CEL trouble

[ryu_haneda]

Hey all, @ the dealership waiting while they pull a code for me. CEL came on while on the way 2 work. It was cold out and I let my car warm up for about 5 mins. After CEL, I got 2 the dealer 20 mins later, no smoke from hood, no spike in engine temp. Was going 2 get oil, tranny fluid changed this weekend.

Waiting for more info...
-ryu_haneda

[Huffer]

You can go to most parts stores to get a CEL pulled. As long as the dealer doesn't charge you, that's still a good route.

This is also a good reason to get your own scanner... the Scan Gauge II is my personal favorite.

[ryu_haneda]

Lesson learned, the CEL is for a problem with my catalytic converter. Looks like I'll need to get my cat replaced before my emissions inspection in August/September.

Dealer wants upwards of 900 for the deal (cat + labor). I'm going to be looking for the parts myself.

Anyone live in the Allentown/Philadelphia area that knows of a good repair shop to go to for this? I doubt that Welsh Subaru is going to let me bring my own parts so that they can install them for me.

www.catalyticonverters.com (http://www.catalyticonverters.com) has a Bosal Performance cat, but it's not for my engine type (it fits a 2.2, I have a 2.5).

Time to start looking... I'm not going to get the repair done anytime soon, and I understand that it is going to hamper my performance and fuel mileage some, so I won't wait very long, either.

[ryu_haneda]

Noob question: since I'm going to be replacing my catalytic converter, what kinds of options can I get with 900 bucks worth of money? I know I can save money by just replacing the cat, but my exhaust also does the phantom turbo whistle (read: it's old and defective) and I had been thinking about replacing it.

Does getting a new cat + exhaust system sound impossible for $900? Less than $900?

Even better question: if I was going to spend 900 bucks because of a problem like this, how much could I replace of my exhaust system (i.e. muffler, exhaust tip, downpipe, cat, uppipe, etc.) with that much dough?

[Huffer]

if you are going to just get a replacement cat, get one like this:
http://shop.catalyticonverters.com/images/alloem_performance/thumbs200/eastern/40237.jpg
http://shop.catalyticonverters.com/buy. ... make_code= (http://shop.catalyticonverters.com/buy.php?make_text=subaru&model_text=legacy&ml=leg-4wd2-dot-5-001&year=1998&part_name=catalytic_converter&brand_name=eastern&my=1&make_code=)

There are others around, I have one that I bought which has a deleted front section. I bought this, and picked up the rear O2 spacer fix at the same time just in case the additional flow trips the ECU up.

[ryu_haneda]

Is that two cats in one piece? I found a site that sells front and rear catalytic converters. The prices are about 150 bucks apiece for new front and rear units.

EDIT: Nevermind, I answered my own question. That's actually cheaper than my other option. Does this actually free up flow? Would this make my car actually perform better? (*Even if only technically, I'm curious.)

[ryu_haneda]

Huffer, thanks for the recommendation. I'll be ordering the following stuff:

1. Catalytic converter
2. Pre-cat O2 sensor

I'm also going to be getting my oil changed and tranny fluid done this weekend. And seeing as how I haven't had a tune-up done in a while, I'm going to have my spark plugs checked. (I have Bosch plugs at home that I haven't even opened up, I wonder if I can use those...)

My mechanic recommended that instead of getting a fuel injection cleaning service done, I pick up some Lucas fuel system cleaner. Have you had any experience with this? He seems to be a real advocate for it as it fixed a car he was helping someone with. I'll be looking for that as well.

Later!

[1-3-2-4]

What Bosch plugs??? IF they are Platinum don't bother putting them in the Subaru at all unless you like to have a misfire every now and then.. trust me I put them in a 98 Forester Worst thing I ever did...

[ryu_haneda]

Any better ones out there? Relatively inexpensive...

[1-3-2-4]

Denso.. NGK...

I think I brought a 4 pack of Denso coppers for like $14 for all 4 for my impreza at the time I had it.

[ryu_haneda]

Do any major brands carry those, or would you need to order them online?

[1-3-2-4]

Do any major brands carry those, or would you need to order them online?

I picked up my Denso's at AutoZone

[dplacencia]

Get a stromung high flow cat. it's about $350.

[ryu_haneda]

Get a stromung high flow cat. it's about $350.

:tongue9: WHAT! I had no clue. I'm looking that up right now. Please let it me a twin replacement (front & rear).

