New catalytic converter - only main dealer can supply and fit

Kennyn1980

I'm not even sure what I'm asking for here, maybe what *you* would do in my position?

I have a 10 year old Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback which has been faultless for many years. Over the weekend it started to sound like the exhaust was blowing, along with a metallic rattling sound. I had it checked out today and there is a hole in the first section on the exhaust. The heat shield on the cat had also rotted and was almost hanging off which was the cause of the rattle. This has since been cut off. There is also some minor damage to the cat where something must have hit it at some point. I've been told a missing heat shield on the cat can be an MOT fail with the stricter rules that came in last year.

The problem for me is that nowhere other than the main dealer can source a the replacement parts to fix the exhaust. I've tried all the usual places such as Kwik Fit, Halfords, Wilco Fast Fit as well as several other local garages. Its an uncommon car so I am guessing that's the reason that nobody can find the parts required. My own searches only turned up some hooky looking replacement catalytic converters shipping from China which cost £50 delivered.

I've been quoted £1489 by Mitsubishi for the repairs. Only £96 of that is for labour. The car is only worth around £1500. I think my concern is that if I go ahead and get the repairs done, something else might crop up which will cost a significant amount of money to fix. It has done 113000 miles and is still on its original clutch and sometimes I can't get it into gear, so I expect this might be the next thing to go. It could quickly turn into a money pit.

I just don't know whether to go ahead with the repairs and hope for the best, or get rid of it now and find a replacement car. If I went for the latter option, I'd be looking at something like a 3 year old Skoda Octavia or Seat Leon.

Any thoughts appreciated!

worried_jim

Might be worth checking re the MOT. I believe that if the tester can see the heat Sheild is missing it will fail, but if it couldn't be seen to begin with as hidden by the exhaust then they will never know. Before shelling out or changing the car splash £50 on an MOT and see if it passes.

forgotmyname

Model CX4A? Part 12200AB ?

The shield is not an MOT item as long as its not hanging down or loose. Just remove it.

Norman_Castle

Try local independent exhaust suppliers, they may be able to source the parts. Exhaust fabricators may be able to make the parts at lower than Mitsubishi prices.

EdGasketTheSecond

Maybe the existing cat can be welded up? See if you can find a good welder.

AdrianC

An off-the-shelf exhaust may well not be available, but a good exhaust fabricator will definitely be able to make you something far more cheaply than that.

No, a national as-seen-on-tv chain of tyre fitters is not the same thing...

System

Without the CAT and no MOT its worth £250 as scrap. Add that to the £1500 repair costs and it gives you £1750 for a replacement car. If you got a replacement car for £1750 would it be in any better condition than yours if you repaired it? From a money saving point of view spending £10k or more to avoid a £1500 bill, even if it is more than the vehicle is worth, makes no financial sense.

Not being able to get into gear most likely means it needs the gearbox oil changing if it has never been done.

Exhaust fabricators may be able to make the parts at lower than Mitsubishi prices.

This. You could get a Sports CAT that will pass a MOT and get a custom stainless exhaust from someone such as a Powerflow franchisee where you take your car to them and they make a custom one onsite and get them to put a system together. They may even be able to just install the CAT to your existing system if it isn't too bad. I'd expect change out of £800.

Kennyn1980

Thanks for the replies. An exhaust fabricator wasn't something that I had thought of, so I will definitely look further into that.

I'd like to keep the car running as I've had it for 8 years now and become quite attached to it. Fingers crossed!

MX5huggy

Have you tried sourcing a CAT from a breakers?