Driving a car with no back box?

Due to drive to France for a week tomorrow, just found my exhaust back box hanging by the fixings. I’ve taken it off and I don’t think there’s much hope of clamping it back together since it’s snapped right where the pipe joins.

Does this do anything except lower the noise? It’s a little louder now but doesn’t seem likely to annoy any passing pensioners, it’s only a 1.6 Astra.

No chance of getting it fixed in time since all the garages are closed now, would you drive it? Passed MOT last month.

Urm it’s Saturday, should be plenty of exhaust /tyre places open.

Not sure on the legality, as long as it’s safe I’d guess it would depend on noise or emissions, but since the cat is for emissions..

Dunno really, dunno what the rules are in France either.
If you have European brakedown cover, could you be cheeky and drive over and get to where you’re going, then get it booked in on that?

I’d drive it- have done, in fact, the exact same thing happened to my old mondeo so I just took it off. It was a bit louder but it still had a middle box.

Depends on the car but can suck fumes back into the cabin. That’s why they poke out the back. I’d just get it fixed.

Get it fixed. The noise will do your head in on the motorway.

Passed MOT last month

Ah but it wouldn’t now 🙂

I think you’d have to feign surprise that you lost it thou if you got stopped by le cop.

But as per previous callers there’s a reason it sticks out the back.

I’m surprised that it didn’t show up as an advisory on the MOT if it was on its way out, unless its had a bad knock since the MOT

Plenty of Kwik Fit type places open till 5-6pm today, go see one and see if they can bodge it back together for now as more than likely they wont have one in stock (always the way when your in a rush!)

The French are looking to make as much money as possible from British motorists before Brexit (after Brexit they wont be able to access DVLA information like they do now to pursue British motorists for speeding and other offences) so you could get a picky Gendarme looking to boost his fine issuing tally

I suppose there may be a risk of fumes getting into the boot or the back of the car too, which isn’t very good news so if you must drive keep the front windows open.

I’d drive it- have done, in fact, the exact same thing happened to my old mondeo so I just took it off. It was a bit louder but it still had a middle box.

That’s odd, my Mondeo made a horrendous din when that happened to me, it also seemed to sap the power a fair bit but that may have been because I was very shy of putting my foot down because of the racket it made. I wouldn’t have described it as “a bit louder” unless I was entering an understatement competition!

Anyway, I’d try to get it fixed, because noise, fumes and hot gases exiting where they weren’t designed to.

Depend on the engine. My old van was dangerous to drive without the back box barely moved.

My old escort was fine without it.just louder

It could well cut the power a lot or it might be fine

Well no one wants to touch it without spare parts. Sounds a little bit boy racer at low revs but the difference is honestly barely noticeable at motorway speeds. It’s a 3 hour drive broken up by the tunnel and not planning to do much driving once we’re there so I think I’ll chance it and keep the windows open.

Might well be fine, you’ll probably take a hit on fuel economy though.

Too late now but a Euro carparts would prob have one, from experience it’s two bolts and two rubber hangers on an Astra G 1.6 not sure about the others. Took me ten mins on the Gfs Astra.

Thanks but looks like the whole thing needs replacing, it’s the pipe into the box that broke right where it joins. The fixings are all still in place.

The parts look cheap enough just couldn’t get hold of one today.

Drove my original mini without a back box as it was about to be part-exed. The lack of pressure burnt out the valves on one of the cylinders

Go for it, most French cars have bits missing. Tell the Gendarme you did it when parking, shrug your shoulders and say bof!