MOT Failure :( New Exhaust needed :D

**Diesel64** · Thursday 25th June 2009, 23:32

The Maroon Marauder failed it's MOT today, slightly gutted (put a fair bit of time in sorting ABS and Engine management light issues and replacing front quarter panel (rotted) and passeger front door (arguement with a bollard)) but not that surprised...she's getting a bit long in the tooth afterall.

Failed on:
Driver side repeater not working (have spare - 1 min job)
Handbrake need adjusting (oops! meant do that before putting it in)
CV gaitor split (have spare already)

All bits I can do myself this weekend. No Problem.

But here's the kicker(s)...Also Failed on:

Exhaust blowing from major hole in centre
Mix rich, unable to maintain steady fast idle (reported by MOT fella there's a slight misfire as well)

I think the rich mix is from a botched PCV replacement where I must have not seated the inlet manifold properly or goosed the gasket. Will get a new gasket and try re-seating it this week. Anyone think this could cause the unsteady fast idle? Or could this be a dodgy throttle link? (it's got a bit of slop, but has always been like that)...

Now for the fun bit... I've decided to finally give back the love and start uprating, well Everything! First step is the exhaust obviously. Best deal I've found so far is £365 delivered for a Scorpion system (EBay). I knows some of you have/had fitted the same. Any advice? I have a single exit zaust on at the mo - how difficult is it to fit a twin pipe system? Is there much difference between the two? Any places you know of selling these systems other than E-Bay? Any comments or feedback would be welcome.

Cheers.

**850 2.5 10v** · Friday 26th June 2009, 12:50

If the car is 'long in the tooth' as you say -why bother flushing away £1,000's of pounds on it.

If you want a sorted car why not go the better route, sell yours, then haggle with Craigmaz on his (mint looking) 855 T5 which seems to very well uprated and sorted.

I feel you'd be better just burning your money (much less hassle) than fixing up your car.

Cheers

**Diesel64** · Friday 26th June 2009, 15:19

Originally Posted by 850 2.5 10v

If the car is 'long in the tooth' as you say -why bother flushing away £1,000's of pounds on it.

If you want a sorted car why not go the better route, sell yours, then haggle with Craigmaz on his (mint looking) 855 T5 which seems to very well uprated and sorted.

I feel you'd be better just burning your money (much less hassle) than fixing up your car.

Cheers

You have a fair point and I know what your saying has merit, but there is still plenty of life left in the car and I can't bear to part with it!

When I said 'long in the tooth', I only mean in small, cosmetic senses. It's still solid, pulls well and drives straight.

I'm never going to spend £1000's on it and nice as it would be, am not talking a full make over like Russ (RTMechanics) is doing. I just want to get it up to a standard that I can live with.

With that said, I have slept on the exhaust issue and probably won't splash out on a full Stainless system, but instead look to find a decent T5R cat-back.

Anyone know of one going?

Cheers for you comments though, they're always welcome.

**irf** · Friday 26th June 2009, 15:26

Originally Posted by Diesel64

I'm never going to spend £1000's on it and nice as it would be, am not talking a full make over like Justin (RT mechanics) is doing.

you mean Russ at RTMechanics lol

Originally Posted by Diesel64

With that said, I have slept on the exhaust issue and probably won't splash out on a full Stainless system, but instead look to find a decent T5R cat-back.

Anyone know of one going?

tony will have one, banned on here and T5D5 but known as strbryan on the voc forum.

**Diesel64** · Friday 26th June 2009, 15:31

Originally Posted by irf

you mean Russ at RTMechanics lol

Doh, Yes, I ment Russ - See what happens when I don't double check my facts!

Cheers for pointing the clanger and double thanks for the head up re the exhausts. will look into it.

**Jamest5r** · Friday 26th June 2009, 17:35

you have pm

**Jamest5r** · Friday 26th June 2009, 20:23

Glad you got sorted, sure it will sound nice.

**Diesel64** · Friday 26th June 2009, 23:01

New zaust sorted.woo!

Road trip in the Golf GTi with my lass is now planned for sunday. I'm almost as excited about the drive down to get it as fitting it! Thank you again Jamest5r!

**Diesel64** · Saturday 27th June 2009, 01:48

Worth saying, Russ when I DO get that elusive lottery win, I will be sending my T5 your way, been watching your posts re: your work and dammit I'm jealous! Apologies again for the goof before. And also apologies to Justin, I'm equally in envy of yours hence the mix up...

oohh! New beefy zaust! Roll on sunday!!

