Need help with failing cats
12-18-2012, 11:33 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: AR
Posts: 10
Need help with failing cats
Posted this in new members, told to move it here.
I joined this forum for advice on an issue in having currently with my 2005 4.0L. The car is stock, no mods at all, 96,000 miles. I was hearing a rattle from under the car. Took it to the dealer to see what the issue was. They told me it is the catalytic converters coming apart. So, has anyone had this issue? I talked to a "former Ford engineer" at a repair shop and he said DO NOT put universal fit "cut-in" cats on the car because they won't be the exact specs the O2 sensors want to see and the car won't run right and could potentially develop other problems because of that. That guy wants $1100 to do the job and the dealership wants $1400. I've been quoted as low as $320 to have universal cats installed. I've found what I believe to be OEM spec parts for around $600 online.
So, I believe my options are:
1. Pony up $1100 to the repair guy for the OEM parts installed.
2. Buy the $600 OEM cats and install them myself.
3. Have Universal cats installed for $320.
4. Cut the cats out, buy a tuner to turn off the downstream O2 sensors (no emissions testing in AR).
Thanks in advance for the advice. Please enlighten me if I am missing anything. The rattle sounds like crap, but I am more concerned with the cats clogging and tearing something up.
I joined this forum for advice on an issue in having currently with my 2005 4.0L. The car is stock, no mods at all, 96,000 miles. I was hearing a rattle from under the car. Took it to the dealer to see what the issue was. They told me it is the catalytic converters coming apart. So, has anyone had this issue? I talked to a "former Ford engineer" at a repair shop and he said DO NOT put universal fit "cut-in" cats on the car because they won't be the exact specs the O2 sensors want to see and the car won't run right and could potentially develop other problems because of that. That guy wants $1100 to do the job and the dealership wants $1400. I've been quoted as low as $320 to have universal cats installed. I've found what I believe to be OEM spec parts for around $600 online.
So, I believe my options are:
1. Pony up $1100 to the repair guy for the OEM parts installed.
2. Buy the $600 OEM cats and install them myself.
3. Have Universal cats installed for $320.
4. Cut the cats out, buy a tuner to turn off the downstream O2 sensors (no emissions testing in AR).
Thanks in advance for the advice. Please enlighten me if I am missing anything. The rattle sounds like crap, but I am more concerned with the cats clogging and tearing something up.
12-18-2012, 12:52 PM
#3
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 11,278
does the 4.0 have a H-pipe like the gt? If so, then just bust the cats out with a pipe or similar ramming apparatus. Then get a tune for no cats and have the rear o2's turned off. I still have my cats, but my rear 02's are turned off so I can run a wideband in one.
12-18-2012, 01:57 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: AR
Posts: 10
No, it's a 2-into-1 Y-pipe. On the motor side of the Y I would think it would be similar to the GT but I've never had my head under a GT.
I've heard about the exhaust stinking when you run without cats (or gutting them), how bad does it stink? What tuner would I need to turn off the downstream O2 sensors?
I've heard about the exhaust stinking when you run without cats (or gutting them), how bad does it stink? What tuner would I need to turn off the downstream O2 sensors?
12-18-2012, 02:15 PM
#6
Moderator
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Michigan again!
Posts: 8,579
Oh - and I moved you to the 4.0 specific tech section. Because the 4.0 - 4.6 - 5.0 - and 3.7 are so different you want advice from people who have your specific engine. Catless sounds good on the 4.6 for example, but terrible on the 4.0 -- a 4.0 owner will know those little differences while the 4.6 owner wouldn't necessarily be aware.
12-18-2012, 08:27 PM
#8
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 4,491
12-18-2012, 08:49 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: AR
Posts: 10
@Diabolical! Thanks. That's the best price I've seen for the direct replacement part. There's a UPullIt and a Copart here. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if I can get what I need off of a wrecked car (need a throttle position sensor too). I just wonder if the cats on a wrecked car might be messed up too from the impact. If not ill be ordering from that eBay seller.