Sports Exhaust stuck on loud

Hi Everyone, I had a PPI done on a car I am interested in with Peter Morgan Consulting. They did a great job and I would hugely recommend them (but I guess you would already know that) Anyway, the report came back quite good. Just a few niggly things to sort out like side lights and led light on spoiler. One of the two big things (for me) that came out of the report was that the Sports Exhaust was not functioning ie. stuck on loud. Not that I mind as the sound is great, however I just wanted to know if it was a common problem and what could some of the causes be. I also wanted to know if it could be fixed. I appreciate that without seeing it you would not know for sure, but just to get an idea. Thanks

Surely Peter Morgan could answer your queries after all you have just paid for his expertise and his knowledge on fixes and costs etc should be more than spot on [&o]

I have sent him an email to ask him, however just wanted to know if anyone else had had this issue..........

There are a couple of common 'mods' that can make the sports exhaust loud all the time, very simple to do and reverse. People often do this because even on loud mode the exhaust is quiet at pootling speed (EU noise directives). I'd investigate if these were done first, before working out what else might be wrong with the switch/exhaust (ie valve actuator problems). Do ask Peter Morgan, he should be able to help.

There are various things that can go wrong with the quiet/loud changeover but none should be too expensive to sort out. The exhausts default mode is loud i.e. the bypass valves open (they are spring loaded to this position). When the quiet mode is required a solenoid is activated (via a relay) that allows vacuum pressure from the inlet manifold via a small accumulator to close the bypass valves with vacuum actuators. So several things to check. 1. The operation of the solenoid 2. The vacuum tubing 3. The operation of the actuators The actuators are a fairly common problem but generally only one side will be affected at once. So if it's both sides I'd start with the tubing and solenoid. Most of the vacuum pipe work and solenoid is in the engine bay (with the relay in the footwell). The vacuum actuators really require removal of the rear bumper to get at properly but it's not that big a job.

What Andy and Rod said, plus somebody may have simply removed the relay to make it loud all the time. Often happens.

Thanks everyone! I am getting the car serviced when I get it and will ask the Jaz boys to have a look. To be honest it does sound lovely and I have been told that there is nothing wrong with the exhaust. Worst case I will leave it. Its just nice to have the option though. Thanks again

Not impressed with inspection Peter Morgan did for me several years back. Wouldn't use again myself. And as Daro911 says surely he could/should have advsied as part of his inspectiion report. If I had a survey of a house I would have expected the report to tell me what needed to be done to fix faults

Hi Tiku If you go to my post >>>here<<< you will see that I had the same problem. Go to post number 15 of that thread and it shows you how I fixed it very cheaply and quickly - if you have the same problem. A previous post on teh same thread explains how I found out what was wrong. Best of luck.

Hi Peter, Will have a look now. Thanks guys

Peter, Will give the test a bash, but it seem slike both exhausts are open. Will find out soon enough Thanks for everything. I feel a bit at ease now. Just gotta wait for the present owners log book to come through.

Finally had a chance to test what was wrong with the exhaust. Both Vacuum units have badly corroded. I have order to new units. What are the chances of that happening? Will also mod the switch, but will remove the pink/grey Speed dependant wire from the back of the realy board. Just had a thought. Will this stop my autolock facility on the car? Not sure if its anything to do with that wire.

Disconnecting the grey/pink wire to the PSE relay won't affect anything else. The speed signal wire goes from the instrument cluster to a bridge plug on the relay board, and the speed related devices connect to that point.

Thanks Richard, Swpped the vacuum units with a bit of help. The old ones were pretty bad. Did the mod. At least I have the option. I doubt I will ever use it though....After hearing the sports exhaust on and off...