Technical Exhaust Deterioation

[Brit]

Hi,

I've just put my Lounge 1.2 through its first MOT (its a 08 reg) and it has had two advisories. The first saying there is a minor leak of exhaust gases and that the exhaust has part of system slightly deterioated.

Can anyone advise me what to do? Is this common on fiats and is something I can repair so it does not get worse. My partner says if its the catalytic converter then is will be expensive to replace.

Would this be covered under the warranty, I have a couple of weeks left?

 

[Venters]

Exhaust wont be covered i dont think. it really depends what part is corroded and leaking how much it will cost.

 

[jrkitching]

Hi,

I've just put my Lounge 1.2 through its first MOT (its a 08 reg) and it has had two advisories. The first saying there is a minor leak of exhaust gases and that the exhaust has part of system slightly deterioated.

Can anyone advise me what to do?

Replace the affected sections of the exhaust. If you're planning on keeping the car more than a couple of years, I'd give serious consideration to replacing everything from the cat back in stainless steel - that way, you'll not need to worry about it again for the life of the car.

If you don't replace it before winter sets in, it will very likely fail completely once the salt gets back on the roads & sod's law suggests this will happen at a particularly inconvenient time.

is this common on fiats?

Certainly on the 500. The exhaust on these cars is particularly cheap & nasty - mine was starting to rust by the time I took delivery, & it had only left the factory a couple of weeks previously.

and is something I can repair so it does not get worse.

No. Sadly any repair is only likely to extend its life by a few weeks at most. Not really worth considering unless you're about to sell the car.

My partner says if its the catalytic converter then is will be expensive to replace.

The cat would indeed be costly, but I think it's unlikely this particular part of the exhaust will need replacement at this time.

Would this be covered under the warranty, I have a couple of weeks left?

Always worth asking but I'd be surprised (amazed is perhaps a more appropriate word to use here) if FIAT would make any contribution whatsoever - you will be told that the failure is due to fair wear & tear, which isn't covered by the warranty.

Others have posted on this forum that FIAT have refused to replace exhausts even during the initial 2 year manufacturer's warranty; in the third year dealer warranty, I'd say you haven't a hope. Again, sorry - this is probably not what you wanted to hear.

 

[306maxi]

It depends how bad it actually is. The exhaust is multilayered so it can look quite bad but not leak significantly. Run it till it starts blowing badly and then replace it with a stainless box if you're going to keep the car.

 

[jrkitching]

...Run it till it starts blowing badly...

Sorry, Maxi, but I think that's potentially dangerous advice. Without actually having inspected it, there's no way of knowing where or how serious the corrosion is, and if you leave an exhaust until it's blowing badly you risk having it physically drop off the car. If that happens when you're travelling at speed on a busy road, you could cause a serious accident. Since the OP has already been given an advisory by the MOT tester, they could leave themselves open to all sorts of liability if the worst happened.

IMO it's not worth taking the risk.

 

[RUI]

If you need a stainless steel back box that will not make you sound like a boy/girl racer have a look at this
http://cartel-parts.com/collections/frontpage/products/stainless-steel-fiat-500-exhaust-back-box

 

[jnoiles]

The standard exhausts are rubbish. To give you an idea of price, I had a cat back stainless steel system installed for £340. I now don't have to worry about exhaust ever again

 

[ahmett]

I have noticed some corrosion on mine after 1 year but i guess that is normal if the exhausts are rubbish. Anyway to prevent the corrosion? Or would i just have to accept the exhaust as rubbish and replace it if it gets very bad.

 

[eco sTAr]

There's little you can do to protect an exhaust that's made from poor quality steel. Best bet is to put aside a little money every month and get a decent stainless system once it fails.

 

[Brit]

Hi all,

Many thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate it. I think, I will take it to the garage and investigate the stainless steel exhaust as I intend to keep the car for a while. Also, I think it may be affecting the fuel consumption as well.

 

[rkt2003]

Also, I think it may be affecting the fuel consumption as well.

Yes you could be right there usually does affect mpg if its perforated

 

[jnoiles]

Oddly, I was walking through a carpark today when I noticed an 08 plate 500 with a piece of the backbox hanging off. I told the driver and he said "yup, we know".

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sorry, Maxi, but I think that's potentially dangerous advice. Without actually having inspected it, there's no way of knowing where or how serious the corrosion is, and if you leave an exhaust until it's blowing badly you risk having it physically drop off the car. If that happens when you're travelling at speed on a busy road, you could cause a serious accident. Since the OP has already been given an advisory by the MOT tester, they could leave themselves open to all sorts of liability if the worst happened.

IMO it's not worth taking the risk.

Have you actually stuck your head under the car and seen how many mounting points there are for the exhausts on modern cars. The days of exhausts just dropping off are long gone, especially on such a new car

I'd stand by what Maxi has said myself.

 

[306maxi]

Sorry, Maxi, but I think that's potentially dangerous advice. Without actually having inspected it, there's no way of knowing where or how serious the corrosion is, and if you leave an exhaust until it's blowing badly you risk having it physically drop off the car. If that happens when you're travelling at speed on a busy road, you could cause a serious accident. Since the OP has already been given an advisory by the MOT tester, they could leave themselves open to all sorts of liability if the worst happened.

IMO it's not worth taking the risk.

Sorry for not replying earlier. Felt rather sick yesterday.

Whilst I kind of agree with you, the 500's backbox has 2 mounts on it and they're mounted to the endplates so I think it's unlikely that it would just fall off but I think it's up to the user of the car to have a look at things and see whether there is a hint of any damage which would be likely to cause it to fall off and I certainly should have said "Take a look and make sure all is safe" rather than "just run it till it starts blowing badly".

 

[brigguscoop]

Mine is in for its MOT next week and I'd be surprised if I don't get an advisory for my exhaust too. Its looks badly corroded and is noticeably more smelly than before. Will get stainless to replace if required.

 

[RobinPJ]

Sorry for not replying earlier. Felt rather sick yesterday.

Whilst I kind of agree with you, the 500's backbox has 2 mounts on it and they're mounted to the endplates so I think it's unlikely that it would just fall off but I think it's up to the user of the car to have a look at things and see whether there is a hint of any damage which would be likely to cause it to fall off and I certainly should have said "Take a look and make sure all is safe" rather than "just run it till it starts blowing badly".

Carbon monoxide poisoning by chance?

 

[306maxi]

Carbon monoxide poisoning by chance?

I wish. I really do. Felt like crap from Monday-Friday the week before last. felt vaguely human last week and made it through the week alright, then Friday night my stomach went south and I whimpered my way through the night like a small child which must have annoyed the wife somewhat, woke up in the morning fine, watched a bit of rugby then started feeling **** again. Was fine on Sunday till I went to bed and felt much the same.

A trip to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland seems rather tempting if I'm honest :yuck:

 

[RobinPJ]

Sorry to hear that. If it helps to cheer you up, my wife reports that two of my four winter tyres and wheels have arrived from mytyres....

 

[306maxi]

Sorry to hear that. If it helps to cheer you up, my wife reports that two of my four winter tyres and wheels have arrived from mytyres....

Usually winter tyres cheer me up but not at the moment Grrrrrrrrr I just want to feel better!!!!

 

[grimwau]

A trip to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland seems rather tempting if I'm honest :yuck:

Do you need a lift, lol?