Catalytic Convertor Woes

[Shinysun]

I got a secondhand cat delivered this week, but the boyfriend (who is very capable when it comes to cars) and his mate (who works in a VW garage) cannot change the cat over.

Reason? After jacking onto ramps and removing the air cleaner, the next step is to remove the two nuts on the manifold. Will.not.budge. Access to said nuts is appalling, but even when finally got a spanner on it, the whole engine is rocking and the nut won't loosen.

Has anybody successfully changed the cat on a Mk6 fiesta zetec at home?!?! Got any advice?

Was really hoping to save some money on this but seems like it's off to the garage again!

[mintalkin]

if you can a bit of heat works wonders on the bolts

[Russ]

Also try a good squirt of release oil and let it soak in for a while before trying to loosen the nuts.

[Rikos]

Garages i've always been to have heated bolts up that they couldnt undo

[Shinysun]

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

We were already using oil before we knew there was a problem, alas that didn't work. Due to access being so awkward, we weren't really able to figure how to get a heat source on it.

Will be phoning around for quotes in a bit, see if we can get it done at a reasononable price. It's a learning experience this!

[Shinysun]

Bizarrely the Vospers in Plymouth (where I live) quoted me £180 labour, the Ford Dealer in Kingsbridge (where I work) quoted me £40 labour. Guess who I've booked in with :D

No idea how they think they'll get it done that quickly though!

[Rikos]

Bizarrely the Vospers in Plymouth (where I live) quoted me £180 labour, the Ford Dealer in Kingsbridge (where I work) quoted me £40 labour. Guess who I've booked in with :D

No idea how they think they'll get it done that quickly though!

Must know some tricks of the trade

[Shinysun]

Must know some tricks of the trade

Apparently not.

Was taken in on Wednesday and told them there was no rush. End of Wednesday they mentioned that the bolts had seized and they'd gotten the old cat out but not had time to put the secondhand one in.

Next day, the mechanic sheduled to do the work on my car phoned in sick. Today, they were putting the new cat in and punctured an aircon hose. Oopsy! May now be getting a courtesy car for the weekend, poor fellows- soooo out of pocket and they'll probably never let me book my car for work there again!

[aztecbandit1]

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

We were already using oil before we knew there was a problem, alas that didn't work. Due to access being so awkward, we weren't really able to figure how to get a heat source on it.

Will be phoning around for quotes in a bit, see if we can get it done at a reasononable price. It's a learning experience this!

i know its a bit late but to get heat into the Cat and the bolts just run the engine for a bit so that the exhaust gets nice and hot ;)