03 D2 Td5 catalytic converter???

[Datt]

Hey guys,

My wifes car is an 03 D2a (update my2003) Td5 and has a bad rattle coming from the exhaust. I thought it was coming from what appears to be the catalytic converter. After some confusion talking to several different people, can anyone confirm that this model did indeed come out with a catalytic converter to be in line with EU3 regulations?

If this is so, can it be done away with and a straight through pipe replace it, or is doing that some sought of illegal infringement?

Thanks in advance.

Matt.

[Urban Panzer]

The face lift disco from May 2001 here in UK had a cat in the front downpipe, dunno why it dont do a lot. On a diesel the cat is not tested on the MOT here in UK,it only has to pass a smoke test, so it dont matter if its there or not lol

Most people here replace them with a non cat downpipe from a pre 2001 model.
Its a difference betweem £100 and £300 for a downpipe !! and it goes better to without one ;)

[justinc]

Hey guys,

My wifes car is an 03 D2a (update my2003) Td5 and has a bad rattle coming from the exhaust. I thought it was coming from what appears to be the catalytic converter. After some confusion talking to several different people, can anyone confirm that this model did indeed come out with a catalytic converter to be in line with EU3 regulations?

If this is so, can it be done away with and a straight through pipe replace it, or is doing that some sought of illegal infringement?

Thanks in advance.

Matt.


Datt, Strictly speaking, you SHOULD replace the cat if it is faulty, BUT some inspectors don't even know they have one. I have fitted numerous aftermarket universal weld in cats to these, as the whole front pipe assembly is stupidly priced. From memory, an aftermarket high flow cat was around $300 or so?

JC

[Scouse]

Make sure it's not the downpipe flex joint rattling before you spend $$ having the convertor replaced.

[Urban Panzer]

He wont really have a choice, the cat is part of the downpipe anyway, unless he was going to cut and weld in a replacement cat.

I agree it could be the flexi joint as they are known to split, mine did and hissed and rattled at certian rpm's, really annoyed me !!

Unless you guys have some specifc CAT test on your yearly MOT test (if you have one over there) then just replace the down pipe with a non cat version....its a 3rd of the price , and your engine will love you a little bit more :D

[Psimpson7]

The face lift disco from May 2001 here in UK had a cat in the front downpipe, dunno why it dont do a lot. On a diesel the cat is not tested on the MOT here in UK,it only has to pass a smoke test, so it dont matter if its there or not lol

Most people here replace them with a non cat downpipe from a pre 2001 model.
Its a difference betweem £100 and £300 for a downpipe !! and it goes better to without one ;)

Thats not quite true. modern diesles have to pass emisions levels tests as per petrols. Smoke test only is for older cars.

[Scouse]

He wont really have a choice, the cat is part of the downpipe anyway, unless he was going to cut and weld in a replacement cat.

I just wanted to point out about the flex joint as a replacement catalyst was mentioned above. Most exhaust shops here can replace just the flex joint too.

[Urban Panzer]

Thats not quite true. modern diesles have to pass emisions levels tests as per petrols. Smoke test only is for older cars.

Thats why I said it "may" be different in AUS ;), Over here in the UK Diesels require a smoke test (regardless of age) to pass the MOT. A cat makes no difference to this.

[Psimpson7]

I am talking about the UK. Modern diesels have to pass more than jsut smoke in the UK

[Datt]

Thanks very much for all the inputs. I dropped the car off this morning and tried to get the guy to put a straight through in but he woudn't do it, so I paid $300 for him to weld a replacement cat in. Rattle all gone, and worked overtime which paid for it today.

Matt