Need help with Catalytic Converter
11-08-2011, 05:21 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 4
Need help with Catalytic Converter
So I bought my first mustang 3 years ago and it was love at first sight/sound. I absolutely love my car, but as I recently learned my exhaust set-up is illegal in California.
I knew it had a catted x-pipe when I bought it, but all I understood about it then was that it made my car sound good. I have always passed visual inspections for smogs and have always passed smog until last year. I failed because my Nox was high. I finally got it to pass after getting it really hot and the guy tested it twice for me.
I had a bad o2 sensor so I changed it, then my check engine light came on with the P0430 code. So I'm thinking (well not really) that my cat is bad now, but I have read that people turn off their o2 sensors to prevent this from happening.
So my question is this, is my cat bad? or is it because I just changed my o2 sensor?
I don't really know what to do. And telling me to put my stock mid pipe back on does not help because I don't have it and I can only get it from Ford for $3200, and I don't want to pay $3200 for it
So I need some advice please.
I knew it had a catted x-pipe when I bought it, but all I understood about it then was that it made my car sound good. I have always passed visual inspections for smogs and have always passed smog until last year. I failed because my Nox was high. I finally got it to pass after getting it really hot and the guy tested it twice for me.
I had a bad o2 sensor so I changed it, then my check engine light came on with the P0430 code. So I'm thinking (well not really) that my cat is bad now, but I have read that people turn off their o2 sensors to prevent this from happening.
So my question is this, is my cat bad? or is it because I just changed my o2 sensor?
I don't really know what to do. And telling me to put my stock mid pipe back on does not help because I don't have it and I can only get it from Ford for $3200, and I don't want to pay $3200 for it
So I need some advice please.
11-08-2011, 06:14 PM
#2
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 476
$3200 is ridiculous, if all you need is a new catted mid pipe just get one of these:
http://www.americanmuscle.com/9904-mustang-xpipe.html
http://www.americanmuscle.com/9904-mustang-xpipe.html
11-09-2011, 03:18 PM
#3
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
You can read more about P0430 here.
It would seem that at least one (bank 2 it appears) of the so-called "hi-flow" cats in the aftermarket X-pipe has likely failed (the O2 sensor you replaced was likely good, just reporting the bad cat). There really isn't any such thing as a hi-flow cat, they are just cats that are smaller (I.e. has less active NOX eating "stuffing") than a larger unit like the factory supplies.
This means they do not last as long. Such cats are widely available online. just get the dimensions and look around--then find a friendly local muffler shop to weld 'em on for you.
The rear O2 sensors can be turned off in the tune, however in CA you would likely fail the emissions test right off the bat because of a P1000 (I/M Readiness) code indicating the cats have not completed their monitoring test). Even if that passed the high NOX levels would still be there.
It would seem that at least one (bank 2 it appears) of the so-called "hi-flow" cats in the aftermarket X-pipe has likely failed (the O2 sensor you replaced was likely good, just reporting the bad cat). There really isn't any such thing as a hi-flow cat, they are just cats that are smaller (I.e. has less active NOX eating "stuffing") than a larger unit like the factory supplies.
This means they do not last as long. Such cats are widely available online. just get the dimensions and look around--then find a friendly local muffler shop to weld 'em on for you.
The rear O2 sensors can be turned off in the tune, however in CA you would likely fail the emissions test right off the bat because of a P1000 (I/M Readiness) code indicating the cats have not completed their monitoring test). Even if that passed the high NOX levels would still be there.
11-11-2011, 02:50 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 4
Thank you Cliffyk for the insight. Like I said, I didn't know anything about what I bought, I just liked it LOL. I have been learning on the go ever since. So really, I'm not even sure if they are "hi-flow" cats. I am just taking a wild guess, unless the previous owner welded the stock cats back on it.
Arg LOL. I swear next time I will not buy a car that has a modded exhaust system.
Arg LOL. I swear next time I will not buy a car that has a modded exhaust system.
11-11-2011, 03:09 PM
#5
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
Almost all (maybe all) catted aftermarket X and H-pipes claims to have "hi-flow"--I.e. little--catalytic converters--my UPR X-pipe has them and I'd bet a dollar (I am not a betting man) that there's no way they'd pass a real tailpipe sniffin' inspection.
Fortunately here in Florida we have no vehicle inspections of any kind: emissions, safety, or otherwise--and here in the Daytona Beach area even noise has to be window-shattering to catch anyone's attention....
Fortunately here in Florida we have no vehicle inspections of any kind: emissions, safety, or otherwise--and here in the Daytona Beach area even noise has to be window-shattering to catch anyone's attention....
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