Unclealbert

Hello fellas.

Really need someones help here, I am not an expert.

Took 2007 hawkeye wrx sportwagon for MOT yesterday. Failed due to a leaky/blowing cat and also on lamda values, probably due to leak in cat.

I had the Andy Forrest Stage 1 remap last summer, including Prodrive backbox and sports cat.

The guy at the garage showed me under the car and the cat had been bandaged up (I think).

CAN ANYONE HELP FIND A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT PART? I have left my old cat with the mechanic who did the work, but I think he has gone offshore for 6 weeks.

I need to car for travel............so this is urgent

Thanks

James

Carnut

Who did your mot ?and did they get it nice and hot first.

Unclealbert

Local garage, AJ Ross. Car would have been sitting around for 7 hours so stone cold.
Main problem was that there is leak in the cat and /or gasket.... But do not know where to source replacement parts...

Argh!

gazzawrx

iTrader: (11)

If its on the pipe then buy a bandage to wrap round it or if its the gasket then use some exhaust putty to seal it. Both of which can be bought from the local motor factors or even halfords.

Unclealbert

I think there is already a bandage in the car pipe. Need to find out on Thursday if it is a gasket or cat.

How hard is to find a prodrive sportscat?

Is there any MOT friendly alternatives?

I have 12 days to get it sorted or I am fu*ked

Thanks for help

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

have you tried all the breakers on here?

Unclealbert

No Dave Y, how do I speak to them?
Many thanks

Galifrey

iTrader: (3)

If the cat has been bandaged are you sure it isn't a thermal bandage?

A thermal bandage doesn't indicate a leak.

Thermal bandage is biegey brown.

The cat may just have failed.

Turbotits

iTrader: (2)

It may just be a wrapped cat rather than a bandage for repair. Is it definatly blowing? A minor exhaust leak is only an mot advisery athough it may affect emmisions.

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

pm them on here
check the breakers section.
have a good search there will be one out there.

Unclealbert

My father was playing with it last week week and said it was blowing. I told him he was too old and deaf..... But he was right.

I don't know enough to keep if bandaged or wrapped. Guy at MOT said it was bandaged, **** poor and he hadn't seen anything like that for a long time. Looks like a first aid bandage rather than a engineered boiler cover.

Don't have MOT to hand, but I think it was called as major leak. Failed on lambda and also rear plate light bulbs. Ordered light bulbs on eBay.

So is best course of action to go back to garage on Tuesday, get them to identify if leak from cat or gasket, then search the breakers?

Do you think I will need to buy another standard cat, get that fitted, then buy another prodrive sportscat?

I'm guessing they don't make prodrive sportscat anymore, is there anything else that offers 275 bhp/340 ftlbs and passes MOT no problem.


Thanks fellas, I'm slowly getting less stressed out....

Turner Tronics

Well car should be at running temp for emissions as your car kicks out **** when cold and it's only cold for a brief period.you used that garage before?

Unclealbert

No first time using garage, only place I could get in at short notice. Used council depot last year, but that was before remap.

Think the cat must be the problem..... If been repaired before....

Turner Tronics

I'd just decat it all way through,nail it for a bit then take it for mot when it's piping hot but hey...that's just me

Unclealbert

Hi fellas,

P1junkie has contacted me and has a 2006 STi prodrive sportscat and exhaust.

Does anyone know if this is the same as the one WRX versions - the exact description of the mods done to exhaust system for Andy Forrest remap are:

"Prodrive Newage Backbox" - no problems with this at the momet
"Prodrive Sportscat and Cat Delete Pipe" - this is the problem area

I will be honest and admit I have no idea what a cat delete pipe is.......

Many thanks for the help......

Athame1

iTrader: (2)

Cat delete is cat removed, pipe instead. Could you post a pic of the offending area ?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

If its failed on lambda values this has no real reflection on the cat's temperature. So long as the engine isn't stone cold.

Air that is getting into the exhaust will show as a fail on lambda values....a leak after the oxygen sensor will give excessive lean emission results (as air gets sucked into the exhaust). Air getting in before the oxygen sensor will give a rich emissions result as the engine ECU thinks the engine is running lean and over-richens it, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide will also be too high (or higher than expected).

I've seen cars fail emission due to pinholes in the welds before on the oxygen sensor boss - thats how sensitive it can be if the leak is upstream of the sensor and the car has wideband sensors...on that note don't even think of buying a cat made by "React" (often found via Euro Car Parts) almost every one I have had the displeasure of dealing with has been badly made...leaky welds or simply doesn't fit properly.

Is the leak not weld-able? Cats are usually made from fairly high quality steel so I'm suprised to find one that has failed like that.

Unclealbert

Thanks guys. Struggling to get a picture until tuesday morning when I take it to garage.

Usually Wuz looks after it , but I cannot get in contact with him.

Strong smell of fumes when car stopped, so probably air getting into air sensor.

I have no idea if leak weldable. I collected my car at 1700 on Friday when they were shutting up for bank holiday weekend.

I am not 100% sure it is not the gaskets.........................did not get the feeling the garage had that much experience of Subarus but could be wrong. Need to ask some more specific questions

Unclealbert

Ali-B,

If you have the time, is there any chance you could confirm if the sportcat in this thread is suitable as a replacement?????

https://www.scoobynet.com/subaru-par...l#post11420238

Car failing an MOT is not a good thing when you are trying to buy a house, sell a flat and have spent every penny you own.

Cheers

James

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Sorry; I haven't a clue about interchangability on different versions of hawks.


I know I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs but a top tip is to avoid getting garage work done during bank holiday weeks. Its always bad news if a problem crops up as the suppliers shut up shop or are on a go-slow and some garages close a bit longer to do workshop maintanence (paint floors, service the ramps etc).

Classic example; I currently have a "desperatly urgent" Scudo in the air waiting for a throttle cable. Took two days for delivery as stock had to be transfered from another depot, and then the wrong part (too short) arrived on Friday lunch, so now can't get one til Tuesday at the soonest.

TheVoices

iTrader: (5)

You should be able to replace the Prodrive sport cat with any suitable sport cat pipe (Cobra or Japspeed)

The Prodrive setup is usually a 2 piece design with the replacement downpipe with the cat as one piece and the second cat pipe replaced by a de-catted section, the aftermarket ones mentioned above combine these into a one piece downpipe with built in 100 or 200 cell sport cat.

It may be worth getting a Subaru specialist to take a look at the existing Prodrive one, replacement gasket or welding the leak will be much cheaper than a complete replacement sport cat.

WUZ

iTrader: (14)

Just got back online and read this so my apologies for having no internet over the past 5 days.... typical in Angola!!!

Gaskets are not leaking,they were checked when car was in, the MOT garage's idea of a "bandage" is actually the bloody heat blanket that came with the Sportscat when it was originally put onto the cars.

Unclealbert

Hi Wuz
Jim is happy with the parts and so currently fitting. Looking good.

Car was freaking out when I drove it to garage, but only when turbo kicked in.

Is that due to the ECU and turbo being shortchanged by the exhaust performance?