Is it the heatshield or that catalytic converter?

[llol_slim]

Hello all,
Im finally being introduced into the VW world in the shape of a mk3 GTI 8v (yeh, i know the 16v is better but hey, I had a bravo 1.8HLX before so fast enough for now )
Thing is, there's this horrible raspy rattle coming from the exhaust, about where the driver is when you give it some revs. It sounds like a blowing exhaust, but there's plenty of pressure, putting your hand over the end of the exhaust, there's plenty of pressure.
I've searched the forum and alot of people complain about a loose heatshield, but I've also heard that this could be the cat.
(im no mechanic )
So if it were the cat, how much am i looking at? And if its the heatshield then will getting my local mechanic to weld it help?
Thanks in advance. Love the forum, love the car :-)
laurie

[Len]

There are two heatshields. One under the CAT and if its that rattling then just rip it off!
The other one is up on the manifold/downpipe and is much more troublesome!
It is welded on the exhaust and the only way to do it properly is to take the manifold off and this is not recommended just for that. Bolts can snap and that means a head off job!

If anyone knows of an easy fix for this heatshield then please shout!
I have heard of jubilee clips but having seen where it is I dont think they can be practical.

If your CAT is duff it costs 200 - 300 to replace.

[llol_slim]

There are two heatshields. One under the CAT and if its that rattling then just rip it off!
The other one is up on the manifold/downpipe and is much more troublesome!
It is welded on the exhaust and the only way to do it properly is to take the manifold off and this is not recommended just for that. Bolts can snap and that means a head off job!

If anyone knows of an easy fix for this heatshield then please shout!
I have heard of jubilee clips but having seen where it is I dont think they can be practical.

If your CAT is duff it costs 200 - 300 to replace.

oh thanks for that, i really appreciate the quick response
Hopefully its the one under the cat then and NOT the actualy cat causing the problem. I'm going to pick the motor up tonight, is there anyway of telling if I have a duff cat? Does it smell, or smoke or anything? I know it can limit the revs if it breaks up, and I didn't notice any limiting.
Thanks again

[carl]

if it is the cat try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ they did a cat for my old mk3 8v for around £65 delivered.

[monkeyalan]

another thing to check is this.
At the base of the steering column in the footwell there should be a plaastic cover that goes over the hole in the bulkhead where the colunm goes through.
If thats missing you get a surprising amount of noise coming into the cabin which also sounds exactly like a blowing exhaust.

[llol_slim]

if it is the cat try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ they did a cat for my old mk3 8v for around £65 delivered.

thanks i had already tried there, they havent got any in stock ..

another thing to check is this.
At the base of the steering column in the footwell there should be a plaastic cover that goes over the hole in the bulkhead where the colunm goes through.
If thats missing you get a surprising amount of noise coming into the cabin which also sounds exactly like a blowing exhaust.

thank you Unfortunately, the driver's door was open, so it was deffinately coming from under the car. I looked under the car and gave it some gas, but couldnt quite work out where it was coming from.
I think I might just take it straight to my local garage and see what they say. Get it put right from the beginning.. Assuming it isn't too pricey!!

[Len]

If your exhaust is blowing there is a very quick and easy check.
With car running go round and put your hand over the exhaust outlet, careful it could be a bit warm!
But anyway close off the exhaust if the engine splutters and dies then exhaust fine, if it doesnt then you have a hole somwhere!

[llol_slim]

If your exhaust is blowing there is a very quick and easy check.
With car running go round and put your hand over the exhaust outlet, careful it could be a bit warm!
But anyway close off the exhaust if the engine splutters and dies then exhaust fine, if it doesnt then you have a hole somwhere!

right thank you. We will do that. We did it the other day, but didnt hold it over for any decent amount of time, just long enough to see pressure was building up. Hmm.. annoyingly I cannot remember what happened when I put the gas on with his hand over.
Is it safe to just put my hand over (recognise it will be hot!) until it dies? Or just until it starts to struggle. Will struggling be enough?
I have a feeling it isnt a hole. That would probably be better than the cat needing replacing
Next time I buy a car, I'm going to get the RAC/AA to come and do those checks. I hate looking at cars, so much to remember for a non-mechanic!
thanks so much for all the help

[Len]

Best if you dont make the engine stop completely, just make it splutter should only be a second or so.

[llol_slim]

Best if you dont make the engine stop completely, just make it splutter should only be a second or so.

ok brilliant. I'll try it then. Thank you
Is there no way to tell if the cat is nackard?
Bit worried as we have already put a deposit down, and it occured to me since then that maybe its the cat, hopefully it wont be anything too pricey.