Problems with NC, advice on what to do

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
1
  1. My model of MX-5 is: 07 NC 1.8
  2. I’m based near: Gloucester
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: How to diagnose faults

Car started making a rattling noise while accelerating, took into mechanics who have said the cat converter in the exhaust is shot and needs replacing to the tune of £600. Is this reasonable?

Driving home from the mechanics, steering started groaning which a quick google says is a sign of the steering pump failing, I need to wait until morning to check the fluid but what are things to look out for with the pump on my 5 and what sort of price should I be budgeting for a new one?

Thanks in advance

2

Could be down to the bearings in the auxiliary belt tensioner… remove belt and with everything clear start engine. Don’t run for too long without the belt, only test purposes.

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Which cat, Manifold or centre one?
Plenty of good quality manifold one’s on eBay.
£600 for the centre one seems rather high.
OEM or aftermarket?
Contact Powerflow Exhausts and see what they can quote you.
Or indeed other exhaust specialists.

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4

Think we spoke this morning in Cheltenham ? Take it to Fairview motors in town who look after mine or Performance Link near Tewkesbury who are an Mx5 specialists.

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5

Centre one

Believe it’s an aftermarket, only took to a local mechanic to get it diagnosed

Will have a look at powerflow, thanks

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We did indeed, I will look at both of them options, thanks

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Had a look at the fluid this morning and it’s bubbly which to my uneducated google search seems to be air getting into the system which is normally a hose, so going to get a mechanic to look at it and hopefully it’s a cheap fix

8

doing some digging and found Cats2u who can do a cat for £192 here or £231 here which is 1/3 of the price quoted by my mechanics.

The only difference seems to be euro 4 for the cheaper one and euro 5/6 for the more expensive one, my car is an 07 so would be a euro 4 by standard.

Has anyone used Cats2u and would there be a problem fitting one of their kits over(i presume based on price) an oem kit?

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A few things to be vigilant on.
Firstly, make sure that the shape in particular the inlet/outlets match yours.
Also not all aftermarket ones are compatible because of the BHP that they are designed to accommodate.
So just make sure it will be suitable before hand.
Just an opinion. :slightly_smiling_face::+1:

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Better make sure the first cat hasn’t gone also. My second one got clogged up by debris from the first one in the manifold. Online research taught me that this happens more often on NC’s. I decided not to pay for another exhaust, running the risk it would happen again and after some research if it would pass the MOT in my country, I got the IL Motorsport 4-1 mani without cat and center pipe with sports cat. No more risk, still pass MOT, engine runs múch better than before when the OEM cats were still in one piece and the sound is a lót better (only slightly louder).

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Seems too much of a coincidence to me, cat and then pump at the same time.
Either that or you’ve been extremely unlucky.
I’d be looking at the steering issue being the source of the noise personally.