Cat breaking up

Parisien

Parisien

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ENZ525 said:
Makes very interesting reading Frank,
Also makes the decision for buying the better quality, cheaper-than-OEM Larini ones even more compelling...
Regards,
Enzo.
Click to expand...

As we all know by know...knowledge is power, I do think building up a data base and having some robust opinion on this issue might be of benefit, its a pity a number of owners have been told, "Oh, its a one off incident, never seen it before, must be your fault".....response appears to be patently untrue and unacceptable!


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Parisien

Parisien

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Goatherder, would you be prepared to get the catalyst examined by an engineer in the field, or more fulsome report by Emblem or exhaust design experts, even Larini themselves?

Just wondering if its worthwhile getting this type of opinion/report when we have an actually example unfolding before us! Plus get Maserati to eventually acknowledge the problem and contribute to your repair and replacements, plus others affected!


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ENZ525

ENZ525

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Ok, just had a chat with Roberto, here is a summary:

* Does not know what causes the cat to break up
* Bits of the cat get sucked back into the engine and scratches or scores the bores
* Never seen on a 3200
* Has rebuilt 2 engines and diagnosed a third with this issue in the past 3 - 4 years
* Has heard of a handfull of other cases
* Has only seen it on 4200s, although possible on GS (speculation...maybe difference is something to do with running different SW?)

Regards,
Enzo.
 
goatherder

goatherder

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Hi - according to Emblem my damaged left cat looks to have had a knock at some point and this is the likely cause of the problem. The right hand cat looks fine in comparison (I have been sent some pics...).

P - based on Emblems response and the comments you found from Milanojess' post, it looks like a knock could of caused the cat to start breaking up - "most oem cats have ceramic honycomb structure, these can be easily cracked with external impacts... high end sports cats uses metal core and am told are a lot more resistent to vibration and provide better flow"...

Thank god I'm getting the Larini cats!
 
Parisien

Parisien

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ENZ525 said:
Ok, just had a chat with Roberto, here is a summary:

* Does not know what causes the cat to break up...ok.....but can he give an educated guess......others he's spoken to?
* Bits of the cat get sucked back into the engine and scratches or scores the bores...total engine loss then?
* Never seen on a 3200
* Has rebuilt 2 engines and diagnosed a third with this issue in the past 3 - 4 years....on this basis and given the number of franchisee garages....plus indie specialists.......could be 40-60 cases out there?!
* Has heard of a handfull of other cases...ditto above.
* Has only seen it on 4200s, although possible on GS (speculation...maybe difference is something to do with running different SW?)...SW =?....are 3200 exhausted better designed, protected etc...same with GSs in his opinion?

Regards,
Enzo.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Enzo......sorry further qs to exercise his knowledge!


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Parisien

Parisien

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goatherder said:
Hi - according to Emblem my damaged left cat looks to have had a knock at some point and this is the likely cause of the problem. The right hand cat looks fine in comparison (I have been sent some pics...).
Click to expand...

Cheers for that GH.......we are then back to the situation were even the slightest of knocks to the exhaust can initiate failure.....


Firstly.....exhaust too exposed for every day usage

Secondly.....even though exposed should be better protected.

Thirdly...if they've used the cheaper(?)...standard honeycomb catalyst as opposed to the metal core type......it means failure very much more likely given the above facts.


Conclusion we might reach......premature failure of catalyst due to poor design, lesser quality catalytic material.


Step up to the podium Maserati!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Thoughts guys?!


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goatherder

goatherder

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Hi - well the new cat was delivered and attached last week so had planned to collect Sat morning… then as I was leaving the office on Friday night I received a call from the garage:

"Mr. Gregory, as we were putting the exhaust back on we noticed a problem; the blanking plate on the exhaust manifold is missing. The part is fitted in the factory and never really requires any attention, it has either been damaged or fallen off, or it was removed and not replaced……”

It’s only a small part and it’s a two minute job to fix however they don’t have any in stock. They were worried that it might not be possible to buy as it lists as part of the manifold - Sounds like they may get one made up as a work around.

They also mentioned that this could have added to the degradation of the LH cat after it had been knocked. My biggest concern was if this missing part could have caused any problems with the engine but the garage don’t believe this to be the case – the only effect would have been the increase in heat.

Anyway hats off again to Emblem for their thorough work and investigation. Based on past finds they could have easily left this and I would have been none the wiser.
 
Parisien

Parisien

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Its like a sub- plot within a sub-plot GH..................the function of a blanking plate is what though? You don't want to be putting a new manifold on too!!

Anyways, hope its gets sorted very soon and please keep us up-to-date.......

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cowsurgeon

cowsurgeon

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ENZ525 said:
Ok, just had a chat with Roberto, here is a summary:

* Does not know what causes the cat to break up
* Bits of the cat get sucked back into the engine and scratches or scores the bores
* Never seen on a 3200
* Has rebuilt 2 engines and diagnosed a third with this issue in the past 3 - 4 years
* Has heard of a handfull of other cases
* Has only seen it on 4200s, although possible on GS (speculation...maybe difference is something to do with running different SW?)

Regards,
Enzo.
Click to expand...

Really? Something that doesn't go wrong on the 3200, but does on the 4200!?! Shurely shome mishtake? (heh heh heh)
 
Parisien

Parisien

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cowsurgeon said:
Really? Something that doesn't go wrong on the 3200, but does on the 4200!?! Shurely shome mishtake? (heh heh heh)
Click to expand...

CS....how could you laff at so much misery and financial loss....you're a brute of the highest order....;)...;)

Ok...ok....its a one off plus on behalf of the 3200................BUT....total engine loss if you're unlucky in the 4200....a bit of a tear jerker that!!!


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cowsurgeon

cowsurgeon

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Indeed - I don't mean to be unnecessarily harsh on those with the problem, but couldn't resist it!
After all, the 3200 gets such a bashing from all and sundry about how unreliable it is compared to the 4200, and how much better the 4200 is as a daily driver. Maybe we should start a thread on things that aren't supposed to go wrong with the 3200?? ;-)
 
Parisien

Parisien

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cowsurgeon said:
Indeed - I don't mean to be unnecessarily harsh on those with the problem, but couldn't resist it!
After all, the 3200 gets such a bashing from all and sundry about how unreliable it is compared to the 4200, and how much better the 4200 is as a daily driver. Maybe we should start a thread on things that aren't supposed to go wrong with the 3200?? ;-)
Click to expand...

Won't that be a short list....;)...;)...?


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