Exhaust differences Sedan Vs Rest

[novAKs47]

I've got an '02 LX sedan. Every where that I've read indicates that all Protege's have the same exhaust, with the exception of the axel-back portion. Even the shop manual online shows only one exhaust. My sedan, however, looks different. If you look at my exhaust, you'll see what I mean. I just got a catless midpipe too(it's on the way), but i don't see how it's gonna work here. lol My cat-ed midpipe is a very short section, and after that it's one long pipe that contains the resonator, and it just keeps going until it reaches the axel-back portion. The SLS midpipe that I have on the way says it'll work with any Protege exhaust too. What's going on here?

 

[njaremka]

you're over thinking it - the cat-less mid-pipe replaces that short section where your cat is, not the whole exhaust. if you bought the SLS pipe, as soon as you get it in your hands, you'll see where it goes and what it replaces.

 

[novAKs47]

LOL I wouldn't be surprised if I was. Just the same(indulge me here), the pics of midpipes that I see make them look so much larger than that tiny little section. Like the MAM for example. There's an old pic I just saw where two dudes are holding midpipes, and the pieces look so much longer. Maybe I'm missing something obvious? And yes, I know it doesn't replace everything after the cat.

 

[shane02pro5]

Look closer! It runs over the front crossmember and bolts to the pre-cat section. I made my own catless midpipe then bought the SLS one but I think it was like 40" long same as stock. The only difference between proteges is the P5 has a longer straight section in the catback. And the MSP and MP3 that came with the racing beat catback which are still swapable.

 

[novAKs47]

Look closer! It runs over the front crossmember and bolts to the pre-cat section. I made my own catless midpipe then bought the SLS one but I think it was like 40" long same as stock. The only difference between proteges is the P5 has a longer straight section in the catback. And the MSP and MP3 that came with the racing beat catback which are still swapable.

D'oh! You're right. My bad! I really shouldn't think about anything like this right after work all night. lol (hand)

 

[lilchild87]

I was wondering to change my cat for a high flow one but the guy on the muffler shop said he can't do it cuz the cat on the 1.6 comes with the headers

then i told him to take the sponge s*** it has inside and he said no cuz the o2 sensor is gonna read the cat is not getting hot so the check engine light will come out on cluster

Any suggestions? i only have a muffler cuz i want my car to sound mellow and just wondering to go for a high flow cat for better flow and tone but nothing more than that

Please don't mention changing headers, pipes, or resonator

Thx! (rockon)

 

[NCZ13]

I was wondering to change my cat for a high flow one but the guy on the muffler shop said he can't do it cuz the cat on the 1.6 comes with the headers

then i told him to take the sponge s*** it has inside and he said no cuz the o2 sensor is gonna read the cat is not getting hot so the check engine light will come out on cluster

Any suggestions? i only have a muffler cuz i want my car to sound mellow and just wondering to go for a high flow cat for better flow and tone but nothing more than that

Please don't mention changing headers, pipes, or resonator

Thx! (rockon)

than what do u want us to say? you want us to tell you to get a high flow cat? seems like you already made ur decision dude.

 

[lilchild87]

The point is of i'll be able to change it..

reasons.. comes with headers or check engine light will come out if i remove the inside of it

 

[novAKs47]

Just do a search for the non-fouler CEL fix. That'll take care of any CEL you'll get from gutting the cat. And removing/gutting cats will increase the noise a bit, mostly under acceleration. And to be honest, gutting the cat won't gain you a whole lot. I know you said not to mention headers, but you would see better gains that way.

