Exhaust problem

[Jim H]

Hello new member here.
can anyone help with a problem I have on my 02 plate s2 Elise. It has started to sound a little more noisy from the exhaust, on first inspection I am begining to think it is the pipe between the manifold and cat.Is this a difficult job to replace for a pretty competent mechanic? where would I source a part from and how much? This would be the first main job I have undertaken on my Elise, up till now all it has required is services in the 4 years I have owned it.
I also run a Mk1 VW Scirocco Storm and a VW 16v Corrado

[Nick J]

Hi Jim

Mine has got the same problem as yours. I'm taking it to my mechanics later today for an inspection, I have seen them in Stainless Steel on various websites for about £130. you may be able to get a mild steel for less, but that is more likely to be from a main dealer.

[Ganglandboss]

http://www.eliseparts.com/shop/index.php?main_page...

It's not a difficult job. I did mine on my S1. The hardest part was undoing the nuts on the connection the front pipe.

[carlymart]

yep it very easy as long as you can losen the nuts and lambda sensor. loads of WD40 and leve it to soke in
i am by far spanner minded and i fould it easy
i ended up with the elise parts flexi pipe and a new gasket but the elise parts one does have a miltec plate on it

[Jim H]

Thanks for your reply's, and info- does anyone know if you need any more parts e.g gaskets between joints/ info on the bolts/ nuts to remove ( size) metric or imperial just in case I shear any. It's just had it's big service (belts) and i am skint! I am gonna have to get my hands dirty on this job

[carlymart]

you will need a 22mm spanner for the lambda sensor and to be honest i cannot remember what sockets i used but a long extension is a must
what i did was to reverse the car up some ramps
remove both under trays
sprayed wd40 on all six nuts and the lambda sensor also loosened the bolts to the cat but as i had replaced it a week ago there was no problems removing them
left for a while or over night
next day removed the pipe and put a new gadget and installed the new pipe
all told about 2 hours work
if you look on the SELOC Wiki and loads of advise

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/SELOC_TechWiki

[ADM 135S]

Just replaced my flexi downpipe yesterday (Sat) on my S1, Eliseparts stainless version, (they supply at extra cost a gasket kit and extra nuts and bolts). It's easy enough, at manifold end, three nuts came off very easily last one was a complete nightmare. 15mm socket for original nuts, 17mm for new nuts. Not much space so have to use socket or impact wrench.

Good luck!

[Jim H]

Many-many thanks to those who replyed, I am going to get the car on ramps in the next few days and make sure of the exact problem and work out if it is within my ability to fix. The car has only done 20k summer miles since new so I am hoping things won't be too rusty! lol....does anyone know is this just an isolated problem or do I expect the cat and or the rest of the system to fail soon? the tail pipe is a Lotus stage 2 silencer.

[carlymart]

mine started going last year and was told by a two dealers it was the baffals inside the exhast going so i saved and bought a larini club sport fitted it and found the sound was better but still sound like it was blowing a dealer then told me it was the cat so that was replced again it was better but not perfect
i then took matters into my own hand a took every thing off and had a look myself
yes it was the down pipe i could pull the down pipe apart. but from below it looked in good condition from above just rotten
yes an costly lesson but i do have a nice sounding elise
get it on the ramps have a look
mine has only done 24500 miles
i would not expect the rest to go but you could always add a sport cat at the same time another £250 though

Edited by carlymart on Monday 21st July 19:15