Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Terbs on 25 February 2015, 16:10:36

Title: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 25 February 2015, 16:10:36
Just driving to Poole, kicked down to overtake when there was a bloody great bang, the car jumped like we had hit something, then started to roar badly
Pipes still feel tight and I can't feel any blows yet. What has happened. Can I drive it  120 miles to home
 :)
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: 05omegav6 on 25 February 2015, 16:15:37
Any hair from the back?
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: pauls on 25 February 2015, 17:26:10
Check your back box hasnt split. Mine did that and it was in split right down the seam.
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: The Sheriff on 25 February 2015, 17:31:19
Any hair from the back?

Straight in for the kill  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: moggy on 25 February 2015, 18:55:13
Any hair from the back?

Straight in for the kill  ;D ;D
You know what he meant. ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: TheBoy on 25 February 2015, 19:10:37
Could be centre box has split.

Either way, order the 3 bits, job jobbed.  Don't use the "high quality" shite like Timex Bosal that fast fit will offer.
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 25 February 2015, 19:46:22
Got back to tin tent....managed to get underneath, all joints ok, but back box throaty. Got my hand round the back, and... spot on pauls :y Its split from front to back, and open about 2" wide. Beyond bandage repair. I can feel all the horsehair still inside.
Went to National Tyres, they wanted £180 for the back box. I politely declined the offer. I have a new back box in the garage at home.
Question is chaps, is it safe to drive 120 miles home. Will it screw anything up. Will it catch fire. I know I could probably get RAC to pick it up, but I want it home, not to an exhaust place. Also, that option is a bit humiliating in front of the neighbours ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: zirk on 25 February 2015, 19:58:38
If it was me I would (and have in the past) drive it home, just keep the speed down and light on the throttle. If you feel uncomfortable about doing the trek, start off for a few miles, pull up, check on system, heat, noise etc. Your probably soon get bored with that and just go for it.

Obviously, if things start getting worse, then time for plan B.
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 25 February 2015, 20:07:46
Thanks zirk :y
Given me a bit of confidence. Thing is....would it be best to stick to A31, M27, M3, then to M4, A404M...or go cross country, probably a lot longer. slower and more stopping and starting. It does sound quieter once in top and cruising at 50, just worried about slow speed on motorway. As you say...Plan B is there
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: zirk on 25 February 2015, 20:16:32
Im a great believer of start off as you mean to carry on, so Motorway for me, as you say keep the speed down and in top where poss (will get noisier on Hills etc), give it 10 - 20 miles then pull off for an inspection and see how it goes (I wouldn't use Services).

Think your ears will be your friend here, the damage is done on the exhaust, probably hold up, worst case it wont, my money is your be back home in no time.  ;)
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 February 2015, 20:51:43
I drove home once with one cat completely disconnected from the centre section..... I thought the windows were going to shatter with the roar  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: robson on 25 February 2015, 20:54:09
I would pull out the horse hair It might have blocked the rear box therefore split, pull it all out and clear a possible blockage. Wear some gloves very itchy.
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 25 February 2015, 21:03:35
Following on from robson's post....how is the backbox constructed. The split is very wide as I said earlier, and I can feel all the hair laying longways. It all seems to be still in there. Would I be right in thinking that a pipe goes through the centre of the box. Why the horse hair ?? Is it just a filling to deaden the noise. If I pull it all out, surely that will make it roar more :)
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 February 2015, 00:11:23
What side has it split?

If it's the side facing the petrol tank I'd be wary. JamesV6CDX had one fail that melted through the side of the tank, IIRC. :o
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 26 February 2015, 10:08:30
The back box is on the passenger side and its split on the inner side. As its an Estate, I assume its next to the spare tyre well. Where is the petrol tank. My filler cap is on the drivers side.
I apologise for my lack of experience, but I normally have 'men' to do these things :)
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 26 February 2015, 10:42:32
Um, dare I announce this - but a couple of months ago I clouted a speed bump on the backbox (actually knows as a 'widowmaker' round here as it's appreciably steeper than the others on that road, and catches loads out) and it actually separated the backbox from the pipe that goes into the front of it, along the seam/weld. Got a guy/mate who can do it, but usual thing brakes, women, fuel, dickey battery, jobs, work get in the way it's in that out-of sigh out of mind, category, I'm sorry to say. If mine's been like that with only a little extra 'boom' to scare the Corsa drivers/make them think twice, I think you'll be fine on the way home.

