catalyst should be.

Removing the catalyst will put the engine management light on unless something has been done to the sensors, this needs undoing.

You should find that it is a simple bolt on a new exhaust job.

Where do I start... :rotfl:

Retrogamer

The guys on the Corsa forum you just posted on should be able to help out more.
From what you've posted there about the sound of the exhaust and the other info about aftermarket wheels makes it sound like it's likely to have a decatted exhaust manifold.

If it does, it means the garage who carried out the MOT carried it out incorrectly. (unless it was removed for the MOT then refitted after it)

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Retrogamer wrote: »

The guys on the Corsa forum you just posted on should be able to help out more.
From what you've posted there about the sound of the exhaust and the other info about aftermarket wheels makes it sound like it's likely to have a decatted exhaust manifold.

If it does, it means the garage who carried out the MOT carried it out incorrectly. (unless it was removed for the MOT then refitted after it)

The wheels were added after we bought the car and disclosed to the insurance co. The exhaust hasn't been touched.

Strider590

Retrogamer wrote: »

If it does, it means the garage who carried out the MOT carried it out incorrectly. (unless it was removed for the MOT then refitted after it)

Its rare these days to find people changing exhausts over for the MOT, usually they just take it to a "sympathetic" MOT tester. The boy racer crowd have mates in garages up and down the country and they're very good at communicating with their fellow boy racers on where to get their cars MOT'd.