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Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Torque Shop: Buying a used car with a modified exhaust system
If a car cannot pass the periodic inspection, it has to be taken off the road. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG Is it a problem buying a second-hand car that does not have a catalytic converter? It is a requirement for cars to be equipped with a catalytic converter, or 'cat', which is part of the car's exhaust system. Removing the cat is therefore illegal. Any vehicle that originally came with a factory-fitted cat will not be issued with an inspection certificate if the cat is missing or tampered with. Without this certificate, it will not be possible to renew the car's road tax. Catalytic converters look like exhaust mufflers. Inside, they are filled with very expensive natural elements – such as platinum, palladium and rhodium – that chemically treat exhaust gases to reduce carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons. If the cat is not working, you may notice a distinctive smell of exhaust gas when the engine is idling. While your car should still run smoothly, missing a catalytic converter means the exhaust gases are not being treated to alleviate the polluting components emerging from an internal combustion engine. Catalytic converters can be expensive, costing more than a few hundred dollars, and they are model-specific. If you are lucky, you may find a used one at a scrapyard. Otherwise, you will have to get a new one from a parts supplier. An inspection, whether at your own motor workshop or the inspection centres, will reveal if the exhaust system has been modified. Modifications may involve part of the system being changed. Look out for signs of cuts or welds. Unless the modification has been certified, any deviation in the exhaust system will be deemed illegal. Non-approved modifications are strictly forbidden in Singapore, even if the noise and emissions test results are within legal limits. While there may be aftermarket exhaust systems that are approved for road use, they must be certified in Singapore before use. Even with certified modifications, it is important to check that the vehicle's identification number and engine number match the records on the registration document from the Land Transport Authority. Arrange for an experienced mechanic from an authorised workshop to confirm that neither of these numbers has been altered. It would be a nightmare to find that your recently purchased used car is blacklisted, during a routine inspection, because of a discrepancy in the documentation. If the car cannot clear the inspection, it has to be taken off the road. The safest thing to do when shopping for a used car is to insist on a pre-purchase inspection to avoid such risks. If the seller refuses, walk away from the transaction. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Wild Rice's Homepar pulled by IMDA, MHA for ‘glamourising drug abuse'
The revised script for the Wild Rice production was found to have breached the Arts Entertainment Classification Code. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG SINGAPORE - A production by theatre company Wild Rice has been pulled by the authorities for 'glamourising drug abuse', just a day before its staging. The dramatised reading of Homepar by playwright Mitchell Fang has been disallowed in its current form, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a joint statement on June 20. The revised script submitted on June 5 had substantially changed from the version submitted on April 21, they said. This earlier script met classification requirements and could be staged under a R18 rating. However, the revised script was found to have breached the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC). 'The new material depicts and glamorises drug abuse and portrays an undercover Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officer shielding abusers from detection,' said the joint statement. 'It undermines Singapore's anti-drug policy, our drug rehabilitation regime, and public confidence in the CNB. Performances that undermine Singapore's national interest are not permitted under the AECC.' Homepars are house parties in which the gay nightclub atmosphere is recreated in a living or hotel room. As Wild Rice has chosen not to revert to the April 21 version of the script, IMDA said it has disallowed the performance in its current form. The statement added: 'Singapore's firm stance against drugs remains unchanged, and IMDA will continue to uphold the AECC to protect national interest.' The Straits Times has contacted Wild Rice for comment. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Reports of ERP hikes from June fake: LTA
LTA debunked claims circulating on 'some websites and social media pages' that toll hikes were set to take place. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG SINGAPORE - Reports of increased Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates to take effect in June are false, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on May 5. In a Facebook post, LTA debunked claims circulating on 'some websites and social media pages' asserting toll hikes of between 50 cents and $1 during peak periods at the major gantries. These included gantries located on the CTE, PIE, AYE and MCE. LTA has not announced the ERP rates for June, it said, and reminded road users to always refer to LTA's official channels for the latest information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
