Catalytic converter

WorTortle · 30 Sep 2019 at 22:26

I've just bought a used car, buried within the manuals and service details are fitting instructions for a de-cat downpipe.

Where do I stand on checking if this is still installed, can I ask my garage to look or would it need to be where I bought it?

If the de-cat is installed where do I stand on getting it replaced with a proper downpipe?

DereksDontRun · 30 Sep 2019 at 23:08

if you bought it from a dealer then return and ask them to check. It's now a MOT fail to have any cat removed, so you can argue they've sold you a non road-worthy car. Realistically most MOT testers dont have time to check every inch of every car, so if it passes emissions then they don't tend to worry if the cat on the downpipe is still there or not....

As for a check - it would only be a visual one, so can't you check before going to the dealer?

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 17:34

A legit dealer would have inspected the car and swapped the decat for at least an aftermarket job that lasts 12months. It should also come with a fresh mot so it would have had a cat put on unless it was dodgy mot.

What car is it?

Nasher · 1 Oct 2019 at 17:45

If it came with an MOT but there is clearly no cat then it's MOT fraud. You can get send to prison for that.

It was always a fail, but now they are told to check properly and that it's actually working.

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 17:57

Nasher said:
If it came with an MOT but there is clearly no cat then it's MOT fraud. You can get send to prison for that.

It was always a fail, but now they are told to check properly and that it's actually working.

No not the op the worst that could happen is the testing station will get a fine and the tester will lose his card and the op will have to fit a cat to get his legit mot. Even then the cat could have been removed after the mot was issued

Nasher · 1 Oct 2019 at 17:58

red eye said:
No not the op the worst that could happen is the testing station will get a fine and the tester will lose his card and the op will have to fit a cat to get his legit mot. Even then the cat could have been removed after the mot was issued

Depends if they have been doing it a lot

WorTortle · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:18

Well it's a national dealer so not sure what difference that makes to their competence.

Anyway, I phoned them up and they said they replaced the full exhaust before putting it up for sale. I've asked for the receipts as proof and got it booked in with an indie tomorrow morning to get it double checked. I don't have a means of getting underneath to see what is currently in place.

It's a Fiesta ST so chances are it's has been de-catted just want to be certain it has been re-catted.

If it turns out it is still missing they'll be getting a lovely phone call with expectation of immediate replacement with no monetary loss and inconvenience to me.

shauncr91 · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:24

Should be able to tell from the noise.

WorTortle · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:26

shauncr91 said:
Should be able to tell from the noise.

What sort of noise would a de-cat make? It doesn't sound raspy or trouser trumpy.

I've never knowingly driven a car without one.

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:36

The cat is on the downpipe right after the turbo. Should be able to see it if you have a peek around the back of the engine

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:41

Nasher said:
Depends if they have been doing it a lot

Well if they been doing it a lot and then pass a trade car then they deserve it.

If your a dodgy toaster doing dodgy mots only firends and family never ever ever do one on a trade car that’s just stooooopid.
Basically if it can come back and bite you in the a** don’t do it........ better still save your tester card only do legit

WorTortle · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:46

red eye said:
The cat is on the downpipe right after the turbo. Should be able to see it if you have a peek around the back of the engine

Whereabouts in the engine bay would I be looking? Apart from the alternator, induction hose and intercooler hoses I can't see anything that looks like an exhaust manifold or how to see the exhaust.

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 18:53

WorTortle said:
Whereabouts in the engine bay would I be looking? Apart from the alternator, induction hose and intercooler hoses I can't see anything that looks like an exhaust manifold or how to see the exhaust.

Right at the back. The inlet side is at the front the black plastic tubey thing you’ll have to lean over the engine so do it when it’s cold

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 19:48

My bad everything is packed tight in the fiesta, you’ll have to get on your back and wiggle under

Kaeo · 1 Oct 2019 at 20:01

Which you can't do if it's an ST without jacking it up.

WorTortle · 1 Oct 2019 at 20:07

Kaeo said:
Which you can't do if it's an ST without jacking it up.

This!

It'll get checked and photographed at the indie garage tomorrow.

I'm feeling pretty confident the cat has been replaced but pieces of mind and all that.

Diagro · 1 Oct 2019 at 20:57

"Whole exhaust" generally means Cat back. If that's the case then its still decatted.

red eye · 1 Oct 2019 at 21:51

Kaeo said:
Which you can't do if it's an ST without jacking it up.

This should give you inspiration

B A is selo.....sticky backed plastic-ing a mobile phone to a stick
Some times you just have to get creative

WorTortle · 1 Oct 2019 at 21:54

Is it weird if I just let that play in the background while I get on with the crafting?

Deleted member 209350 · 2 Oct 2019 at 11:34

How do people get away with decatting their cars? I see so many decat cars at car meets, they sound incredible, but surely they must all know it fails MOT?

Unless of course its easy to remove and put back on, in which case I assume thats what they're doing

Catalytic converter

Deleted member 209350

Deleted member 209350