Poor running, help!

[Chris.200]

My exhaust is blowing excessively (not sure where from). Has been doing so for a while but suddenly got 1000 times worse.

More importantly the car is spluttering like mad below 3k revs, massively down on power and the occasional misfire.

Could this be due to the ECU&throttle body out of sync with the exhaust blowing so much?

Scared to drive it now in case I break down or cause further damage.

Any advice welcome, decent local garages are booked up for ages...

 

[RSRowe]

The exhaust will definitely cause poor running. It needs to be sorted

There’s not much more to say really

 

[turkie172]

Sounds like the flexi pipes have gone that will then cause the lambda sensors go go all over the place with fueling etc. Start the car up and lie on the ground beside it and see if its the front, middle or rear that's gone and since we don't know where you are etc. how can we help I think your panicking. Have a check and a think and get back to us.

 

[Chris.200]

Click here for video

Most of the noise coming from the rear, filmed at idle, but a lot worse under load.

 

[suj]

The thing is, that could actually be the manifold as Turkie said, you need to lie down near the front, it sounds like how the exhaust at the back sounded when my runner had come away from the flange on engine side, sounded like it was misfiring.

 

[Chris.200]

Thank you, will have a closer look at the front tomorrow and see if i can book it in anywhere.

Just hope it's not flexis or either of the cats, as that would be £££££

 

[Chris.200]

Update! It's the flexis!

Trying to get hold of a refurbished manifold/Flexi/precat for a local specialist to install. Hoping to sort it all out for £500 or so but not what I need at the moment!

Another casually of the classic Flexi split!!

 

[suj]

Thought it would, as it's the gases leaking, that is why it sounds like a misfire, same as what mine sounded like when it went.

Where are you based?

 

[Chris.200]

Hi Suj, I'm in East Kent.

Ren7oaks are closest, and are happy to fit a replacement (they've done a few before). So I just need to source the part now.

Few on eBay so might have to take the plunge and hope the seller is honest about the condition.

 

[suj]

Or if you can get hold of one that has failed flexis, get them repaired and get Ren7oaks to swap it over?
Exactly what I did on mine.

 

[Chris.200]

I'm hoping to get one without having to repair to save a bit of time, do you think this one looks reasonable?

eBay manifold for sale

 

[suj]

Personally I would get one that is gone and get it done, as that is a lot of money for it to fail a few weeks or months later, you'd then have to pay for all that labour and then have to get it fixed anyway!

Why I did what I explained above to be safe and not have to worry. That looks in good condition, but how many miles has it done? How much has it been damaged internally.

 

[Frank Perry]

Another option is to go for a ToyoSports manifold. They were on offer at £139.99 last week but I think they're back up to £174.99 (this is brand new, delivery included). Then grab the powerflex mounts for around £100 and then it's labour on-top from there.

If you're worried about not having a CAT, you could source a sports CAT and get this fitted later on down the line. According to the book, it's a 6 hour job to replace a manifold on the 197/200, so make sure you factor in the cost of labour.

Benefits from Toyo:
- it's brand new
- the flexi is underneath the car so if it goes pop, it's an easy repair
- it's cheaper than the second hand OEM manifold
- possible performance gains (no proof) with a remap at a later stage?

Negatives from Toyo:
- Most people require powerflex engine mount upgrade
- No CAT
- May require a remap after fitting


Benefits from OEM:
- straight swap
- no faffing with engine mount upgrades

Negatives from OEM:
- Extremely expensive (if buying brand new)
- If buying second hand; you don't know how long these flexi's will hold up
- If they blow again, you have to go through this all over again

I hope this somewhat helps!

 

[turkie172]

Fix the engine mounts as this is the main reason for the felxi's to go in the first place and easy done while replacing the manifold the felxi repair needs a little thought and skill to make sure it does not end up shorter and the wrong angles after.

 

[Chris.200]

Thanks for all the advice, I may have found a company in Leeds (Tony Banks Exhaust) that can send me a refurbished OEM one and I send back my split one in an exchange scheme. Sounds like a good idea to me, just waiting on their courier quote.

I am also tempted with Toyosport and new engine mounts. I don't care about vibrations as long as it doesn't knock against the subframe.

As I understand it should just bolt on, but I lose the pre-cat and may require a remap at some point.

Thanks again for the pointers

 

[Chris.200]

Refurbished manifold arriving next week from Tony Banks Exhaust. I've got some powerflex mounts on order as well to try and stop it happening again!

Should be back on the road soon

 

[suj]

It might be worth changing the O2 sensor while it is coming out (the one on the manifold at least, as it's harder to get to), sorry I know more expenses....lol

 

[matt9566]

Refurbished manifold arriving next week from Tony Banks Exhaust. I've got some powerflex mounts on order as well to try and stop it happening again!

Should be back on the road soon

I picked one up from Tony Banks for my old R27, I needed a OEM one as I was running an Akrapovic and didn't want to remove all cats with the Toyosports. All was good and I drove it for maybe a year before I sold the car and had no issues with it.

I've seen a few people having issues with the Toyosports one, so not exactly a fit & forget item either.

Hopefully you get all sorted

 

[Chris.200]

Manifold has arrived from Tony Banks! Looks to be a decent flexi replacement and weld, should be good for a while. Just waiting for powerflex mounts to turn up before taking for fitting.

 

[Chris.200]

All fitted today. Although the car still feels and sounds like it's running on 3 cylinders!

Going to change spark plugs tomorrow, if that doesn't work it will have to go for a diagnostic test the misery continues!