 

[lilchild87]

Just do a search for the non-fouler CEL fix. That'll take care of any CEL you'll get from gutting the cat. And removing/gutting cats will increase the noise a bit, mostly under acceleration. And to be honest, gutting the cat won't gain you a whole lot. I know you said not to mention headers, but you would see better gains that way.

i wanted to get the OBX headers but this guy told me the same thing, better to leave it with just a muffler

the OBX headers removes the cat too so there comes the issue again

 

[NeilBey]

Remember that you have 2 cats. One underneath the exhaust manifold in the engine bay - the one that will get deleted if you were to get an aftermarket header and the other is underneath the car. The cel that comes on from removing the manifold and 1st cat (when replacing it with a header) can be fixed with the fore-mentioned CEL fix. An aftermarket CATTED midpipe will not eliminate the second cat underneath the car - it just replaces it with a high flow cat.

The guy at the muffler shop is relaying wrong information (unless I'm wrong?). Now also remember that in CA it's not legal to eliminate the first cat, so when you go to take it in for inspection, you'll have to put the stock exhaust manifold and 1st cat back on for that.

Hopefully that clears things up a bit.

 

[lilchild87]

Remember that you have 2 cats. One underneath the exhaust manifold in the engine bay - the one that will get deleted if you were to get an aftermarket header and the other is underneath the car. The cel that comes on from removing the manifold and 1st cat (when replacing it with a header) can be fixed with the fore-mentioned CEL fix. An aftermarket CATTED midpipe will not eliminate the second cat underneath the car - it just replaces it with a high flow cat.

The guy at the muffler shop is relaying wrong information (unless I'm wrong?). Now also remember that in CA it's not legal to eliminate the first cat, so when you go to take it in for inspection, you'll have to put the stock exhaust manifold and 1st cat back on for that.

Hopefully that clears things up a bit.

It really does thx a lot, well i guess he didn't notice that the protege has 2 cats, i just realized it too

So you are saying if i change the 2nd one for a high flow one or remove all the thing inside it, there's gonna be no problem with sensors and check engine light?

 

[NeilBey]

If you remove the guts of the 2nd cat, then yes it will throw a cel. If you remove the 1st cat (like when installing an aftermarket header), then it will throw a cel (provided you haven't already done the CEL fix). Changing the second cat for a high flow cat shouldn't throw a CEL.

 

[lilchild87]

If you remove the guts of the 2nd cat, then yes it will throw a cel. If you remove the 1st cat (like when installing an aftermarket header), then it will throw a cel (provided you haven't already done the CEL fix). Changing the second cat for a high flow cat shouldn't throw a CEL.

i'll try that then.. maybe next friday

i'll let you know

thx!

 

[ezekiel]

there will not be a CEL if you gut or even remove the second cat. Beccause there isn't an o2 sensor monitoring it both of the sensors are before the second cat (1 in exhaust mani and 1 just before the flange that has the springs on the bolts) BTW I own a 02 protege lx

 

[lilchild87]

that's what i told the guy " the o2 sensor is before the cat,not after" but he said it doesn't matter, the sensor will read it anyways

I think he's mistaken like you ezekiel said, the sensors are before the 2nd cat

whats the diff between gut the stock cat or get a high flow one?

 

[Protegebuddy]

I've heard the only difference between a high flow and a normal cat is, that the high flow cat just has bigger inlet and outlet piping for more flow. Nothing interal different.

 

[lilchild87]

I've heard the only difference between a high flow and a normal cat is, that the high flow cat just has bigger inlet and outlet piping for more flow. Nothing interal different.

yea i now but my questions is the diff between the stock gutted ( without the sponge thingy inside) and a high flow

(nana)

 

[Protegebuddy]

yea i now but my questions is the diff between the stock gutted ( without the sponge thingy inside) and a high flow

If you gut yours and take the interal parts of the cat out, you're just left with pretty much a hollow pipe. A high flow cat still has the honeycomb structure in the inside, just bigger inlet and outlet piping.

 

[lilchild87]

If you gut yours and take the interal parts of the cat out, you're just left with pretty much a hollow pipe. A high flow cat still has the honeycomb structure in the inside, just bigger inlet and outlet piping.

Then between those any gains/noise?

Thx!