EDIT: Having a hard time finding one for my '98 LGT online. Where did you find them?

SECOND EDIT: What should I watch out for if I get a high flow cat? I was definitely going to replace my pre-cat O2 sensor, but should I buy anything else?

[decke48]

you can get impreza 93-00 cats just need a o2 wire extender for the rear o2 http://shopping.lightningmotorsports.co ... ductid=782 (http://shopping.lightningmotorsports.com/customer/product.php?productid=782). plus if the go with a high flow cat i recommend getting a o2 spacer for the rear o2 for less chance of getting CELs http://rallitek.com/rao2sesp.html also get new bolts all around.

[ryu_haneda]

Ok, Huffer, I bought the Eastern Catalytic converter you showed me. Actually got it cheaper than the OEM separate front and rear cats! I'm picking up a Walker pre-cat O2 sensor to round out the repair.

[Huffer]

Wait until it arrives to see if you need to buy exhaust gaskets to fit it up. It's a fun job to drop a system down.

My old cat was so badly rusted on I had to cut it off with a sawzall.

[ryu_haneda]

Okay, post-installation report:

Had the Eastern catalytic converter installed, along with the walker pre-cat o2 sensor back in April (and a bosch post-cat o2 sensor at the end of May).

Still getting PO420 CELs ("catalytic efficiency below threshhold"). I wonder if a reflash of my [engine computer?] would fix the voltage problems between my pre-and-post cat o2 sensors (sometimes they BOTH run rich voltage readings; most of the time the front is upwards of 0.7 or 0.8, and the rear is maybe 0.3... then sometimes they both run rich at 0.74 or so). Or could it be that there is some kind of inherent problem/defect with the cat itself?

I'll have to research this some more.

[Huffer]

Do have two cats or one now?

If you have two, you shouldn't have a problem. If you have one, you are probably flowing more than expected, and you'll probably need a rear O2 spacer.

Grab two HELP! brand spark plug anti-foulers, drill out one, screw it into the other, screw those into the rear O2 bung, and install the O2 sensor into those.

Reset ECU, drive.

[jey]

Had the Eastern catalytic converter installed, along with the walker pre-cat o2 sensor back in April (and a bosch post-cat o2 sensor at the end of May).

Still getting PO420 CELs ("catalytic efficiency below threshhold"). I wonder if a reflash of my [engine computer?] would fix the voltage problems between my pre-and-post cat o2 sensors (sometimes they BOTH run rich voltage readings; most of the time the front is upwards of 0.7 or 0.8, and the rear is maybe 0.3... then sometimes they both run rich at 0.74 or so). Or could it be that there is some kind of inherent problem/defect with the cat itself?


Did you reset the ECU after installing all the parts? The P0420 code doesn't go away instantly unless you reset the ECU or drive it around quite a bit with the problem resolved.

The voltage readings you have seem to be normal. Rear O2 will read around .7, same as the front when you first start up the car because the cat converter hasn't heated up and is doing anything yet.

[ryu_haneda]

Huffer: Thanks for the inquiry. The Eastern cat converter I bought (the one you recommended) has two cats. What is an O2 spacer?

Jey: The rear O2 reads .7 after several minutes of warmup. It just about matches the front o2 sensor every 8 to 10 readings or so upon initial warmup. (EDIT: my head mechanic did delete the PO420 code yesterday, I believe.)

My head mechanic let me know that the equipment is good, neither o2 sensor is shot, and the catalytic converter is looking ok. (If the front o2 was blown, that would definitely kill the catalytic converter.)

Sent email to Eastern Catalytic for additional help. The product that I purchased back in March is not in the Catalytic converters website anymore, it may have been a package deal combining the front and rear cats into one price package.

[ryu_haneda]

I spoke with Eastern Manufacturing (the makers of the cat that I bought) and they said to call the website I bought it from, to claim it as a defective product. Just got off the phone with them and they will be processing my refund. All I have to do is send it back to them.

Soooooooo... I guess I may get another crack at a stromung cat after all... Ideally I would like to spend around the same as I did for my cat when I first purchased it, so I will combine a rebate check I got from a recent purchase towards the catalytic converter. (I'm not interested in blowing money on a car - I like my Subie and all but some stuff's just more important. I think the Stromung cat is one of my least expensive (and nicer-sounding) options.)