Catalytic converter OEM/after market?-need suggestions by Monday...

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landarcht

10 Year 15 Year
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I'm looking some suggestion for replacement Cat., I would like an OEM but cost is prohibitive. So I' thinking possibly MagnaFlow?
Took the car to a very reputable local mechanic (AAA certified and by customer reviews and history), upon a thorough diagnostic, they determined that it is in fact the Cat. bank #2 (passenger side) gone bad. Left side is fine. All O2 sensors are good. Passenger side upstream and down stream when tested both mirror each other as if there's no Cat. in between.
He also said the Fuel Trim is about -17 which is high (should be around 0), so that could be a dirty or faulty MAF.
He also warned that the two O2 sensors can be considered to be replaced but not pressuring me to do so. My LC is a 2005 and just hit pass 100K miles over the holidays.
Thanks in advance!
 
i strongly suggest you swap the 2 o2 sensors before doing anything else. if that doesn't work, then replace the cat.
 
I agree with above. A couple years ago I had a P0240 code go off, I replaced both downstream sensors, and both upstream just for the heck of it and I haven't had a problem since.
 
Even though the code he got was specifically pointed to Bank 2 cat that's gone bad?
Ok, I will request to do the reverse than, replace both O2 sensors then run diagnostic and see if the code still shows up.
 
Could just be the sealing surface/gasket of the downstream O2 sensor on that side going bad. Pretty common particularly in the rust belt.
 
Let me get this right, even though the code reader clearly indicates "P0430 bank #2 cat" Is not working instead of pointing to the O2 sensors?
I went to two reputable mechanics and they all say the same. The code actually came up right before the holidays and the mechanic reset the code for me and told me to drive a while and see if the same code comes up again and it did last week.
Since I already paid a small fee for a thorough diagnostic, I can't go around getting 3rd or 4th opinions whether it's the cat or not.
But I will insist to only replace two passenger side O2's first and see if that will do. If that doesn't, then I'm really left with the huge bill of ultimately replacing the entire passenger side cat assembly...
I shall report back in a few hours...
 
By the way, the mechanic also said the downstream sensor is mirroring the same reading as the upstream sensor, basically as if the Cat itself is not doing what's supposed to do, as it's not there...
 
Have them replace all the O2 sensors. If nothing changes, at least you will have new sensors as well as a new cat.
 
Dwight S said:
Have them replace all the O2 sensors. If nothing changes, at least you will have new sensors as well as a new cat.
Click to expand...

As mentioned above, that's what I did when I had a code and everything has been hunky dory for the past two to three years. Hopefully in his case it'll be the same thing.
 
Just authorized him to replace the two O2 sensors with OEM and them diagnose if the code still comes up.
Will report back when they are done.
Keeping fingers crossed.....
 
landarcht said:
Just authorized him to replace the two O2 sensors with OEM and them diagnose if the code still comes up.
Will report back when they are done.
Keeping fingers crossed.....
Click to expand...
hope it works!
 
When a converter fails a lot of times the honeycomb material will burn up and break loose causing an immediate loss of power because it will clog the exhaust flow. If all you have experienced is the CEL with no noticeable difference in drivability the sensors will hopefully be the fix.
 
Sounds like all signs are pointing to the O2 sensors.
I experienced no problem with drivibility or loss of power.
The truck drives and accelerates smoothly.
 
Dwight S said:
When a converter fails a lot of times the honeycomb material will burn up and break loose causing an immediate loss of power because it will clog the exhaust flow. If all you have experienced is the CEL with no noticeable difference in drivability the sensors will hopefully be the fix.
Click to expand...
The only time I've experienced a failed cat, the substrate deteriorated, blocking the exhaust and it ran like a dog.
 
Also with 100K miles, the cats cannot go bad. This is a T L Cruiser not a PT cruiser.
 
All done. Car running good. Hope the CEL won't come back on.
He said the Fuel Trim is running at negative 17% instead of 0%. Not sure if that's caused by the old O2 sensors. But they will have to check next time when I take it for oil change.
 
BOOM. Congrats... MUD for the win.
 
landarcht said:
All done. Car running good. Hope the CEL won't come back on.
He said the Fuel Trim is running at negative 17% instead of 0%. Not sure if that's caused by the old O2 sensors. But they will have to check next time when I take it for oil change.
Click to expand...

Keep us updated on the CEL. Hope it continues to stay clear.
 
The dreaded CEL lights and the VSC came back yesterday!!!! It went away for about a month after I replaced the front and back O2 sensors. Now this really sucks!
What I did notice this time is that the oil pressure gauge needle stays about a quarter towards low end after I've driven about half hour. I remember it typically stays about 1/2..when cruising, what can this indicate??
Although I don't really notice any weird behavior from the car while driving. Any ideas?
 
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