HELP Loud Engine/Exhaust

[Silva_B!tch_Owner]

Had my car since September 2004 its a 1.4 SE W Reg had 34,000 one the clock when i got it, my 2nd VW Polo after i wrote my other one off in august last year. Anyway, its done about 38,000 miles now, i had it for about 2 weeks and the exhaust had blown, took it to Kwik Fit (maybe a bad idea) they fitted a new exhaust because the old one had a hole in the silencer box and one of the pipes was loose, plus it was all rusty. The mechanic at Kwik Fit said the catalyst had air coming out of it, so seeing i had it only 2 weeks i took it back to the dealer i got it from, he said he'll get his mechanic to check it and fix it if needed, his mechanic said there's no air coming out the catalyst, but recently the engine has been alot louder and it does sound as if i have a sports exhaust fitted which i dont and when i leave the car running it sounds like a Diesel car. Plus sometimes, when im driving the car will just switch off, its nothing to do with my driving or anything, i'll be in like 3rd gear and it'll just turn off and the battery light would come on and a few other lights, i'll just turn the ignition and it'll start again. Anyone have any ideas on why it could be doing this?

[JWC]

Duff exhausts. I bet its a BOZAL one or some other brazillian make? Standard back boxes from VW are around £70 if you do it yourself. The exhaust is more essential to the running of the engine than you might think. I've noticed that kwik-fit exhausts can be noisy in the past. The only trick is that when the 1st oem back box breaks, you have to cut the pipe because they are made in one piece whereas the coldest (and wettest) part of the exhaust can be changed on its own.

Its unlikely that the cat will have any trouble at this mileage unless you have driven through deep water or something recently, I would check it very carefully that it hasn't been strained by the guy at kwik-fit. Usually though the cat doesn't corrode because it runs at 600C.

You don't want a new cat!!!!