Vibrating/ knocking

AndyJ

Afternoon folks,

I've posted about this problem previously but didn't resolve it so i thought i'd try again.

Basically after driving the car (2001 Astra SRi 2.2), for say 10 minutes or so, when it is at a standstill the exhaust will start to vibrate/ knock on the underside of the car. Its as though there is pressure or something from the engine thats making it vibrate, if i hold the revs at around 1500rpm it stops however when revving the engine it feels as though the car is going to stall, kind of splutters when i press the accelerator. If i turn the ignition off then fire her back up again the car splutters into life and there is a loud banging from the exhaust as if either a lot of backpressure has been forced out from the engine or something has ignited. This happens every time i drive the car, i can tell when its about to start doing it as the exhaust note changes to a very very deep burble when accelerating and when changing gear i can hear the exhaust vibrate/ knock on the underside of the car.

After letting her idle for a while this will all stop and will be fine on start up but comes back once she's been driven for ten mins or so.

I've had it into my local garage and they couldn't fathom out what was wrong with it, to be honest i did tell them to take her out for a good drive which they didn't do so this is probably why! They did mention that it couldn't be any form of 'backpressure' and could be a sticking valve notsure.gif

I haven't got a clue what it could be and i doubt it could be a sticking valve.

Has anyone got any ideas what's causing this or failing that does anyone know of a shit hot garage/ mechanic in the North West (preferably local to Warrington) that i could take it to. My car is quite heavily modified so i'd prefer not to take it Vaux.

***Extra info - I've also posted this on Astra OC and a guy off there suggested it may be my CAT thats knackered. He told me to test this by driving the car until the knocking starts then get out and touch the tail pipe, if its red hot then it would most likley be the CAT. I did this after driving the car, from cold, for 6 miles yesterday and the tail pipe was indeed red hot. Now, i've got the car booked in for a service next week and i mentioned this to them and asked if they could check the CAT, the mechanic said that it couldn't psosibly be the CAT as if it was blocked/ faulty the exhaust wouldn't get hot at all as no (or very little) exhaust gasses would be escaping. notsure.gif

I'm well confused and really haven't a clue whats causing it!

vocky

it could be either the egr valve sticking or a misfire, perhaps the coilpack plays up when it gets warm

AndyJ

Won't be the egr as i've removed it and fitted the cheater. What would cause the misfire and how can i check its that? Would that cause the vibrations in the exhaust?

vocky

a misfire could cause the exhaust to knock, the easiest way is to borrow a coil pack, maybe someone local can lend you theirs

also worth replacing the spark plugs, only use the vauxhall triple electrode plugs, about £4 each

AndyJ

I'll try and borrow a coil pack from someone if possible, don't suppose anyone on here is local to me? (warrington/st.helens or even Manchester/ Liverpool) Spark plugs will get replaced on my service next week.

Don't you think it could be the CAT? Its been doing this vibrating for a good six months, only used to be when i'd given it some beans but now its pretty much everytime i drive the car. My exhaust was RED hot the other day after only driving six miles...is this normal?

vocky

if you are going to change the cat buy a sports cat, then if it makes no differnce at least you still have a decent cat

AndyJ

I've already got a sports cat and had the pre-cat removed...need to check how much of a warranty i've got on it if it turns out to be that.

vocky

damn, thats worse, replacing a sports cat, all those lost bhp's 🙁

AndyJ

Tell me about it 🙁 I don't think it feels as quick as it should be. It should be running around 175bhp but i'll bet its not at the moment...would be interesting to get it on a RR to see exactly what its pushing at the moment.