2003 Protege5, CA smog test, and the catalytic converter

[rockinprotege5]

Hey everybody! So I've been trying to get my '03 P5 smogged so that I can get my tags updated, and after having to replace: engine coils, distributor cap, spark plugs and wires, new timing belt, new head gasket, upper O2 sensor, and the variable valve soleniod....I'm now told that my cat converter is going, and needs to be replaced. I use Mobile1 fully synthetic oil with the Mobile1 filter, both of which I had changed just a few days ago(right before the last smog check, and immediately after the O2 sensor and the variable valve soleniod were replaced).

The local Stealership wants $1,086 for JUST the cat converter itself, I didn't even ask labor cost after that. I called a local welding/wrecker shop to ask what they would charge me, and they told me right about $400, including a replacement cat and labor.

I'm thinking about going by Autozone or O'Reilly's to see about getting something they sell that might clean out my cat converter enough to help me pass the smog test so that I don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars right now to replace one. Anyone have any experience similar to this one, and/or have some good advice?

 

[brokenpath]

From what i've heard, (This is not an expert opinion)

If your engine throws a check engine light because of the converter There's a way to trick your ECU into going into a different "Mode"

IF you have an OBD scanner you can drive around at about 60mph or so until it goes into the second cycle. Once it throws the check engine light it's too late! When it's in that second cycle it can pass smog.

If you get the check engine light you can just disconnect your negative battery terminal for a few minutes and reconnect it which will reset the ECU.

Again, this is word of mouth and Not an expert opinion by any means but it's something.


Also, there is a protege part out in this forum! Ask dude how much he would want for the cats.

I myself have a stock exhaust manifold with a good #1 cat. (I might let it go for the right price )

Exhausts are a bolt on affair. It's just a bunch of pipes bolted together. and hung up by hooks and pieces of rubber. You can take it off of your car extremely easily.

Once you take this off of your car you can try and find a cat then instead of taking to an auto related place search on craigslist for a welder or search around for welders that do side jobs.

You'd have to cut the cat off yourself too. bandsaws will do the trick and you can rent them at a tool rental place for $10.

It's really about 30 minutes worth of welding (4 full pipe welds) so if you took it off and took it to the right place most welders charge between 30-60 an hour with anything under an hour counting as an hour. Search hard enough and you'll find someone that will do it for REALLY cheap like $25. (Construction welders for example) If you see a truck on the road with 2 big bottles on the back going to red and green tubes that's usually the welder on the construction site. Pull over and ask that guy if he would weld you something up real quick after work.


As far as finding the cat itself you're on your own I have no idea where to find them or which ones would work for this car, as a WILD guess i would think that you can use 2 miata cats that you can find at pick a part.

All in all it might be more money and time than it's worth because cats can be expensive but if you look hard enough i'm sure you'll cut the $400 in half. Consdering it would take about 3-5 hours of work to do everything you saved something like $35 an hour for your time.

OR you can find smog places that will let you "pass" for a "Tip."

Lol, i'm pretty much armchair quarterbacking but if i were in your shoes that's probably what i'd do. I've done similar things to other cars.

Always a way to make something cheaper.

Also, have you checked your EGR valve? That seems to be a common problem with these cars. These places might be trying to bone you royally because if you're not throwing a check engine light and your car isn't running funny none of these things should be wrong with your car. It could be something really simple. BUT on the same token a lot of cars will throw cat codes and run completely fine.

 

[pasadena_commut]

From what i've heard, (This is not an expert opinion)

If your engine throws a check engine light because of the converter There's a way to trick your ECU into going into a different "Mode"

The smog guys check the OBD readings, and if there isn't enough mileage since the last computer reset they won't test the car.

 

[tweety2300]

Can you get away with the non fouler trick in ca? If they don't do a visual inspection you can and even if they do you might still be able to grt away with it. It fixed mine and my precat is bad aswell and it doesn't throw a code. Search the non fouler trick it costs 5 to 20 bucks depending on how you go about it