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[kirbster]

Hi,

Question for you kind folk..

I have a 2003 facelift 2.2 CDX Auto Estate with 62k miles on the clock.

In the last 3 months I have had a new Head Gasket and Alternator at a total cost possibly in excess of the value of the car.

The Passenger door has a sizeable dent that will require a new door.

The boot has a few knocks too.

The interior is ok; Glovebox handle was ripped off by thieves, ashtray doesnt shut.

It has a towbar and DIY electrics that make me cringe..

Problem : The exhaust has rusted through at the cat and I have been told I need a new Cat at about 300 inc. labour and parts. I've already spent nigh on £1,000 this year on it and Im not spending anymore.

Question : Should I just cut my losses and scrap it, or will I get more on Ebay do you think selling it for spares/repair?

It's a Z158 colour (which is quite rare I think)

Im tempted to scrap it but take all the bits I think I can flog on Ebay, Towbar, boot cover etc.

If the advice is to scrap it, is there anything I should remove as has good resale value?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Andrew

[albitz]

The exhaust problem could well be the flexi pipe which is available seperately from the cat. Not very expensive. The other bits are just cosmetic and could probably be bought at reasonable prices from breakers on the forum.

[Omega_Dan]

Its still a late, low mileage mig even if it has some cosmetic issues. worth more than scrap

[kirbster]

The exhaust problem could well be the flexi pipe which is available seperately from the cat. Not very expensive. The other bits are just cosmetic and could probably be bought at reasonable prices from breakers on the forum.

hmmm...how can I tell? I realise this may be a ridiculous question given the answer is probably "get your jack, find the little place under the car, turn the handle until your car miraculously levitates. Then, get those two things either side of your nose and point them at the flexi hose by the cat, if its broken, its probably that, if its not and theres a hole in the car, its probably that"... 

Is there a picture anywhere that you are aware of that I can at least know what Im supposed to be looking at?

At the moment it sounds like an absolute tank to drive so i don't think it would be legal to drive it to a garage and I could do without incurring any more cost.

[albitz]

Firstly, dont get under your car if the only thing supporting it is the jack - you could very easily end up dead.
Im not sure tbh mate, I would guess you could tell from looking, but hopefully some 4 pot owner who has first hand experience of the problem will be along soon.
If not, might be worth dropping Tunnie a PM as Im sure I remember him having and fixing this problem.
I think he lives in West London also.

[tunnie]

Where in West London are you? I'm in North Acton and can take a look for you. I don't have any tools here, but I can get under the car without a jack 

Its common for 2.2 flexi to go, the cats, unless you've clonked it at serious speed at a rock, are practically bullet proof 

[albitz]

Talk of the devil..........

There you go mate - help is at hand, the OOF spirit is a wonderful thing.

[tunnie]

What Devil, where, who?  :-/   

I'll prob be popping back home early next month, so I should be able to get a few tools and bring back some ramps. If it is the flexi, I can take that section off without too much problem. Only thing is I cannot weld, the part itself is about £15 online, you would need to take both to a metal workshop, not sure of any places locally :-/

[kirbster]

What Devil, where, who?  :-/   

I'll prob be popping back home early next month, so I should be able to get a few tools and bring back some ramps. If it is the flexi, I can take that section off without too much problem. Only thing is I cannot weld, the part itself is about £15 online, you would need to take both to a metal workshop, not sure of any places locally :-/

Unfortunately, I havent updated my profile since I was last on here, I have now moved to Berkshire, so that's not so handy, especially as I lived in South Acton before  :-/

Thankyou so much for the offer though.

So, is the flexi hose welded to the cat? Im unsure of what welding might need to take place?

Sorry if im being thick...

[albitz]

Im sure there are a few OOFers around Berkshire. :-/

[Varche]

It must be very hard if you haven't got facilities or understand what the problems are to see the wood for the trees.

My advice would be to soldier on with the car. It is low mileage, you know its history, presumably like it. So it has a few cosmetic issues. Live with those if you can. Even the dented door. Remove the door card (inner lining with handle etc) and push it out a bit. Someone on here can give you advice on achieving an acceptable outcome. Alternatively look out for a door of your rare colour and swap over.

As for driving the car with a dodgy exhaust. If you are taking it to be fixed then it would be a hard nosed policeman  who would do you (drive on a trailing or light throttle in a high gear) Maybe things have changed a lot since I last lived in the Uk. Another suggestion would be a temp bodge of that wonderful stuff Gun gum from halfords. £3 for a tub.

Update your profile and I am sure someone will be handy to give you some help!

[kirbster]

Update your profile and I am sure someone will be handy to give you some help!

Done! - thanks guys, that last one brought a tear to my eye...you guys are the best   

[bigegg]

So, is the flexi hose welded to the cat? Im unsure of what welding might need to take place?

Sorry if im being thick...

The exhaust is in about four sections between the engine and the rear bumper.
The cat is (I think) the second bit from the engine, and looks like a cylinder with the pipe coming out of both ends.
on the engine (?) end of the thicker cylinder will be a section of pipe which looks like it is woven from steel wire, rather than a solid piece of pipe.
This is the bit which rusts through.

Easiest way to tell where the exhaust is leaking from is to put the car on a ramp (or one side on a high kerb), start the engine, and block the tailpipe with a cloth - you'll see smoke come from where the hole is.

Once you've done that, simply unbolt the section of exhaust which is leaking, take it to your local exhaust fabricator (or welder), and have him patch the hole.

Should cost you around 20 quid + possibly a new piece of flexible pipe (maybe a tenner).

Bolt it back on, jobs a gud 'un

[Omegatoy]

its an estate!!! yahay sell it to me cheap cos of the faults!! problem solved?

seriously though i can understand your trepidation at spending more money on it,if mechanical work is a black art it can get people extremely worried, im in uk from  20th i think so willbe looking for a cheap estate, BUT also have a workshop at swindon where i could look at it for you if you can get it there!!

Although i was told the other day you cannot find an exhaust for a 2.2 at under 350? is that right?

[RobG]

its an estate!!! yahay sell it to me cheap cos of the faults!! problem solved?

seriously though i can understand your trepidation at spending more money on it,if mechanical work is a black art it can get people extremely worried, im in uk from  20th i think so willbe looking for a cheap estate, BUT also have a workshop at swindon where i could look at it for you if you can get it there!!

Although i was told the other day you cannot find an exhaust for a 2.2 at under 350? is that right?

Cat back exhaust for a 2.2 is exactly the same as the V6. In fact you can do away with the centre box driver`s side completely and fit a 2.0ltr exhaust. Same mountings