catalytic converter (subaru)

[crash1369]

ok i need a refresher class here on the cat on a 2002 Subaru outback sedan ( if anybody knows these cars specifically) anyway it appears the honeycomb stuff inside the cat has already started to crumble strange as it may seem so i figured ill just take it off dumb out the crap and put it back on, oldskool anyway there is a sensor going into it of course, its an o2 sensor right? in which case it will still run fine and not send up any flags if the cat is hollowed out? or could it be a temperature sensor? anybody know if the computer will care if i do this? no they dont check emissions where i live thanks allot guys

chris

 

[Thunder]

I am not real up on Subarus but it is an OBD 2 car and it has 2 02 sensors. One before the cat for engine management, and one after the cat to monitor if the cat is working.
The one before the cat is vital and cant be removed or altered.
The one down stream of the cat will light the CEL if it sees that the cat is not function properly.
You can get a 02 simulator for the rear 02 sensor to fool the ECM. But there is nothing you can do about the front.
Which sensor is the one you are talking about? Is it up stream or down stream from the cat?

 

[crash1369]

thanks, i didnt see a third, but i wasnt looking. im not woried about removing or altering the one befor the cat i just wanted to make sure its not going to make it run to lean, or rich for that matter.

 

[Jason4x4]

fyi, epa mandates all car manufacturers to have 8 yr 80k warranty on cats. I do believe.

 

[sled_dog]

fyi, epa mandates all car manufacturers to have 8 yr 80k warranty on cats. I do believe.

correct. So if you have less than 80k miles, don't hollow it out, take it to the dealer and get it replaced, FREE.

If you hollow it, you will trip on the check engine light, but it will run fine and mix air properly. If your state has OBD-II emissions, you will fail. Need an 02 simulator or something similar.

Just noticed you are in Tobyhanna, so yea you don't really have to worry about the check engine light thing, but damn those get annoying. And when there IS something wrong, if the light was on all the time, you'd never know there was a problem unless you randomly spot check the trouble codes.

 

[crash1369]

thanks allot guys, if i can get it replaced for free its a no brainer. do i need to know anything specific, should i expect trouble from the dealer? thanks again

 

[sled_dog]

What lead you to he discovery of the bad catylitic converter? Take it to them and inform them you should the cat is failed. I don't really know what else to say.

I have only ever replaced cats under emissions warranty when a car came in for a check engine light.

 

[crash1369]

thanks again guys, my mom talked to the dealer they are going to replace it for her. i found it was bad because she was complaining something was making a noise (typical womans description ) and i found that the stuff in the cat was ratteling around.