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Technical Exhaust Replacement

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Technical Exhaust Replacement

So guys, if you ever see a comment from me on the Fiat Forum that seems just a touch harsh on local mechanics you’ve got the visual evidence to see how it is backed up!


I’m spending this next week in Runcorn visiting some friends. In which time the Panda gets time to clear it’s very noisy ‘throat’ whilst I research and order the new parts and fit them the week I come back
 
SB1500 said:
So guys, if you ever see a comment from me on the Fiat Forum that seems just a touch harsh on local mechanics you’ve got the visual evidence to see how it is backed up!
Click to expand...

I asked my local independent exhaust centre for a price on cat-back replacement.

£152 fitted with 3 year warranty. Just so you have a ballpark and in case you treasure your knuckles.
 
bluejohn125 said:
When in Cheshire check out Chester Exhaust Supplies (CES).. quite a few trade outlets around. I tend to go for Klarius as that's what Nationwide used to fit when I used them (usually some discount going there if you check).
Click to expand...



I’m without my Panda so depending on friends for a few days so not a high chance I can get there sadly :( thanks for the suggestion though
 
happy1966 said:
Just had to replace my back box as it fell off on the way home.
Rang up a local exhaust place just because it was 2 mins walk from my house and as working nights did not have time to fix myself.
Not sure i am allowed to post the name buy begins with a big K.
MY quote for a new back box fitted was £145.
Yes thats right £145.What a bunch of rip off b*******.
Click to expand...

Ive just had two quotes of well over £200 for a 1.2. So £145 is a bargain Oh Yes!
Standard excuse - they'll have to get it on the ramp and then order the parts when they know what it needs.

Yet again its DIY time.
 
Last edited:
What they don't tell you is welding with the battery disconnected, but alternator still plugged in, is a quick way to needing a new alternator. Welding spikes can easily take out the Vreg components.
 
So I know I'm going to get a new catalytic converter (I think that includes the manifold on the Panda?). And the centre pipe, and flex pipe.

Struggling to find parts that will fit.. ePER is giving quite a few P/N's and there's quite a lot of little gaskets, nuts and bolts and clamps ...

What will I need as well as the bold items above?

- Shop4Parts has next to nothing for my Panda in exhausts.
- EuroCarParts has Cats and centre pipes, but they're costly.
- eBay has LOTS but it's hard to know if they'll fit.
- BuyCarParts has nothing in stock?! No estimated date of restock.

Any help on the shopping list? ..my bank account is braced for the abuse it's about to get..
 
SB1500 said:
So I know I'm going to get a new catalytic converter (I think that includes the manifold on the Panda?). And the centre pipe, and flex pipe.

Struggling to find parts that will fit.. ePER is giving quite a few P/N's and there's quite a lot of little gaskets, nuts and bolts and clamps ...

What will I need as well as the bold items above?

- Shop4Parts has next to nothing for my Panda in exhausts.
- EuroCarParts has Cats and centre pipes, but they're costly.
- eBay has LOTS but it's hard to know if they'll fit.
- BuyCarParts has nothing in stock?! No estimated date of restock.

Any help on the shopping list? ..my bank account is braced for the abuse it's about to get..
Click to expand...
Honesty get a second hand one for a car of this age. It will come with the lambda sensors which can be a pig to get out

Either way the part number is stamped into the front of it. Behind the heat shield.
 
koalar said:
Honesty get a second hand one for a car of this age. It will come with the lambda sensors which can be a pig to get out



Either way the part number is stamped into the front of it. Behind the heat shield.
Click to expand...



I was told since the car is quite clean it’s worth putting a new one on. Plus I don’t pay for labour as we put the parts on ourselves :D
 
SB1500 said:
I was told since the car is quite clean it’s worth putting a new one on. Plus I don’t pay for labour as we put the parts on ourselves :D
Click to expand...

That's fine it up to you ;)


While your there it might be worth checking the heat shield as you take it off.

The tend to split and rattle. Mine has but doesn't bother me.
 
Well ...

My "knackered" exhaust turned out to be a totally rotted away pipe clamp on the connection between catalyst outlet and pipe to flexi joint. The pipe itself has no corrosion - none! So its probably stainless at least up to the flexi and probably right back the the rear axle.

Stainless causes carbon steel to corrode so at least explains why the pipe clamp has evaporated and why the catalyst to engine support bracket was heading the same way. Pipe clamp installed for £2 and another to fit with a new bracket to support the catalyst outlet pipe. The support bracket wont be optional as leaving the catalyst flapping could easily lead to cracking the catalyst case.

The cat back exhaust pipe itself is 45mm diameter - bigger than the pipe on my 1200cc bike which makes 2x as much power so anyone looking for a performance boost is almost certainly wasting money of fatter diameter exhaust pipes.
 
SB1500 said:
So guys, if you ever see a comment from me on the Fiat Forum that seems just a touch harsh on local mechanics you’ve got the visual evidence to see how it is backed up!


I’m spending this next week in Runcorn visiting some friends. In which time the Panda gets time to clear it’s very noisy ‘throat’ whilst I research and order the new parts and fit them the week I come back
Click to expand...
That or they got it done by some bloke down the pub type because they thought the garage was ripping them off and they found someone who could do it £30 cheeper ?
 
chris3234 said:
That or they got it done by some bloke down the pub type because they thought the garage was ripping them off and they found someone who could do it £30 cheeper [emoji23]
Click to expand...



If I know the local mechanic scene in my local area I’d suspect they charged the going rate and did the bodge job to save themselves time and money... [emoji849]
 
Helpful Tips for future Panda owners sourcing parts:

The Centre Pipe is ONE piece, which includes the flex joint - hence why you won’t find an individual flex joint guaranteed to fit. I got mine for £30 from a local motor factors.

The catalytic converter includes the manifold as one piece. Despite Fiats diagram showing them as different parts. I got it for £130 from EuroCarParts.. steal of the century if it fits..
 
Hi all,

Please could someone tell me - is the cat to engine support clamp that DaveMcT mentioned above (and that SB1500 photo'd) an easy DIY fit?

That is, can it be fitted without separating the cat from centre pipe simply by prising the clamp apart somehow and pushing it over the pipe? Or is the clamp too 'tough' to prise apart?

Thanks for your help.
 
On mine it is. Just a metal band and a little bracket and a couple of bolts. Last time I was at the breakers I was going to get one. It's the same on both the Punto and grande Punto but one had already been taken off the other was smashed to pieces making it impossible to get a socket on it with the few tools I had on it.
 
On mine the clamp and bracket had rusted away - almost as if it had dissolved in acid. But it is a late 2007 car, with what looks like an OEM exhaust so its seen a lot of salt and weather.

I made a simple bracket to reach the gearbox bolt and used an off the shelf u-bolt exhaust clamp.
 
Thanks for the tips. The clamp on my son's Panda is almost completely rusted through (though the little bracket appears to be fine) so it'll need some attention soon.
 
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