RS2 - a new lease of life

[Ross]

To confirm - there is no cheap water pump fitted -- genuine RS2 part used. It only leaks when cold, and does seem to be dripping off the bottom of the rad. Need to rule out a rad change before I get the A/C sorted!

I opened her up in one of those "that's my train arriving, need to get past this muppet" moments this morning in 3rd and saw 1bar around 3500rpm... ECU adapting maybe?!

Sadly, I am almost excited about getting the A/C regassed as a remap, must be getting old

Have a couple more bits arriving to sort my slightly blowing decat pipes this week. Will update with a few pics when that is done. And no I'm not fitting cats

[prj]

Well, that's pretty much what they do. 1 bar at 3400-3500 and 1.9 at 3800.

[Sonic]

Get rid of the ac... it's far more exciting, although you do have a sense of failure and guilt when you eventually get round to pulling the system apart.

Well, that's pretty much what they do. 1 bar at 3400-3500 and 1.9 at 3800.

Excellent, that's just what we've been wanting to hear :mischeif:

[newsh]

Ross, I have an ABY tube from my avant but its a metal one, sure it would polish up nicely. Let me know if you'd like it.

[Ross]

The exhaust is no longer blowing

Split de-cat section: Gone

Stock downpipe: Gone

The existing 3" cat-back has been joined to a 3" downpipe and centre section. I've had it V-banded for easy downpipe removal - it can be taken out without much effort, even dropping the driveshaft is unneccesary.





I have kept it decatted, we'll see what happens MOT time This allows use of the stock mount point - there is no vibration and drone is minimal, just a little between 3,200-3,500rpm and even then only when you've got +ve boost. It's as quiet as before when cruising. I may add an extra mounting bracket near the first box which - as tested by Lloyd - pretty much eliminates any drone in the 3-4k region.

I'm thrilled the system is still comfortable for daily use, sounds awesome - it's only louder when you really give it some beans, which is fine by me!

Big to Hoffer for providing an the downpipe and helping fit it, and his mate Steve who did a top job welding the system today. Thoroughly recommended for any exhaust work.

[Ross]

Also - checked over for leaks, didn't find anything except a CV boot losing grease due to a lack of inner clip (cheapst b****d garages!)...not a drop of fluid lost after the exhuast build/fit and 120 miles of driving, but an hour after parking it up at home i came out to find a huge puddle of coolant and a 1" drop in the reservior

Fortuntately, the leak was so big it was obvious that it was coming from the large rad hose on the bottom, near the sensor. I've nipped up the jubilee clip which was tight, but happily took another 2-3 turns before offering resistance, so hopefully she's leak free now. Also, fuel consumption is significantly improved on a run with 28mpg achieved today. Previous best in this car was 23

[pixsaudisex2]

So is that the pipe just trying to work out what the slippers will be..

[Bram]

Reminds me of my old Avant Ross. Looking good!

[Ross]

After another 500 miles:

The exhuast drone has lightened up and is completely restricted to the 3200-3400 rpm range. I'm hoping to strap the exhaust mid-way down the straight section and eliminate this, not a priority now as it's nothing major.

I've got slight vibration issues when cornering hard left, I think the Wagner EM moves the hotside slightly closer to the chassis - only by maybe 5mm - but it seems enough to contact. I think I'm now being punished for fitting a used Driver-side engine mount... it was in much better condition that the one that came off! Also I've got a dodgy driver side CV joint so I'll get that replaced, if it's still there then I'll have to replace the engine mount too. The other side is nearly new

I just realised yesterday the clutch has become tame. I though I'd just got used to it, but I can pull off like a fairy and there's no agressive bite to it any more. It's stock-like with a good progressive bite. I'll see how it handles the torque next...

And, no more leaks! I've found them all, tightened what needed tightening, and at last have no oily patches under the car each night.

I've got a few things to finish before the summer is completely out:

• A/C leak test and (hopefully) recharge. Or get list of things required for the spring
• Re-route power to my boost gauge or convert to LED to stop my aux dial lights cutting out
• Fit heated seat loom and switches - already have heated seats :mischeif:
• Fix resistor pack so I have fan speed 1-3 back!
• Fit EV14 injectors and map
• Replacement front driver side CV joint

Next summer...

• Body work touch up
• New fogs
• Wheel refurb
• Brake discs + pads all round
• Front leather refresh

[Jamo]

Hmm nice exhaust but what are you going to do at MOT time?

[Ross]

I've got 2 months to figure that one out, hopefully the same way I got it through before - a very lenient probe

If not I'm wondering if a cat will still get the heat it needs a little further back - like just behind the curve in the pipe. I don't want to mess with the mounting point!

[Jamo]

Personally I would put a vband at the end of the flexible and get a 200 cell cat to fit that section for mot time
I did away with all this with the 034 cat I couldn't be bothered with the changing etc

[newsh]

My avant goes through the MOT with empty cats

[Jamo]

hmm yeah i could see mine going through with no cat on reclocked NM cams

Newsh the test is different for ADU cars to ABY for some reason the ABY is not listed correctly by VOSA

[epic]

I'd have thought it would be better to have the flexi joint at the bottom of the downpipe before the pipe turns so it stops the shock of any impacts being transferred to the turbo. Although this then makes fitting much harder and a slip joint the best way then.