Robbo5

Thanks for that John. I’ve emailed a mobile welder and just waiting for him to get back to me but your solution is a good one and I might just do that.

Here you go

Took this earlier

I also found that yesterday on the gov webpage John. Just been back to the garage to ask them to do it and now they have refused, his gaffer said no after I had gone, no other reason given.

I’m presuming it will be like the repair done for the RX linked in an earlier post, just welded.

I’ve read your link and explained this to the tester but he was adamant hybrids are tested for emissions. So won’t be taking the car to him to test. So far this is the only place I’ve found that will do the job and they are round the corner, can’t drive the car far as it sounds like a tank. Not sure how they will join the pipes up, would they not sleeve over the ends and then weld or just weld edge to edge?

That’s what I thought but I’m no expert. I’m just thinking to have 2 pipes welded in place for about £100 and worry about the mot come November. I’m sure I could find 1 garage to pass it that others have used in the same situation. Worst case scenario is I have to buy 2 cats from eBay totalling £500 and pay for them to be fitted come mot time.

Phoned one garage this morning to see if they could weld two pipes on and got a point blank no. ‘It’s illegal’ they said. Went to another garage who have said they could do it for about £100 but it would fail an mot for emissions. I thought emissions where not checked on a petrol hybrid but the tester insisted that they where. Are they? Does anyone know for certain? He said they leave the car running for 45 minutes to allow the engine to warm up and then test them, I’m presuming they leave it in neutral.

When they jacked up my other car at the side of the house, the MX5, I honestly thought that it would collapse because the cills are probably rotted through. It would have been funny 😄

Police arrived about 20 minutes after the phone call to them which was about 18 minutes too late. Rule 303 - if I knew I could get away with it then I would. This is how these people make a living, taking drugs out of the equation they would still do it, it is easy for them and getting caught is just a way of life.

I think they used something like this https://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-djr186z-18v-li-ion-lxt-cordless-reciprocating-saw-bare/8334r The neighbour that phoned the police heard the cutting because I think their bedroom window was open, I heard nothing as my window was shut.

The police have seen the all footage that I have, cctv from the front, side and back of house. None of it any use as their faces are covered and the police have said that the car number plate didn’t match the vehicle so probably stolen vehicle using false plates. The cctv from the back door of the house shows one of them speaking towards his chest so it looks like he had a radio so they’re all probably in communication with each other and even possibly a lookout around the corner of the road. Cctv just allows you to watch your belongings being stolen.

Link to YouTube for video from the CCTV if anyone is interested. https://youtu.be/Cd7v-dWNa1w (hope the link works)

It all helps Johnatg. This is why I posted it here for advice and answers. Does anyone know if there is an oxygen sensor connected to these cats? If there isn’t then it looks like straight pipes is the way forward and avoid an insurance claim. Thanks to everyone who has posted so far.

Johnatg That’s what I’m now thinking, straight pipes. Yes it is a bit noisy, but of a change from near silence. I’m aware the mx5 doesn’t need one just annoyed they got it before I managed to sell it myself, had this car 20 years and don’t want to get rid of it, want to work on it one day and get it back on the road.

Thanks again Boosh. Might go down this route and have 2 pipe sections made and fitted. Seeing as it already has 2 cats near the manifold it should be ok come mot time same as mentioned in the linked thread of the RX450h.

Thanks for that Boosh. So that’s just over £1500 for the parts plus fitting. Can’t afford that so looks like a call to the insurance company and then probably sell it.

Problem is I have no idea what damage the might have done and what else might need to be done. Could I forget the cats or will this cause problems i.e. warning light and mot time. I have protected ncb but am aware I will still have to declare the claim, wife claimed on her insurance a few years ago after hitting a deer and insurance didn’t go up. Still trying to decide what’s best way to go about it. Also no job at the moment so not a lot of spare money. Suggestions welcomed.

Thanks Vlady. Probably go down the insurance route and pay the £500 excess to get it all replaced properly. Looking at the cctv again one of them stood by the back door and one by the front door whilst the 3rd one jacked it up and took them both in about a minute and a half. I’m sure it’s going to happen again and now I’m thinking should I just sell it rather than have the future hassle of it again. Government will not do anything but I can see a business offering a temporary lend of a cat to get a car through an mot, bolt on bolt off, whilst people drive around with a straight though pipe.

Woken up this morning just after 5:30 am by a neighbour saying someone had just been down the side of the house and walked off with something. Checked the CCTV and watched as they jacked the car up and removed both catalytic converters (I take it there is two). They also jacked up an old MX5 I have and took that one as well. I’m not the only one, the police had a few calls from people on the estate to let them know. Just wondering what to do next, claim off insurance and take it to Lexus for genuine parts (£500 insurance excess), cheap replacements from eBay (£250 each) or just a straight pipe for now. No doubt they will be back to nick the replacements in a few months. I can see a never ending circle. I’m in the Bolton area and the police said the scum are currently doing the rounds. Should I expect a warning light when I start the car up? Robbo.

I’ve had a similar problem with audio off and then a cd being ejected. It’s not been whilst cornering though. It’s happened a couple of times and the only thing in common on both occasions is that it was a hot day and the air con was on full. I’ve no idea why it happens.