majordisorder Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Have a problem with my CR-V where I can smell burning rubber from the rear offside passenger side so I took it to a main dealer for their opinion. Well after charging me an £85+vat investigation fee the result is apparently a "collapsed cat" which is causing the whole exhaust system to heat up so much it's burning the rubber mounts. My main worry here is that they also said that driving the car would likely cause major engine damage since there wasn't good flow through the cat. So after a quote to fix of around £1800 (for a few other bits too) I thought I'd take it a local garage. They had a quick look, and seemed to think there was nothing wrong with the cat after giving it a thump or two and not hearing any rattling around. Also with the back box off they said the flow was good and it didn't seem blocked at all. Their quote to fix the exhaust up with a new back box + some other bits < £200. So question to you mechanics out there are Honda trying to rip me off and how could they think the cat was broken when the other garage seems to think it's okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I'd take the cat off and give it a damn good shake, if nothing comes out and there is no rattling then I would say it is not falling apart inside and therefore won't be blocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfletch Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 A simple way to check the cat is to do a emissions test like the one in a MOT if it passes its OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majordisorder Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I'll ask the garage to double check and do a "shake test" then when they do the other fixes tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 dealers are possibly the biggest rip off merchants out there not only are they on mega bucks per hour they only like to replace things as its quicker for them and means more profit . yes there are small/local garages that also rip you off but most of them want to do you a good job at a decent price as they want your repeat custom . one case in mind a good few years ago a mate bought a mondeo st24 off someone who had taken it to the local ford dealer and came away with an estimated repair bill of £2000/£2500 . when we read the fail list [used to work in an mot station for a few year as a tester]we fell about laughing amongst a lot of other things that weren,t fails they had failed all 4 suspension springs for having surface corrosion which even by todays standards is not a fail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 You can almost always get a better price, and commonly better service from a smaller local garage than a main dealer. Hopefully he is correct this time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Rubber smell or a very strong eggy smell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluke2 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 HONDA two new tyres two front wishbones and the drivers side front wheel bearing including the hub on my brothers honda civic 1.7 coupe 1400 quid/ KWIK TWITS 1056 Quid/ local MOT repair garage 790 quid did the job ourselves including two bridgestone tyres the parts bill was 438 and took 4 hours to do and genuine JAP parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majordisorder Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Rubber smell or a very strong eggy smell? def rubber, like "mild" burning tyres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) ok, a strong egg like smell would usually mean over fueling with the cat working overtime and the cat would become very hot have a sniff see if the smell is from the exhaust or it's mountings Edited January 21, 2011 by Paul223 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Have a problem with my CR-V where I can smell burning rubber from the rear offside passenger side so I took it to a main dealer for their opinion. Well after charging me an £85+vat investigation fee the result is apparently a "collapsed cat" which is causing the whole exhaust system to heat up so much it's burning the rubber mounts. My main worry here is that they also said that driving the car would likely cause major engine damage since there wasn't good flow through the cat. So after a quote to fix of around £1800 (for a few other bits too) I thought I'd take it a local garage. They had a quick look, and seemed to think there was nothing wrong with the cat after giving it a thump or two and not hearing any rattling around. Also with the back box off they said the flow was good and it didn't seem blocked at all. Their quote to fix the exhaust up with a new back box + some other bits < £200. So question to you mechanics out there are Honda trying to rip me off and how could they think the cat was broken when the other garage seems to think it's okay? That makes my S type Jag look cheap to run! Shop around is my advice, 2nd and 3rd opinions if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diceman Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Main Dealer = fitters Independent Specialist = mechanics There is a world of difference. I know one of the latter who employed one of the former, he had to go as he would just replace stuff until the problem went away rather than find the problem part and see if it could be fixed. Funny thing is that the when the main dealers are stumped they ring up this independent for advice, and even sub out the job to him occasionally. See that shiny showroom and the 3 dolly birds behind reception? You are paying for them every time they service your car. I'll take the dirty overalls and the girly calenders and the oil stained invoice every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Main Dealer = fitters Independent Specialist = mechanics There is a world of difference. I know one of the latter who employed one of the former, he had to go as he would just replace stuff until the problem went away rather than find the problem part and see if it could be fixed. Funny thing is that the when the main dealers are stumped they ring up this independent for advice, and even sub out the job to him occasionally. See that shiny showroom and the 3 dolly birds behind reception? You are paying for them every time they service your car. I'll take the dirty overalls and the girly calenders and the oil stained invoice every time. Quite right mate. Honda dealers are major rip off merchants-never use them to service my fireblade, dont know how they get they're prices!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) If the local guy turns out to be right-dont forget to go back to Honda and demand your money back.By the way-change spark plugs on my Shogun-mitsubishi quote was £320-bought them from fleabay for £75 and paid £40 to have them fitted. Edited January 22, 2011 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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