:( Removed my rattly cat today - look what I found . .

[gregorcupra]

Well after my thread last night asking whether I should remove the cat to inspect , after finding it rattled a lot, I took it off today. As you can see from the photos , the cat has collapsed inside and the debris I managed to shake out .

Some of the lumps of cat were wider than the pipe itself so surely this has been losing my performance/power ? Would the pressure coming through force that all against the exhaust causing a blockage ?

In the second pic you can see that the debris actually looks as though it has melted ? What has caused this too happen?

Also ,below are the two lambdas that I took out - can they be reused in their current state ?

Not sure now whether to go for a standard new cat/downpipe or go for a sports cat

 

[m0rk]

Std Turbo?

 

[gregorcupra]

Yeah still the K03 ?

I do have a K03S though , that I may fit

 

[m0rk]

You may as well do the K03s all at the same time, the worst bit is over

Get a nice quality sports cat & new probes & you'll not need to touch it again

 

[Robbie C]

Seeing those pics I'm surprised you said yesterday you didn't notice any decrease in performance or heavier revs. Bigger downpipe and sports cat time now then

 

[gregorcupra]

Yeah the car has lacked power for ages but Ive always put it down to a boost leak somewhere. But the car has been like it so long I wouldnt honestly know if the cat was causing me power loss ?

How much am I looking at for a new downpipe/sports cat and 2 lambdas ?

 

[Robbie C]

Sports cats are normally ~250-300 or you can get a decat pipe for less.

Not sure on the lambdas, normally in the £100 region but I'd advise giving these guys a call even though it's not listed on their site: http://www.vwspares.co.uk/ibiza_spares.php

 

[gregorcupra]

Cheers. Im not getting any fault codes from the lambdas which did surprise me so do I really need to replace them ?

 

[EZ Tutty]

i would if i were you, those look a lot worse than the 8year old ones i pulled out of my car not so long back.

plus if you replace them now you won't have to touch them again

have a look on http://www.autobits.co.uk/, direct fit lambda's from there are about £70 each.


EZT

 

[gregorcupra]

Nice one cheers.

Any one have any idea why my cat and lambdas have got into this state ?

 

[ttothec]

I believe that this kind of damage is caused if a coil pack goes and it is not replaced immediately.

Broken coil pack = no spark -> fuel does not ignite in the combustion chamber so travels into the turbo on the exhaust stroke to then ignite in the turbo/downpipe/cat... ultimately destroying the cells of the cat.

 

[EZ Tutty]

normally the cat collapses if the cat is knocked pretty hard (rough mechanic removing an exhaust, grounding the exhaust on a speed bump etc,

but i've also heard it can happen if you drive though water whilst the cat is upto operating temp, this is due to rapid cooling.

i'm sure there are other reasons too

 

[gregorcupra]

Coilpack went about a year ago bu they were replaced pretty soon after , all 4 of them.

Im surprised at the state its all in and hope that when i do sort it I notice a difference !

 

[DPJ]

normally the cat collapses if the cat is knocked pretty hard (rough mechanic removing an exhaust, grounding the exhaust on a speed bump etc,

but i've also heard it can happen if you drive though water whilst the cat is upto operating temp, this is due to rapid cooling.

i'm sure there are other reasons too

It'll collapse when it's at the end of its life too.

 

[gregorcupra]

I see , cheers.

I dont know if anyone has seen my past threads , but I am also missing 5psi of boost. Would the cat collapsing have anything to do with it ?

 

[ttothec]

I see , cheers.

I dont know if anyone has seen my past threads , but I am also missing 5psi of boost. Would the cat collapsing have anything to do with it ?

DEFINITELY!!!

The broken up cat will have been causing such a huge restriction it would prevent the exhaust gasses from escaping and thus prevent the turbo from spooling properly.

 

[ttothec]

this might make some interesting reading

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90716

see pics on page 2... not a severe as yours though

 

[gregorcupra]

Well Ive just spent a total of £570 on a Milltek downpipe and high flow cat plust two new lambdas and other bits and bobs.

I better notice a difference at this price. If not - suicide.