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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Shady Pioneer on 12 March 2009, 23:07

Title: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 12 March 2009, 23:07
So went upto the main college site today to get some documents I needed for my coursework, and haven't been up there since my car was not lowered. I went over the main speed bump and there was a HUGE SLAM! I've never had this kind of slam before, I've hit speed bumps on the sills a little bit but that's only been light, this was a genuine scary crapper!  :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:


Anyway, car seems fine for about 30secs and then from the centre underneath is a loud ticking kind of noise. The car is still running but it's a lot louder than it was. What have I done?  :cry:
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: shepgti on 12 March 2009, 23:08
losend the heatsheild?
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 12 March 2009, 23:10
losend the heatsheild?
It is possible but I've done that before, and had it properly welded on, it was solid. I'll have a little gander tomorrow in the light, I hope it is the heatshield because I don't want any big bills :(
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Wayne on 12 March 2009, 23:11
If it is ticking or sounding louder then you may have broken a bolt on a joint on the exhaust.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 12 March 2009, 23:12
No way of finding that out myself without getting it on the ramp is there?
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: shepgti on 12 March 2009, 23:13
No way of finding that out myself without getting it on the ramp is there?

not with it lowerd so much no!! got the same problem myself!
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Wayne on 12 March 2009, 23:14
No way of finding that out myself without getting it on the ramp is there?

Not really to be honest, I suspect it is blowing on the cat to downpipe joint.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 12 March 2009, 23:15
No way of finding that out myself without getting it on the ramp is there?

not with it lowerd so much no!! got the same problem myself!

I'll get it on a ramp maybe on Saturday if I can, if not I'll have to book it in.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: shepgti on 12 March 2009, 23:15
No way of finding that out myself without getting it on the ramp is there?

Not really to be honest, I suspect it is blowing on the cat to downpipe joint.

since when did a blowing exhaust make a ticking sound??? :undecided:
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Wayne on 12 March 2009, 23:17
No way of finding that out myself without getting it on the ramp is there?

Not really to be honest, I suspect it is blowing on the cat to downpipe joint.

since when did a blowing exhaust make a ticking sound??? :undecided:

Have you never heard a cracked manifold or downpipe then, they always tend to tick. (honest)
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 12 March 2009, 23:20
Cheers Shep, great help I'll check the heatshiled as my first point of call :)


Thanks wayne, guess I'll find out soon.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Wayne on 12 March 2009, 23:23
No worries, I smacked mine a few times but seemed to cope with it ok the heatshield was a pain however as everytime I moved it away from the cat I would knock it and then it would rattle again.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: VR6-Joe on 12 March 2009, 23:56
I agree with Wayne here.. mine is leaking from the manifold and makes a horrible ticking noise. I'll get round to replacing the manifold gasket one day!
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Adam on 13 March 2009, 00:06
De-cat it! Where you got ur MOT done last time will still pass it dw   :tongue:

Them bumps are a killer!
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: boneybradley on 13 March 2009, 00:39
I'm surprised if you've hit the cat!! the only part (if fitted correctly) should be the brace that runs across the middle!
I guess you've just knocked the exhaust and its loosend a joint!.. get the exhaust mounted as close to the body as poss....... I have hit the sills and dented the sump but never grounded my exhhaust!
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 13 March 2009, 00:43
I'm just hoping it's my heatshield, gonna mount the car on the curb to give me room to get my hands under there lol! Will report back tomorrow (today).
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: harlemex on 13 March 2009, 14:05
It wont be the heatshield making a ticking sound. I reckon youve split a weld on a joint of the exhaust somewhere. My guess is the back or middle box.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: LazyLunatic on 13 March 2009, 19:14
downpipe/joint to cat, not sure on other mk3 models, but i think the 1.4 sits lower than the sump.

get under there and have a look is best bet. :)
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 13 March 2009, 20:22
Well whatever it was has gone now,  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Wayne on 13 March 2009, 21:18
Well whatever it was has gone now,  :rolleyes:

Good result, might be best to still get it checked however just in case.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: harlemex on 14 March 2009, 14:40
hmmm, self fixing exhaust. could catch on :evil:
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: JC on 14 March 2009, 16:10
shady, kerbside High riding is the way to get under ya car,

short plank of wood or two and a trolley jack

2 wheels on a high a kerb as u can find, front wheels on the plank, jack rear up oin rear beam . :afro:
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 14 March 2009, 18:13
It's alright chaps, got in on a ramp today and had a look underneath. Turns out my cat is making quite a loud whining noise at times, think I could do with a new one. How much is the going rate? Cheers for the input chuff, if I get stuck next time I'll be sure to use that method.
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: LazyLunatic on 14 March 2009, 18:46
might as well decat while your at it now :evil:

Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 14 March 2009, 18:46
might as well decat while your at it now :evil:



And fail my MOT, not a chance lol!
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: LazyLunatic on 14 March 2009, 18:49
might as well decat while your at it now :evil:



And fail my MOT, not a chance lol!

or find a "good" mot centre :evil:

or get a cat from a scrappy or likewise and just put that on for the mot and decat it when you got your 12 months ;)

or if your selling the car soon to get a gti, then mayb just get a new cat would be more sensible :)
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 14 March 2009, 19:00
I could decat it but then I'd be making more noise than I want too :P it's already loud enough with the new backbox haha! How much are cats going for these days?
Title: Re: Have I broken my cat?
Post by: Wayne on 14 March 2009, 20:30
Remove the cat and smash the insides then refit, will sound a little hollow but as good as a decat and is what all the German guys do due to regs, will still need to find a cat for the mot however.