Vauxhall Meriva exhaust keeps breaking same place year after year

Car: Vauxhall Meriva
Variant: 1.6 life
Model Year: 2003
Categories: Leaks & Noises
i bought this car almost 2 year ago, 3/4 months later the exhaust started blowing so i took it to get fixed,the bloke told me its a common problem and hes fed up of replacing them before the 1yr guarantee runs out so he welded a bar on the week point to strengthen it in the hope it would last longer and it did,1yr 2 weeks after the guarantee than out.
the problem is the pipe going into the back of the middle box,just above the pipe it splits the back box after about 11 months of driving,anyone know why?
im wondering if a stainless steel full system will cure it but puzzled as to why it keeps going,engine mounts and exhaust mounts are all fine.
anyone got any ideas??
paul
Posted: Aug 13, 2014 (10 years ago)
Not really familar with that particular car fault .Usually caused by engine mountings worn and allowing engine to kick .Call into any exhaust centre and ask for advice and if it is a common fault ? Wont cost anything for asking .
Posted Aug 15, 2014 (10 years ago)
Stainless steel really isn't,
any guy who's been in a public urinal will be familiar with stains!
A better generic name is rustles steel so you do get a longer exhaust life from it.
BUT it isn't quite as forgiving as mild steel when it comes to stress.
I'd think it would give up even sooner than the standard pipe.
Welding another mount would be my choice,
so I'm wondering if your guy didn't rubber mount his fix?
I would have done.
And I'm wondering if Vaux are aware of this and maybe have a solution.
worth a call to your local dealers.
Posted Aug 16, 2014 (10 years ago)
cheers both,my first thought was engine mounts gone but not the case it seems,stainless steel im not sure if its as forgiving as said and looking at the price id sooner pay £40.00 on ebay and replace it myself every damn year.the fitter didnt weld another bracket on just a 10/15cm solid round bar on top of the pipe then bent and welded on the back of back box to i guess limit play but still went,something which is making me think and it might be nonsense is when i hit 70mph on motorway the exhaust emissions light comes on after 10 mins of 70 and its always "exhaust gas recirculation prob",it might be faulty sensor but im thinking is the gas a little more restricted than usual causing the exhaust to heat up a little more than it should then going on the weakest spot,hence another reason i was thinking of a freeflow stainless might solve it.
its doing my head in got me puzzled guy said its a common fault on mariva but cant find anyone else with it ill have to do some more digging around i guess.
another mount welded on that to i was considering but it will be a last resort if i get no joy from vauxhall ect,and ill ask a few mechanic friends what they think,trouble is with that my mrs knows more than half of them just by watching and listening to me over the years and shes corrected them a few times lol.
Posted Aug 16, 2014 (10 years ago)
I haven't heard of that problem either till you mentioned it .Possibly partially plugged cat or exhaust ?
Posted Aug 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

This problem is archived

If you're having a similar problem please click below to re-post this problem, you can then customise it to suit your situation.

Join the community
Got a question? Can you answer other questions here? If so please...
More problems with the 2003 model year Vauxhall Meriva

We have 21 problems and solutions in our database for this model year of the car.

View all Vauxhall Meriva Problems