It seems that my current 03 SE maxima requires a New catalytic converter. Seeing that brand new OEM replacement costs about $170 or more im thinking of getting rid of it altogether.

With that being said, I have 3 options:

1) Buy and OEM one

2) Buy this or something similar:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/00-03...item563a6bc237

3) Replace my stock Y pipe with cattman Y.

Since i am thinking about modding my car in the future, i am leaning toward option 3, but option 2 is definitely the cheapest. What do you guys think?
will the Cattman Y pipe get rid of my catalytic converter??

Or should i just buy a highflow unit, passes smog in CA?

Thanx

 

go with ur instinct man unless ur tryin to save money then go with the highflow one

 

4) custommaxima high flow cat "shell" for $50.

http://www.custommaxima.com/product/...r/Default.aspx

 

not bad at all id have to agree with u man $50 cant go wrong there as long as itl pass smog in CA for the OP

 

How many miles on your max? If you're under 80k, Nissan covers it under their emissions warranty. Although if you want to get rid of it, that's your deal.

 

why is the high flow cat so cheap? does this fit right into place? is there something about it that i dont kno about

 

This should answer your question...

They are not "true" catalytics. Just a resonator/glasspack style insert.

 

This is weird...I had inquired about a high flow cat from an ebay member about 2 weeks ago. In the picture it looked very similar to a normal cat. I just checked at the same listing and now its this weird resonator looking thing but it does say its a cat. A few other listings are shady as far as the description goes. Resonator/cat... FISHY.....
Heres the one I searched out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33629

 

Those are all just small resonators. Nothing more, nothing less. As you can see, none of them show the INSIDE of these units because they are just that, a resonator/glasspack style inside.

This is a true cat:



See the homeycomb style inside? I highly doubt ANY of these have that catalytic material inside to reduce emissions.

 

Id go for the one from Custommax. Which I will be getting very shortly once it gets warmer out. Time for more CUTTING and cursing.

 

Since the ECU does not monitor the main cat, I'd go with a test pipe or a fake cat. If whatever emissions testing you have involves putting a mirror under the car or looking specifically for the cat, I'd go with a fake one. If all they do is plug into your OBDII port to check for codes, you ought to be fine with a test pipe. The computer only monitors the precats so removing the main cat will not give you an SES light. The precats obviously scrub the exhaust enough on their own that Nissan does not considering monitoring the main cat important for keeping emissions low.

This applies for sure to a 5.5 gen, not 100% sure about a 5th gen.

 

That would be true to the 5th gen, as there are no o2 sensors downstream past the flex pipe. Too bad in NY they test the emissions out of the exhaust.

 

Upgrade and upgrade only!

 

that "cat" from custommaxima does look good, but i dont know what difference is there from an ebay one.

 

Does it pass emissions?

 

I would be willing to bet your car would pass with just the precats alone, which is why Nissan isn't required to monitor the main cat.

 

How do you know you "need" to replace the catalytic converter? What symptoms are present?

I thought in California there is a law passed in 2009 saying you can only buy catalytic converters from Nissan.

 

well, there is a code for it and visually inspecting it, i can see why...
Its basically falling apart...

 

You didn't notice any power loss or driveability issues before finding out the cat was trashed?

 

Yeah, I'm getting the custommaxima cat-back system as soon as I can afford it. I think I'll get their high-flow cat as well.. Looks good, and from what I've heard and my communication so far, Tom (with custommaxima) seems like a pretty good guy who makes a quality product at a good price. I'd stay away from the fishy ebay stuff...

 

i just got the car, so i couldnt tell lol.

As soon as i got the car, the 1st place i took the car to is my trusty mechanic (i always do that with my cars prior to driving them). After im getting it back im pretty much getting a brand new car. Car itself had many major problems, but i knew that when i bought it. I will make a thread about it with pics and story once i get it back on monday. He says he can install an oem cat for 150 but i told him to hold on that.

Most likely im picking up the hiflow car from custom maxima and later upgrading to a warp Y leaving my stock catback.

 

high flow with stock exhaust will pass emissions???

 

Wait a sec...is the claim of "8-15hp" gains by putting one of these in really true? I'd buy one of these in a second if I got even half that much of a power increase. I don't care at all about having to pass emissions because my city hasn't required any emissions testing at all for years now.

If it makes my Max smell like a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 though that's a deal killer for me. I HATE the old car smell!

 

Buy my test pipe $25 shipped, I got it on ebay like a year ago, but it has been off the car for about 9 months and been in my garage. 2.5" too, drops right in. Let me know!

 

Yes! Why would you think it'll be a problem? 96 on up are only inspected via the OBD2 port....and even if your state preforms a visual they can't tell and it's not illegal to replace it with an aftermarket unit once the original fails or becomes defective...I'm running Headers/metallic substrate cat/Hybrid SRI/Catback just to name a few on my 2003 Maxima SE A/T TE....Headers/Intake/Cams/Ignition on the 1990 Maxima SE and it just passed the emissions dyno test with flying colors as well as my 86.5 338,000 mi Hardboby P'up which also has headers/cam/ignition/ CAI and it's passed with flying colors in the last 8 yrs+....

 

It looks like a cat, but it's only a shell.

 

sounds good, i will let you know in the next couple of days. thanx

 

If your car or catalytic converter is new, the gains would be minimal, maybe 2-3 hp. However, since most of us are well past 50k miles and a lot of us past 100k miles, there is going to be some blockage in the catalytic converter so odds are you will see some gains along what it being promised.

 

i most def wanna kno the same thing because im having the same problem with my car and was going to buy the 50$ high flow but idk if i can put it on my stock exhaust pipe

 

There are aftermarket cats that are CA approved as OEM replacements. However, as far as the precats are concerned, they are not bolt-on replacements. The required mod involves making a 2" to 4" adapter, which makes the OEM the logical choice. The main cat is much more universal, but bear in mind that in CA the serial# must correspond to an approved replacement, and I know 1st hand that shops are actually verifying serial numbers here in CA.

 

Thats good info but holy old post lol, March 2010? Buy the cats from DaveB and save some cash plus know its a Nissan OEM part. 888-254-6060.

 

Better than starting a new thread on the same issue, I guess lol!

Good call - Dave B is definitely the go-to man!

 

Not the ones I go to, nobody is getting under the car to check your main cat, just checking for CEL and if you pass the sniffer for me will be a problem since bout to put in Headers..

 

def go with option 3. i have replaced my cat with a random tech and after at least a year that one went bad.

 

Pass the news around, Link>http://forums.maxima.org/general-max...day-daveb.html

We really should call South point and ask for DaveB then upon being told sorry say I'll place my $1,000 parts order with the DaveB only.

 

I replaced my cat with a magnaflow highflow cat from amazon, costed me about 60 and 40 to get it welded in.

OP living in cali you cant go with a test pipe, I hear guys out there have trouble passing with high flow cats.

As far as everyone getting excited over the claimed 12hp gains from custommaxima test pipe