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MG MGF Technical - News from my MGF front and a question

Last day of holidays for me (a blissful 2 weeks off) and the last chance to spend some time in the garage with my Jade. Fitted her a cat bypass today!

The old shattered cat is now one with the dustbin. It's hard to believe a catalyst can fall to bits the way mine did. The mechanic says it can happen with age but i have a strong feeling that a dent in it's side may have something to do with it. (Took some pics with my phone, but need to buy a cable to transfer to comp...)

The car handles like a dream! And to top it all, i was informed that here in Cyprus, a catalyst is NOT a must to pass an MOT, meaning that if i choose to stay with the bypass (love the roar!!!) i can pass my MOT due next year... :o)

The cat bypass has eliminated a few problems i'd been facing of late, but perhaps the most annoying is still present. A vibrating noise, almost a metal-like vibration, creeps up everytime i accelerate!? I first attributed this to the broken cat rattle, but with it gone, what's left!? I've heard of the VVC rattle story, but mine's a straight 1.8i... Any ideas???

Cheers!

p.s to all those MGF'ers who met in London on Friday the 21st, my humble apologies for not being able to attend. As much as i tried to make it, forces greater than me were at hand... : (

Next time for sure!

JW Ioannou

We missed you! But good to hear that you had an excellent break :o)

Regarding the noise - might it be a loose heat shield? I know that the heat shield over the exhaust back box had split on my car and it was generating quite an annoying vibration. Dumped it in a skip, and everythings been great since ;o) Other heat shields to investigate include the alloy plates on the exhaust manifold.
Rob Bell

Rob,

Are you running without a heat shield?

Sam
Sam Murray

Rob you are a genious! Spot on!!!!

My heat shield is in fact looking very much like my old cat, but like Sam, i was concerned that removing it may have concequences... and therefore left it on : (

JW Ioannou

Sam, JW, yes, running without the exhaust silencer box heat shield without problem now for over 5 years now - boot does get a little warmer, but not excessively so... :o)

might one day get around to replacing it - I imagine you could probably get a second hand one from the usual sources reasonably cheaply? But to be honest, I am not in any particular hurry. ;o)
Rob Bell

Looks like i've still got some time to head back to the shop and have that nasty heat shield removed... : )

JW Ioannou

:-)))

Sam
Sam Murray

Sounds like everyone has beaten me to it., and you've found your problem.., but one other thing I have seen is the join between the silencer and cat/cat-bypass corrodes and can easily be parted.

You notice this (on mine) especially when the engine is cold and coming to idle from a couple of thousand revs.
Neil H

We checked the exhaust well and can't say i noticed any corrosion in the joint but will no doubt keep an eye on it. Thanks for the heads up Neil!

Driving to work 3 minutes up the road and back is by no means satisfying my acquired taste for the car's new found roar... (yes... in cyprus we never walk and buses are non existant)... think i will need to stretch her legs soon! : )))))
JW Ioannou

I bought a CAT bypass as a cheap fix to a crumbled CAT last April.., and I know what you mean.. I love that roar.

I was more impressed when I followed the wife (her driving my car).., as the 'F pulls away, then next cars cabins filled with lovely noises!
Neil H

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2005 and 02/02/2005

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