Urgent car advice needed please :/

[Nadz1lla]

I wouldn't normally bother you guys with such a question, but this is really urgent and I need some reassurance before 8am tomorrow morning, lol!

I was driving home tonight, and pulling away from the lights my engine suddenly sounded like I had an uber-loud induction kit installed. Only thing I thought it could be was the exhaust snapping somewhere. Sure enough, right underneath my seat, here is the problem:


Is this safe to drive? I have to have the car to get to work, the buses don't go at the time of day I need to be there and it's my second day in my new job (after 5 months of recession-made unemployment) so you can understand the urgency of this predicament. I don't mind the embarrassment of having an over-loud farty car, as long as it gets me to work. I really can't put a foot wrong in my new job as I can't stand any more unemployment, it sucks balls!

So if it's safe and this has not turned it into a death trap, please let me know otherwise I'm going to have to pull a hell of a magical trick to get to work tomorrow morning.   :?

Cheers guys.

[gingataff]

Could you get a taxi?

[Nadz1lla]

I could but it'll cost around £30, maybe more. And I'm scr@ping the barrel as it is.  :?

Then again, I'd do just about anything to get to work so that might have to be a choice I need to go with. :?

[Edit] Seriously? The censor-bot brutalised the word Scr@ping?  :lol:

[Afghan Dave]

I would just pull the broken rear box/pipe part away (to the side) from the remaining manifold to make sure the exhaust had a clear exit and get to work.

If anything you might get better performance... you will be "a bit illegal"  but you could still say "it just happened officer" because that's what it looks like and it's a common enough thing to happen all drivers :D

[Nadz1lla]

Thanks! Yeah I just got confirmation off the Skoda forum that, whilst I am not in any immediate danger, I should try to keep it held up by some kind of heat-resistant temporary measure, like a strap or something. The last thing I want is for either end to drop any further and have them damaged / pulled off by the road beneath me, heh. The car will just be a little bit illegal until I get it fixed but there's really nothing I can do about it. Ah well. Needs must I suppose!

The worst case scenario is call in and tell them I can't get to work until a bit later. It's not ideal, but under the circumstances I hope they'll be forgiving. My manager seems nice enough.

[Afghan Dave]

Ohh... well a pre VW Skoda!

That was always gonna fall apart sooner rather than later... :P

Good luck and get to work!

[Nadz1lla]

Heh, nah, this is one of the ones that is actually a Polo underneath, it's a year 2000 Felicia Estate, so just after VW bought Skoda.

I have been showing an interest in some of the 80's RWD Skoda's though, you can still find them in mint condition because mostly it was old people that drove them so you know they got looked after. And to be honest, the reputation wasn't as deserved as popular banter would have us all believe. They used to be beasts on the rally circuit!

[martinw]

Do a temporary repair using coat hanger wire and coke cans.

Sheesh, kids today! 

[ToneMonkey]

It'll be fine to drive, probably a bit slower and use more petrol.  Personally, rather than try to strap up the broken bit, I'd just pull it off and leave it in the back (if it's short enough).  Saves running over it later.

I also wouldn't use the heater/fans unless you have to.  They often draw in air from the engine bay and if that's full of exhaust gas.... you know where this is going.

If it's just a crack, or if you fancy having a bash at a good bodge, then you can get tape to wrap around it from most car shops.

[tomjackson]

Coat hangers and Exhaust putty!!!

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=AGLGTP2

My brother kept his Capri going on this stuff, there was more putty than exhast by the end.

Just remember to watch those speed bumps.....

[Nadz1lla]

Cheers guys! I will be taking the car to where I bought it next week and I think I may still be under the 3 month guarantee they do for 2nd hand cars, so we'll see what I can wangle! Managed to find an alternative means of getting to work, thankfully. It's a massive weight off my mind, was worrying like hell about it!