Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: markrl on 04 June 2009, 20:07:46

Title: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: markrl on 04 June 2009, 20:07:46
Hi,
My 1998 3 litre Omega recently developed a annoying rattle at idle which I've traced to the heat shield/outer casing of the offside catalytic converter which is rather badly corroded and therefore coming loose. I've temporarily solved the problem with a jubilee clip which has cured the rattle for now but I suppose the only permanent fix is a new pair of cats as both of the outer heat shields are pretty corroded and crumbly even though there is no actual exhaust leak. The inner pipe actually appears fine and the cats themselves are working OK. Anybody done this replacement job recently and have any idea of the likely cost. Thanks in advance for anyone with any experience of this task or advice.   
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: Bumbazor on 04 June 2009, 20:55:59
If its only the heat shields which are corroding and rattling just cut them off. No need to change the cats if they are not faulty.
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: Matchless on 04 June 2009, 20:57:57
Do you mean the cats or the downpipes? Jubilee clips work fine on the downpipe heatshields, esp if you use stainless ones.
Never seen corrosion on the cat body, they seem fairly solid. If it rattles from inside then its a sign that the ceramic is breaking up.
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: feeutfo on 04 June 2009, 21:09:12
due to cost new i would be looking around breakers, but you will most likely end up with heat shields in similar sorry state in that case. Wouldnt worry. As said bin the heat shields imho, rather than replace the whole thing. Bugger that.
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: feeutfo on 04 June 2009, 21:14:31
should add that the shields are there for a reason, so would try to keep then on as long as poss. Maybe join some j. clips together to clamp the main body if the narrow part of the shield is too far gone. Hth
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: Vmax on 05 June 2009, 11:06:21
Is there anything that you can use to replace the heat shields and perhaps wrap around in their place?  ::)
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: miniator on 05 June 2009, 11:20:10
the honda boys love heat wrap for their manifolds to reduce engine bay temperatures....might be an option
Title: Re: Rattle solved but ......
Post by: markrl on 06 June 2009, 21:12:25
Many thanks for the replys the heat shield thats completely breaked is around the downpipe and Lambada sensor. Putting a jubilee clip around it was my intention however it just crumbles away revealing the wadding behind even though there is no leak and the pipe underneath is solid. As its all one complete unit with the cat I'm not quite sure how to sort out without replacing the lot.