You should see the number of cars with smashed off door mirrors, filthy lights you can't see when they're lit and clearly illegal/bodged cars round here that the Police do clearly nothing about, a split exhaust shoudn't make you lose sleep. Only issue to be aware of - as mentioned - check it's not kicking heat up at your fuel tank, as that's a potential danger/expensive/scary thing  :y
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 26 February 2015, 10:53:14
I'd stick to the main routes so if you do end up getting recovered it'll be quicker and easier for the breakdown crew to find you.  ;)

Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 26 February 2015, 11:01:14
Yes, I did wonder that, Steve.
Did your post get deleted, where you said you would pick up a backbox from ECP, (£57) and pop along here and fit it ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 26 February 2015, 11:55:13
I'd happily do that for you Tony, except I'm lost in The Rhondda Valleys for a while.  ::)  ;D

Turn the stereo up and what could possibly go wrong!  :D  :y
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: ronnyd on 26 February 2015, 12:08:43
Can you get any of those huge hose clips that are used for ducting etc. and put around the box purely to get you home.
Just a thought. :-\
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 February 2015, 12:37:43
The back box is on the passenger side and its split on the inner side. As its an Estate, I assume its next to the spare tyre well. Where is the petrol tank. My filler cap is on the drivers side.
I apologise for my lack of experience, but I normally have 'men' to do these things :)

It pretty much wraps around the wheel well, if memory serves.

There should be a heatshield between the silencer and tank. Not sure if maybe James' was missing, but I think that was an estate.
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 26 February 2015, 13:10:19
Just been underneath, Kevin, and there seems to be two pieces of metal between the, what I now know is the tank/wheel well. The box is well split. Hopefully with the wet on the road and, hopefully the downdraught, it may keep it cool. :y
Starting the journey shortly :y
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 26 February 2015, 18:07:22
Got back safely....what a noise....deafening. Alright once I got to 50mph and coasted....it was getting to 50mph that was the problem.
Thanks for all info...gave me confidence.....except the bit about melting petrol tanks. ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: pauls on 26 February 2015, 18:16:55
Good to see you got home safely :y
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 February 2015, 18:33:26
The back box is on the passenger side and its split on the inner side. As its an Estate, I assume its next to the spare tyre well. Where is the petrol tank. My filler cap is on the drivers side.
I apologise for my lack of experience, but I normally have 'men' to do these things :)
Tank has a heat shield bolted to it then cavity has a second shield which is positioned like an umbrella shielding both the boot floor and the tank side, bolted to the boot floor :y

Saloon arrangement might be different as the tank is a different shape... saloon back box being sandwiched between the spare wheel well and tank :-\
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 26 February 2015, 20:31:39
I bet the neighbours thought they had Pikeys moving in next door!  :D  ;D
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: TheBoy on 26 February 2015, 20:51:39
Don't buy euroshiteparts crap exhausts. I tried that when I had the Rover. They were shite.

ECP or Eternal. Will take about a week to arrive. All 3 parts (2 centres, 1 rear box) will be about £90 delivered.

If one part has gone, the other 2 parts aren't far behind, so replace all 3 together.
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 26 February 2015, 23:03:12
Don't buy euroshiteparts crap exhausts. I tried that when I had the Rover. They were shite.

ECP or Eternal. Will take about a week to arrive. All 3 parts (2 centres, 1 rear box) will be about £90 delivered.

If one part has gone, the other 2 parts aren't far behind, so replace all 3 together.

My thoughts exactly Jamie :y
Title: Re: Exhaust
Post by: Terbs on 26 February 2015, 23:05:24
I bet the neighbours thought they had Pikeys moving in next door!  :D  ;D

Had to laugh...saw a few sets of curtains come apart, so I sat outside and gave a few revs. I'll probably get some comments when I see someone ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D