Catalytic Converter is shot, what are my options?
 

OK so i had a check engine light on, and i got the code pulled from auto zone, and it read P0430. I figured it was on o2. went to my mechanic, and he said i need a new CAT. I don't want to dish out $500+ for a new CAT, i will be selling the car within a month or so anyway. Is there anything else i can do? I was thinking maybe getting some o2 sims but im not sure if that would turn off the Check Engine light.



Any help is greately appreciated

junk yard or Random Technology

Good luck getting most junkyards to sell you a converter, I don't believe it's legal.

Get one made at an exhaust shop, buy one used on here (check with fanaticrockford), or buy new from an online place, RT (like hustle said), Cattman, etc.

Did the mechanic do an exhaust pressure test?

Just because you got a P0430 doesn't mean you have a bad CAT. If your mechanic just read the code and didn't do a pressure test then you may be throwing money away and still have the same problem.

This code can be caused by an exhaust leak, an intake air leak, a fuel injection issue(like an injector that doesn't close all the way).

Do it yourself. Replacing a cat is not that hard if you don;t mind using exhaust clamps.

You could always get a "high flow" one off ebay, their like $25 I think. haha

Hmmm.. well if i get a high flow one, wont that still keep my SES light on?

No he did not do an exhaust pressure test.

Ugh...so much misinformation on this thread. It is the FRONT PRE-CAT Pearl is having the issue with, NOT the main cat, and NOT the rear pre-cat. His options are as follows:

1. Reset your CEL just before you sell the car. The good..its free. The bad..the person purchasing the car can come after you for selling under false pretenses (the car is working with no emission issues).

2. Install O2 simulator. The good..its cheap. The bad...well nothing really, just an extra part on the car.

3. Install used pre-cat (if you can find one) or new pre-cat. The good...it actually fixes the issue. The bad...can be expensive if you have to buy new.

That was an awesome response to a very old & tired topic.

I applaud you on your correct and concise information.

Hopefully when others have this problem, their search will yield this post.

Thanks.:)

Its the front pre Cat?? so y did my mechanic say it was mt Catalytic Converter??

If it is the front pre cat, and i get an o2 sim, which sensor do i need to replace with the o2 sim (Cali spec)

Thanks

Because the front pre-cat is in fact a catalytic converter. That term has become auto slang for this particular component.

As far as the O2 simulator, it must be installed after the front pre-cat. This will fool the ECU into thinking that the front cat is in fact operating properly. This is the only function of the rear O2 sensor. The front O2 sensor controls the air/fuel mixture. It cannot be simulated, it must function properly in order for the engine to run.

ive been getting the infamous P0430 SES lights as well, ive been resetting them for the last 8 months.

So i guess my precat is pretty much bad then?

if so, should i talk about getting it fixed? or should i just opt for a Y pipe?

and with a CATTMAN y PIPE can i reuse my same O2 sensors or would i have to use a o2 sim?

I have a warpspeed y-pipe, which i thought eliminated the precats. So to get rid of my SES light, do i just need to get 1 o2 simulator? so is there a particular o2 simulator that i need, because when i went to http://o2simulator.com/ there are a few to choose from

Y-pipe will only eliminate the rear pre-cat (cali-spec only, on fed-spec no rear pre-cat).

Headers will eliminate the front pre-cat, but if you go with headers you'll need to install an O2 simulator anyways.

To eliminate the code from appearing install the O2 simulator on the O2 located at the front pre-cat. Put your head under the car...you'll see the front pre-cat as it it the front exhaust bend coming down from the engine block. The O2 simulator following that needs to be replaced to eliminate the code from appearing.

so would this universal simulator work? http://www.o2simulator.com/index.php...40041e4ee5081a

It says NOT for primary o2 sensor.

call warspeed and have them sent you a flanged hi flo cat if that's the problem!

o2 sensor sim. i work at autozone, got the same thing, got a new cat., didn't do anything, threw in the sim. and called it good :)

Yeah i think thatis what i am going to do. would this o2sim work: http://www.o2simulator.com/index.php...40041e4ee5081a ?

which o2 sensor do i replace it with?

i'm having the same problem, but instead of putting a new cat or precat in, im just gonna throw in a test pipe...i dont have to go to emissions until march 2010, so i figure by then i'll have enough money lol

Why even waste your time putting in a test pipe? Test pipe doesn't do sh1t. :confused:

Have you priced the difference between a converter and a test pipe lately? The latter is a much easier choice on the wallet.

+1... how did it go with Merlyn's car today?

Didn't get to work on it after we pushed it out this morning (trans, axles, shift cables basically). Hopefully we can get it done during the day tomorrow, as it appears the boss won't be there.

cool cool

yeah but a test pipe does not get rid of the SES light

im also a current victim of the p0430 and autozone diagnosed as a precat issue. took it to a friends shop and he informed me my precat was showing signs but also my intake had a leak and that could be the reason why i get sparatic idle shakes. im waiting to speak to my friend again to try to figure out if the leak is the main culprit and not the precat (precat not performing well due to leak).... cheaper to fix one then both.

yea sorry about that...guess that doesnt help much since you want to sell your car...i've learned to live with mine though

True, but he will still have the SES light so why even waste his time and money putting in a test pipe? He doesn't have to replace his cat if he doesn't mind the SES light.

so i acn just get any o2 sim,or do i need aspecific one?

would this one work? http://www.o2simulator.com/index.php...40041e4ee5081a

I'm in the same situation, with P0430 and not having $ to replace the cat. Had P0138 and P0139 so replaced the rear O2 sensor with BOSCH from Autozone, and then got the P0430. I think now I'll just put an O2 sim in there. Can somebody explain/show which one I need and where's the best place to buy?

Thank you.

Thanks for all of your help guys. I sold the car, and the buyer decided to do the CAT himself. If i was to do it, i would just go with an Eastern cat. They go for $150.00 online, and would be about $50 fo install. I havnty heard anyhting bad about them either.



Here is the o2 Sim that you need:
http://www.o2simulator.com/index.php...72eac09e305729

It is a Universal o2 simulator with dual output

Thank you.

Are there any safety or performance issues with running bad cat and using simulators?

Do I need to put a simulator on both downstream sensors or just the Bank1Sensor2 I recently replaced with BOSCH?

it the the two downstream ones. two by the header which cant be replaced and two on the downstream are the ones u want to replace with o2 sim

add headers, problem solved


but o2 sim is your best bet

do I need two 02 sims or can I wire up the one to both downstream sensors? Do I cut the wires so o2sensors are disconnected or just tap into them?