Hello there - I haven't been on the forum for a while but I need a new exhaust rear section for my year 2000 Brava HSX and had a quick question which I wondered if anyone else has already scratched their heads about...

Mine is a pre-OBD car (so with the cat underneath, not in the engine bay). According to ePER, the correct rear section has a very thin silencer/expansion chamber towards the front. The OBD cars have a rear section with a much bigger silencer in the same place. In other respects the two sections look the same and I think either would fit either car.

I've had trouble getting the correct thin-silencer section (at least for anything reasonable - FIAT want £310 + VAT!). I'm thinking of substituting the big-silencer version - but am wondering if any back-presure difference might have a noticeable effect on running (including confusing the ECU). Or is any difference going to be trivial?

Not sure if anyone's already been through this or just fitted the OBD exhaust without any issues....

Thanks in advance....!

Nick H
Stilo 2.4 20v Prestigio
Brava 100 HSX
Tonbridge, Kent

I fitted the exhaust with the larger box toward the front and no problems with running, although I would say this exhaust is a little more noisy at tickover than before. As you say the price of the correct exhaust with the smaller box is ridiculous - even if you get non-original the price is more than double compared to the other exhausts.

Really helpful - thanks. I think I'll give it a go then.

If anything, slightly relieved it's not quieter...was expecting it to be more muffled and restrictive.

Nick