Author Topic: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?  (Read 4432 times)

guest6436

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Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« on: March 11, 2017, 01:17:41 PM »
Got absolutely raped in MOT for bogus things on near mechanical mint car
Going to contest few things and make some more stuff more pretty to get through.
however One thing there is a problem with , the heat shield cover for the CAT has been damaged a bit in past from some rock and now it started to rust at one place and you can see that it has holes in it - just the heat shield NOT the actual Cat.

I did inspection myself with endoscope I have (even under the heat shield itself)  and there's 0 problems/holes in the cat itself, juts it doesn't looks pretty anymore since the heat shield is damaged and has holes in it.
Is it possible just to somehow replace the heatshield myself or make some DIY Fix? I understand that the heat shield cover shouldn't really be a MOT fail, or am I wrong since I clearly got failed on it at as well?
Don't really want to spend big money replacing the whole cat when there's nothing wrong with it so looking for a possible solution..

Thanks in advance.
Such a shame when they fail a car which has passed its mot for 13years straight without a single advisory ever..and now It's hard for me to even see why they failed the things they failed after inspecting the stuff myself :( Have been meaning to try some council MOT garages to avoid these jokers who just make work for themselves out of thin air and make your car totally worthless...


Jocko

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2017, 01:48:22 PM »
Sounds like you went to a tyre and exhaust specialist. My heat shield was damaged on my Volvo, and my mechanic just removed it. Three years later things were still fine.

Found this:

MoT warning for unwary motorists
Garages will try it on, finds survey


A vehicle is more likely to fail its MOT test when using a garage that also carries out repairs, according to a recent survey, and women are especially at risk.
According to a random survey conducted this year of 838 Nottinghamshire motorists, we risk being handed a list of unnecessary jobs when applying for an MOT certificate. The conclusion -- hardly surprising perhaps -- is that some garages use the test as an opportunity to look for, and even create, work.

Failing brakes when only adjustment is required was the most common complaint, according to mail order specialist Car Parts Direct.

The survey also found that women taking a vehicle for an MOT were 12 per cent more likely to fail than men. Those using an MOT station where repairs are also carried out were 18 per cent more likely to fail their MOT test.

According to VOSA, the Government body responsible for overseeing MOT centre activities (see link below), 32 per cent of vehicles failed their MOT test last year. Around 10 per cent of all motorists driving in for an MOT failed due to a brake related problem. A similar number failed because of a smoky exhaust or high exhaust emissions.

Car Parts Direct boss Mark Cornwall said: "Dishonest garage traders profit from vulnerable motorists. Checking brake pads and discs is an easy job for motorists and a smoky exhaust can normally be reduced by adding an injection cleaner to the fuel – it’s one of our best selling products to help pass the MOT emissions test."

Cornwall claimed that more than half of all motorists could avoid the need for an MOT re-test and expensive unnecessary repairs by following a few simple rules. Naturally enough, his company provides an online check list -- for free -- on how to pass your MOT first time and avoid garage scams.

Links
www.carparts-direct.co.uk
www.vosa.gov.uk

guest6436

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2017, 06:32:45 PM »
So you should be able to pass MOT Without the heatshield?
I have to admit the heatshield was knackered and had started to rust through- but that's it..it wasn't falling off or anything like that as well. and under the heatshield itself the exhaust was solid.

Got a point for a wheelbearing as well,  at home tried to see whats the problem- couldn't replicate any problem whatsoever with it-rock solid .Went back to garage so they can explain about the bearing, got no answer as to why they failed it and what was wrong with it,they just said how much its going to cost to replace- they just felt like failing it.... WTFF?
Anyway that part isn't expensive nor hard to change yourself so would have to suck it up and just change it myself.

Got few other points for another stupid things where I'm just shaking my head as to why.... But they have fuked up my totally clean MOT history record and practically have written that it's worthless piece of junk -that sucks the most :(

Lesson learned, Don't leave your car at garage but attend the MOT yourself and watch what they are doing!

culzean

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2017, 06:39:49 PM »
I guess these jokers check up on the things that normally fail (like Jazz rear wheel bearings) and pick on them.
Some people will only consider you an expert if they agree with your point of view or advice,  when you give them advice they don't like they consider you an idiot

guest1372

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2017, 06:43:34 PM »
The corner bolt of my heat shield has also disintegrated, so a while back I wrapped a couple of turns of galvanised garden wire round it to stop it vibrating when coasting down through 2000 rpm.  It's solid and does not move - passed MOT without comment.  It's possible that any loose part might be a MOT failure if it could fall off or cause secondary damage.  Missing clips on wiring and brake lines are a classic example.  Any tyres / exhaust / brakes & MOT place will try to fit new brakes etc. at an MOT.

The MOT manual with reasons for rejection is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles
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Jocko

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2017, 08:00:25 PM »
My son-in-law is a mechanic. He goes to a local main dealer (SEAT) where the mechanic knows him. He tells them that anything it needs just to mark it on the sheet and he will attend to it. Never had any more than an advisory in the last 10 years.

guest6436

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2017, 08:27:01 PM »
Well.. I torn the plate off.. and watched some YT videos how to test for leaks - and... this is kinda fail on my side.

It doesn't actually leaks at the CAT converter where the hole in the plate is, but at next middle-section which goes down a bit further.
So the garage would have changed the CAT and it wouldn't be the correct part and it would still leak.

Well fail fail on my side :( however the exhaust is actually faulty :(



guest6436

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2017, 03:01:30 PM »
I can report that I passed MOT today :D
The car probably was worth about £500 with fresh MOT, needless to say The quote to fix all the ''problems'' was pretty much the same amount so effectively it was written down by that MOT and wouldn't be a wise Idea to throw that amount of money at it.

-They reported that I have rusted out brake lines, I bought the flaring kit/brake pipe changed the part which looked iffy , actually when I removed that brake line it had some patches on it ( 13year old car) , but with a swipe of a rag/wire brush it came up almost as new, so just trying it on really.... + I sold the kit the next day for the same amount, so really paid nothing to change the brake lines.

-They reported that the exhaust is leaking and needs changing  they actually diagnosed the hole at wrong place so it wouldn't even be a fix if they did it   , well I found the leak- a pinhole size at a welded part, £2.30 in gun-gum paste and the problem was fixed( great stuff btw)- Way too excessive for sure!

-They reported a problem with a wheel bearing, I dismantled the bearing/hub and found that indeed it had some very very minor variation however it would have been fine for years  and years to come and wasn't really faulty, It was cheap at 23pounds  from ebay for a bearing+hub so just changed it as it was so easy/fast to do.

All in all approx £35 to fix everything, took me a few hours to do everything, but at least I got my car back and didn't got fleeced.
Lesson learned- Stay with the car while they Do the MOT and ask them to show the ''problems''!



guest1372

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2017, 03:47:06 PM »
Excellent news and probably the right approach for a car of this age.
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Jocko

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Re: Replacing/fixing just Heat shield for CAT CONVERTER?
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2017, 04:52:59 PM »
I second that.

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