Still wondering if anyone has any opinion re:the Fast idle issue though?

Cheers.

**RT MECHANICS** · Saturday 27th June 2009, 07:10

Originally Posted by Diesel64

Worth saying, Russ when I DO get that elusive lottery win, I will be sending my T5 your way, been watching your posts re: your work and dammit I'm jealous! Apologies again for the goof before. And also apologies to Justin, I'm equally in envy of yours hence the mix up...

oohh! New beefy zaust! Roll on sunday!!

Still wondering if anyone has any opinion re:the Fast idle issue though?

Cheers.

Hi Thanks for the kind words and thinking of me if your ever my way do let me know i have really enjoyed my project its been a massive amount of work i am starting '' save the T5/T5R/850R ''

Russ

**Diesel64** · Saturday 27th June 2009, 23:47

Thought I'd just put an update on. Been under the car today to see for myself the faults listed on the MOT.

Side repeater fixed.

Handbrake adjusted.

The 'Major' leak in the exhaust looks like nothing more than the Cat to Exhaust clamp being loose. Bit annoyed with the garage for not spotting that, but not the end of the world.

The CV split is a 2mm cut in the rubber. Going to speak to the Garage on monday to see if I can patch it to get it through the MOT so I have some extra time to source the new drop links/brakes etc and do the lot in one go. have to wait and see on that one.

All that's left is the rich mix/holding fast idle issue. When I had a go myself I couldn't get it to hold 2500RPM. Would be fine upto 2400RPM and then just run away from me, no matter how gradual I was on the throttle pedal. I could, however, get it to hold steady by moving the throttle in the engine bay. I'm pretty sure the throttle link is dodgy. On both ends, the ball joints feel loose and can move left/right really easily.

Anyone know if this should be tight ball joint (like a drop link) or loose?

Cheers.

**850 2.5 10v** · Monday 29th June 2009, 10:40

Originally Posted by Diesel64

Worth saying, Russ when I DO get that elusive lottery win, I will be sending my T5 your way, been watching your posts re: your work and dammit I'm jealous! Apologies again for the goof before. And also apologies to Justin, I'm equally in envy of yours hence the mix up...

oohh! New beefy zaust! Roll on sunday!!

Still wondering if anyone has any opinion re:the Fast idle issue though?

Cheers.

When you win the lottery your Volvo (and probably Volvo generally) will be long forgotten by you as the range of vehicles you will have access to will make an old Volvo seem too insignificant to worry about!

People always think they'll "spend £20k and make the ultimate old Volvo" - you won't as you'll be too busy doing all sorts of more exciting stuff.

**Diesel64** · Monday 29th June 2009, 11:58

Originally Posted by 850 2.5 10v

When you win the lottery your Volvo (and probably Volvo generally) will be long forgotten by you as the range of vehicles you will have access to will make an old Volvo seem too insignificant to worry about!

People always think they'll "spend £20k and make the ultimate old Volvo" - you won't as you'll be too busy doing all sorts of more exciting stuff.

Could well be right mate, but in my head I have my dream garage...
My 854 T5, nicely sorted just for posperity.
A V70R Estate with all the trimmings.
A Classic mini with a VTEC lump
And the Aston for going down the shops in.

**Diesel64** · Wednesday 1st July 2009, 14:42

Just a quick update,

Exhaust is fitted! had some trouble getting the old one out cos I couldn't get the tailpipe off and struggled to get the back up high enough, but got it done finally.

Just CV boot and inlet manifold gasket to do...

**jonno12** · Wednesday 1st July 2009, 17:23

never struggle getting an old exhaust off just use an air saw or hacksaw on it if its no longer needed

**Diesel64** · Wednesday 1st July 2009, 20:14

Originally Posted by jonno12

never struggle getting an old exhaust off just use an air saw or hacksaw on it if its no longer needed

yeah, would have made life a whole lot simpler! Thought I might have been able to salvage it and sell it on, but given the ruddy great big hole in the top of the 'suitcase' it's now destined for the scrappy.

Plus, an air saw isn't part of my arsenal, yet.

**Diesel64** · Tuesday 7th July 2009, 20:43

Yep, have the green bit of paper to prove it! Happy, happy days!

**AlanG** · Thursday 9th July 2009, 18:26

Still wondering if anyone has any opinion re:the Fast idle issue though?

Would suggest vacuum leak mate.........Mine was exactly the same,idling at 1200rpm and really p"""""g me off. Turrned out to be that little b*****d at the left hand side of the inlet fanimold.HTH