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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: terry paget on 08 January 2014, 15:31:37

Title: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: terry paget on 08 January 2014, 15:31:37
I posted this in Electrical in error; apologies. I repost here.
In 2009 I bought a couple of aftermarket cat sections for 2 litre Omegas. The third I bought looked rather good, so I kept it for best. It looks like genuine GM to me, but only cost £100 whereas Vx wanted £880 plus VAT for theirs back in 2010. What do you think? The one on the foreground is the good one.https://www.dropbox.com/s/psg4zcf7ezhf5ct/catsmall1.jpeg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/29fkwlnuuavz0vb/catsmall2.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s87t1d7eyjp4d04/catsmall3.JPG
Title: Re: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: AndyStobbs on 08 January 2014, 15:53:32
Is there a gm number stamped into the case?
Title: Re: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: tunnie on 08 January 2014, 16:06:21
I've taken the downpipe and cat off my 2.2 a couple of times, but looks tad different to those 2.0 ones.

Looks genuine as it has that sticker on, the cat section is also larger. You will know when you switch engine on, the pattern cats sounds truly awful!

Remember those flexi sections can easily be cut out, with replacements welded in. It's a £15 fix, you don't need a whole new down pipe like some garages suggest.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: terry paget on 08 January 2014, 16:46:32
I've taken the downpipe and cat off my 2.2 a couple of times, but looks tad different to those 2.0 ones.

Looks genuine as it has that sticker on, the cat section is also larger. You will know when you switch engine on, the pattern cats sounds truly awful!

Remember those flexi sections can easily be cut out, with replacements welded in. It's a £15 fix, you don't need a whole new down pipe like some garages suggest.
I have discovered that the 2.2 cat section is different. It has 2 lambda sensors for a start. Last year I scrapped two of my 2 litres, replacing them with 2.2s. Last week my last 2.0 failed MOT on emissions, so I put my best cat on it. It sailed through, 0.00% CO. If that cat is genuine Vx it should last as long as the car (now i5 years old). However, if it is aftermarket it will fail next year.
It sounds good.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: terry paget on 08 January 2014, 16:49:32
Is there a gm number stamped into the case?
I did not notice one. I presume you mean somewhere on the case of the catalyst.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: tunnie on 08 January 2014, 16:56:38
I've taken the downpipe and cat off my 2.2 a couple of times, but looks tad different to those 2.0 ones.

Looks genuine as it has that sticker on, the cat section is also larger. You will know when you switch engine on, the pattern cats sounds truly awful!

Remember those flexi sections can easily be cut out, with replacements welded in. It's a £15 fix, you don't need a whole new down pipe like some garages suggest.
I have discovered that the 2.2 cat section is different. It has 2 lambda sensors for a start. Last year I scrapped two of my 2 litres, replacing them with 2.2s. Last week my last 2.0 failed MOT on emissions, so I put my best cat on it. It sailed through, 0.00% CO. If that cat is genuine Vx it should last as long as the car (now i5 years old). However, if it is aftermarket it will fail next year.
It sounds good.

Thats the big test, genuine ones are silent, pattern sound like a bag of nails.  :)
Title: Re: Is this a genuine GM cat? I bought it as aftermarket
Post by: andyc on 08 January 2014, 20:51:16
The new one in the pic is a GM one, the old one looks to be a pattern

Andy