Check Engine Light On

[mx-p5]

Hit up the local Texas section. I'm sure you'd have no problem finding some local mazda guys that could swap in a header or midpipe cat.

Check the FS sections here, they're up all the time!

I know personally, if you were local, i'd be willing to do work on any locals car. We've done 2 suspension swaps in my garage already on other members cars, and i've done my own header and exhaust swaps multiple times. lol

 

[fishdonotbounce]

^^ What he said. I have my stock midpipe that I pulled a couple months ago when I put the Corksport exhaust on. I put it up for sale back then and no one has picked it up so if you wanna buy it, just hit me up with a PM and I'll hook you up.

 

[slavrenz]

That makes a hell of alot more sense...my brothers got real pissed when I told them how much the shop was going to charge me for replacing the cat + labor. He told me $800 for the cat alone, and with labor would bring it out to about $1,100. FREAKIN ridiculous! If my brothers, and you guys, are right about getting it way cheaper then I'm better off finding another way. I don't have that kind of money anyway.

To be honest with you, I really didn't feel right about what that guy was telling me in the first place. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'll pay anything because I don't know anything. Damnit I'm not THAT stupid! Well, anyways, thanks for the advice!!

Glad I could help. Be sure to check into that intake sensor code, if there in fact was one - go to Autozone, Oreilly's, etc., and they'll scan your car for free. If any codes besides P0421 show up, post them here before fixing your cat.

As far as the repair itself, if you're just looking to keep your daily driver in good shape and don't want to mess with any emissions hassles, go to RockAuto.com and order part number 16220. It is a Walker Exhaust catalytic converter, and for about $260, it will bolt directly onto your car, and come with a 5 year guarantee. You just need to get new gaskets and some nuts and bolts (be sure to use grade 10.9 or higher for metric bolts), and you're good to go. Although if your car has anywhere near 100,000 miles, I would suggest you buy a new front oxygen sensor while you're in there as well (you have to remove the front O2 sensor to remove the cat).

You can also get these on RockAuto.com - make sure you get a direct fit, not a universal sensor, and only replace the front one. This is the sensor that monitors your air/fuel ratio, and over time it can wear out and lower your gas mileage.

If you want to deal with the extra time and effort involved, I would look into some of the suggestions above about installing a header in place of your cat. But IMHO, if you're only looking for the vehicle to transport you reliably, it's usually not worth the trouble. Since you would be "deleting" your front cat, you might have to rig something else up in order to pass emissions testing.

 

[slavrenz]

That makes a hell of alot more sense...my brothers got real pissed when I told them how much the shop was going to charge me for replacing the cat + labor. He told me $800 for the cat alone, and with labor would bring it out to about $1,100. FREAKIN ridiculous! If my brothers, and you guys, are right about getting it way cheaper then I'm better off finding another way. I don't have that kind of money anyway.

To be honest with you, I really didn't feel right about what that guy was telling me in the first place. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'll pay anything because I don't know anything. Damnit I'm not THAT stupid! Well, anyways, thanks for the advice!!

I'm guessing they wanted to install the OEM Mazda cat, and to be honest, sadly this quote isn't that unreasonable. Even if you go to the onlinemazdaparts.com website and buy it discounted, it'll still run you something like $700. Even at that price, with an hour installation, you're looking at at least $800 (althought $300 for labor is a little crazy, I'll admit ).

Sure, that $700 converter will last another 10 years, but I doubt you'll still be driving the P5 in 2019, when gas is like $50 a gallon.

 

[mx-p5]

shoot, for $500 i'll be there with bells on and my OEM header and do the swap myself

 

[slavrenz]

shoot, for $500 i'll be there with bells on and my OEM header and do the swap myself

Subtract $150 from that for gas to get from Florida to Texas (and back, hopefully)

 

[racerchick]

(humpleg) Commenced....

My advice. Spend some of that money installing a catback exhaust with a cat delete. Then take it out of your county to be inspected as the Houston area will check your emmissions.

I'm seriously thinking about doing that. I already have an msp exhaust on my car. I haven't looked as much into it as I need to yet, but I just know I want more throttle. lol.

 

[angelito]

i have 2 problems,my p5 had a problem starting .clickc .click,click -start .i had to do this 5 or more times untill started.finally it would not start anymore.it has a brand new battery ,a new starter and still wont start.now every time i connect both battery terminals ,my mazda alarm goes on and on till i disconnect it. my remote alarm controller has a new battery also,but it wont work to turn the alarm off.it does nothing. i been looking for a alarm kill switch but didnt find it under the dashboard. what am i doing wrong? please help

 

[MaxPower]

I agree... buy the Walker catalytic converter from RockAuto.com and have a decent shop install it (should cost less than $100 plus the cost of gaskets and bolts). Total should be $350-400.

 

[slavrenz]

i have 2 problems,my p5 had a problem starting .clickc .click,click -start .i had to do this 5 or more times untill started.finally it would not start anymore.it has a brand new battery ,a new starter and still wont start.now every time i connect both battery terminals ,my mazda alarm goes on and on till i disconnect it. my remote alarm controller has a new battery also,but it wont work to turn the alarm off.it does nothing. i been looking for a alarm kill switch but didnt find it under the dashboard. what am i doing wrong? please help

(jacked)

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

(jacked)

Not if everyone ignores that post, lol.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

That makes a hell of alot more sense...my brothers got real pissed when I told them how much the shop was going to charge me for replacing the cat + labor. He told me $800 for the cat alone, and with labor would bring it out to about $1,100. FREAKIN ridiculous! If my brothers, and you guys, are right about getting it way cheaper then I'm better off finding another way. I don't have that kind of money anyway.

To be honest with you, I really didn't feel right about what that guy was telling me in the first place. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'll pay anything because I don't know anything. Damnit I'm not THAT stupid! Well, anyways, thanks for the advice!!

This one's not 800.00...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Magn...ies?hash=item5ad2bf7d7e&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

a header, hi flow midpipe with that cat & a decent catback would be much less than any 1100.00. F that.

 

[racerchick]

thanks alot guys!! you have given me so much insight and help...except for angelito...lol anywayss...I've also been wondering...I want to take off my roof rack and sunroof shield, and I know the process is tedious, but I still need the roof rack fillers. Where can I get them or are any of you wanting to sell yours? (btw, I don't have the complete rack; just the caps).