Exhaust System: Description and Operation

Exhaust System

Exhaust System:

All vehicles are fitted with a stainless steel exhaust system consisting of:
- Two catalytic converters.
- Front pipe.
- Muffler inlet pipe.
- Front muffler assembly.
- Rear muffler and tailpipe assembly.

The exhaust system is designed to meet the rising standards of vehicle emissions, complying with LEV (USA) and stage three (Europe) emission legislation; effective from January 2001.

The exhaust system is supported at the front by the two catalytic converters which are retained directly to the exhaust manifolds by studs and nuts. The remainder of the exhaust system is supported by four rubber hanger isolators. On 2.0L vehicles there are three attached to the front muffler assembly and one attached to the rear muffler. On 2.5L and 3.0L vehicles there is one attached to the front muffler and three attached to the rear muffler and tail pipe assembly.

A flexible coupling, which is part of the front muffler, is fitted to isolate the exhaust system from engine movement and vibration.

For 2.5L and 3.0L vehicles the rear exhaust muffler and tail pipe assembly is manufactured in one section which consists of a 'Y' pipe joined to the two rear muffler and tail pipes. A service fix is provided for replacement of the rear mufflers and tail pipes. For 2.0L vehicles there is a single rear muffler assembly which is attached to the left-hand side of the vehicle.

Three Way Catalytic Converters
The catalytic converters each contain two bricks coated with palladium / rhodium. These elements are utilized to control the emissions of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from the engine.