Catalytic converter is bad

[bluestream1]

Summits got lots of universal cats for under $100. It's not that much money to replace them anymore. It's just part of vehicle maintenance. Pretty sure it's Federal Law in the states... Not so much here in Canada. Most exhaust shops will replace everything from the manifold back with straight pipe... and even some will tell you how to get past the O2 sensors. Apparently the environment is the least of the Governments concern here...

KPS, what you have said is just not true. It is illegal for any shop or any person to remove emission control equipment from a vehicle. Even back in the late 70's a muffler shop would not take off a factory cat. However, you can bring it back up to standard by using used parts if you so choose.

 

[KPSquared]

Where does it say that? I've had several shops do just what I described.

 

[bluestream1]

Where does it say that? I've had several shops do just what I described.

It is Federal Law.

You have had several shops offer to remove your catalytic converter and install straight pipes? Is that correct ?

 

[KPSquared]

It is Federal Law.

You have had several shops offer to remove your catalytic converter and install straight pipes? Is that correct ?

That is correct. Not straight pipes all the way, just pipes from the y-pipe back to the muffler then a tail pipe. Remove cats and anything else under there. I just got a quote from 3 shops on that exact job. Never got any indication from any of them that there would be a problem removing the cats.

I've had it done on 2 other vehicles by 2 different exhaust shops.

Please show me where it says it is against the law to remove the cats... you can't in BC or Ontario for sure, but as far as I know, you can in Alberta.

 

[bluestream1]

Well, since its Federal law it doesn't matter if its Alberta.

List the names of the shops that claimed they would do this.

National chains like Midas or Speedy, or a local shop.

 

[KPSquared]

You know, you're pretty demanding... kinda pisses me off. I was trying to have a civil conversation and your acting like an ass-hat.

Show me where it is Federal Law that you have to have cats installed. Give me a link, show me the article of the traffic act, ANYTHING.

Don't demand names...seriously... don't be such an idiot.

 

[msilver]

your emmissions is takin from your OBD2 port, for those of you who don't know your obd2 port is where a shop whould hook a scan tool to read a check engine light code and what not. you cats are messured by 2 or more o2 sensors on an obd2 car 96' or newer. what they look at when you go for emmissions the computer looks at the o2 sensor signals, the main one that it is looking at is the o2 sensor after the cat. if you were to gut, or cut out your cats and you wanted to pass emmission you can buy o2 sinulator for you explorer. o2 sims will "trick" your computer to make it think that you cat is working and you can pass emmissions

 

[bluestream1]

You know, you're pretty demanding... kinda pisses me off. I was trying to have a civil conversation and your acting like an ass-hat.

Show me where it is Federal Law that you have to have cats installed. Give me a link, show me the article of the traffic act, ANYTHING.

Don't demand names...seriously... don't be such an idiot.

Dude settle down. If its all legal then you should be able to say who is going to do this work. Thats not asking much.

I tell you what, I have some spare time tommorow and I will look up some links for you. How does that sound?

 

[KPSquared]

That sounds great... If it's all legal, I would have no problem naming shops. None of the shops I got quotes from were chain stores. All private performance exhaust shops.

You were kinda comin off like a cop there... "This is illegal now tell me who is breaking the law"

It could be the fact that it is federal law and it is just not enforced in Alberta. I have never been able to find the actual "law" that applies to Canada.

Let me know what you find.

 

[bluestream1]

I called two local shops and was told it is illegal and they won't remove a cat. Called a Midas shop in Calgary and the guy told me its technically illegal to remove it, but its not strictly enforced in Alberta. Found this in my owner manual:

WARNING: In the U.S.A. or Canada, federal law makes it illegal for anyone to tamper with, disconnect, remove or otherwise render inoperative any automotive emissions related control device. In general, the entire fuel system and all its individual components (including the EFI ECU) are considered 'emissions related control devices'. The penalties for tampering can be substantial. A violation may make you liable for a fine of $2,500

Some details on Federal emission law:

http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/ca/#ldv

 

[ians952]

your emmissions is takin from your OBD2 port, for those of you who don't know your obd2 port is where a shop whould hook a scan tool to read a check engine light code and what not. you cats are messured by 2 or more o2 sensors on an obd2 car 96' or newer. what they look at when you go for emmissions the computer looks at the o2 sensor signals, the main one that it is looking at is the o2 sensor after the cat. if you were to gut, or cut out your cats and you wanted to pass emmission you can buy o2 sinulator for you explorer. o2 sims will "trick" your computer to make it think that you cat is working and you can pass emmissions

First off, this is illegal for on-road use. If you plan on tampering with any emissions on your vehicle, it renders it off-road only.

With that out of the way, the O2 sensors (on my truck anyhow) are on either side of the first/primary (front cats). There are no sensors measuring the secondary (rear cats). So, if you plan on removing the rear most cats, or drilling them out, you would not need to trick your computer as your ODB/computer would have no idea. You only need to use an O2 sim if you are removing/drilling out your first/primary cat.

 

[asasial]

honestly i just find it sad that they (the government) expect you to pay more to have the cat system professionally replaced.(cuz you know shade tree mechanics can't do it to government standards) than what the vehicle is worth... it's a money racket just like gasoline, in the early 90's Honda's Toyota's and even the Geo Metero were getting 45 plus miles to gallon. now they brag on getting 30. but anyway, they could build cats out of other materials than platinum and other expensive metals. but lawmakers have plenty of money so i guess that means all of us do....
i have a 96 4.0 limited explorer that needs the cats replaced... it's a nice truck, i payed $1200 but they expect me to pay $1000 plus to have the cats replaced.... i don't think so... hack saw here we come

 

[asasial]

Heck by now an F-150 should be getting 30 mpg, hell i had an 89 astro van that got 23 plus on the highway. a driving brick that got 600 miles to a tank. Funny thing is most vehicles seem to be going backward as far as mileage goes. yeah i know emissions have gotten stricter but they've had 20 years to figure it out... but i guess we all know where our money goes... BP is having to give a little of it back to HELP (not pay for) the clean up in the gulf, (even tho it's 100% there fault) but hey the tax payers will pick up the bill right. what's another 25 cents on the gallon at the pump between friends.

 

[ranger7ltr]

There are all sorts of universal catalytic convertors...

I personally use the spin cast universals from http://performance-curve.com/thunderbolt-spincat.aspx... 37 each or 43 each with an o2 bung[used on rear cats] the dollar hit is negligible... My originals had 170k on them when I rebuild my engine and knew they were somewhat restricted in flow... Plus I redid my exhaust and needed to add another couple of rear convertors...

Here in Texas there are counties that do not only a visual but a flow test and the OBDII test as well...So I have to be as clean as stock...Funny thing though is that my new engine is running cleaner than stock specs with the new exhaust system...

 

[asasial]

your link is coming up dead bro. but www.proformace-curve.com does have some cheap converters. never seen any that cheap in my life.

 

[ranger7ltr]

Seems to work for me...

 

[asasial]

working now... wasn't workin a minute ago