Catalytic Converter is dead

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
You could probably still be ticketed for not having a cat, but getting caught is fairly unlikely.

Fairly likely if there's a visual inspection. It wouldn't be hard to miss.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
The spark plugs are weird though-- I don't quite know what to look at. I pull out from the top and a very long long tube comes out with a red cap at the end. Is the spark plug still down there and I will need multiple extensions for my socket wrench or what?

DOHC engine, isn't it. You just pulled out the plug wires, the plugs themselves are down those holes, you just need a long extension and a proper spark plug socket. Do not try to remove spark plugs with a normal socket, it's not nearly as easy as using a proper spark plug socket.

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I can't find the fuel filter. From what I understand it should be on the drivers side directly beneath the seat-- scanning up and down the car I STILL can't find it. I'll have to look closer I guess.

Stupid question, but you're looking on the outside of the car, right? Not underneath the seat? Fuel lines should be pretty obvious when you're laying under the vehicle, just follow them and look for the filter.

ZV

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
You could probably still be ticketed for not having a cat, but getting caught is fairly unlikely.

Fairly likely if there's a visual inspection. It wouldn't be hard to miss.

I was basing it off him living in a no-inspection county

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
The spark plugs are weird though-- I don't quite know what to look at. I pull out from the top and a very long long tube comes out with a red cap at the end. Is the spark plug still down there and I will need multiple extensions for my socket wrench or what?

DOHC engine, isn't it. You just pulled out the plug wires, the plugs themselves are down those holes, you just need a long extension and a proper spark plug socket. Do not try to remove spark plugs with a normal socket, it's not nearly as easy as using a proper spark plug socket.

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I can't find the fuel filter. From what I understand it should be on the drivers side directly beneath the seat-- scanning up and down the car I STILL can't find it. I'll have to look closer I guess.

Stupid question, but you're looking on the outside of the car, right? Not underneath the seat? Fuel lines should be pretty obvious when you're laying under the vehicle, just follow them and look for the filter.

ZV

Ah so DOHC is the reason... All makes sense now . Yea I wasn't going to use anything except my Spark Plug Socket. Judging by the rest of the engine I seriously seriously doubt the spark plugs are misfiring or firing to hot or anything so I might just leave them be.

Haha yea I am looking under the body. I started to trace the fuel lines but then got pre-occupied looking at the rest of the car. I'll have to look closer after work.

As of right now everything I look at is literally like new. I can't find anything to monkey around with on my car

-Kevin

 

[Insane3D]

Just to ad RE: visual inspections. This is a big reason people hollow out their cats. From a visual standpoint, it looks like a stock exhaust system with cats...they have no way of knowing it's empty inside unless they pull it off the vehicle and look, which is highly unlikely.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: jagec
Don't do it...$120 is dirt cheap considering what an ingenious device it is, and how much crap it keeps out of the atmosphere. Do you really want to be spewing carbon monoxide everywhere you go?

FUD. You clearly have no idea what cats do. Their role in minimizing CO emissions is minimal these days due to computer controlled engines that ensure proper combustion (and CO is the byproduct of poor combustion). They primarly convert unburnt hydrocarbons into CO2 and H20 (which has rightly led to claims that cats contribute to global warming). This is because of how modern computer controlled engines operate in order prevent pre-detonation (knock) that they're tuned so far to the lean side for fuel efficiency and performance. You ever seen a new car on the freeway rapidly accelerate for passing and drop a thin cloud of brown/black smoke in the process and wonder, gee, why would a new car do that? That's why.


If the OP doesn't have an emissions test, then my advice would be to wire the appropriate resistor to the appropriate sensor and clear the CEL. Even then, a properly-tuned modern car can pass even the most stringent emissions test without a cat (provided no CEL code and no visual inspection). I have seen this many times. Be advised though that the exhaust will stink quite a bit more and that the exhaust note will be a bit more raspy and unpleasant. Either way, it's still an internal combustion engine and it's still polluting. Better that than violating federal law by tinkering with the cat and/or having to pay some dealer a ridiculous sum to fix the problem.