vtecbrah

Hi guys,

I have a 2004 Civic. My catalytic converter needs to be changed. It can't be repaired.

I have two options:
1) buy a new aftermarket part
2) buy an used OEM part

Which option is better? Buying a new OEM converter is out of the question. I don't have $600+ to spend.

drhawkinz

You can find a CARB certified cat brand new for around $350-400. The cheaper cats haven't been known to last. I guess it depends on how much a used factory cat is and how many miles are on it vs a new CARB one.

vtecbrah

Does it have to be CARB certified? I'm in Montreal, Canada so I don't need to pass emissions.

What do you think of this one on Amazon?

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-674-608-Catalytic-Converter-Compliant/dp/B001DRM8FY

If the shipping to Canada is not ridiculous I might buy it.

usajags84

Advance auto parts has a online code for 30% off using trt30 at checkout I am going to have to buy for my 6th gen due to cracking comes down to 179 and it's lifetime replacement so I don't care how long it lasts

ezone

If I'm doing it for a customer, they don't even get the cheapo option, they just don't last reliably. Half the time the cheapies won't even make it past the 1 year warranty period before the P0420 code comes back.

New OEM, or California CARB approved are the only choices I will offer a customer.

If they want cheap they can go be pissed at someone else.

vtecbrah

Thanks for your advice ezone. I will go for the other Dorman that is CARB compliant. It's only $40 more I think.

Just curious, what would happen if you decided not to change the bad exhaust manifold/catalytic converter? Mine is so badly cracked that none of the mechanics wanted to even try welding it.

ezone

Oooh oooh oooh!

I can predict the future: It will not heal itself.







Leaking exhaust =

Carbon Dioxide,
Carbon Monoxide,
Stink,
Noise,
Pollution,
Inaccurate fuel injection calculations due to air leakage

Maybe more but I'm about to fall ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

vtecbrah

Haha. All right. Good night and thank you.

vtecbrah

My car won't start at all today. RIP Civic.

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

clogged cat is my guess

its like having a monumental diarrhea but your exhaust port suddenly gets 10% of its original size...

ezone

^Wow, that really painted a picture....

vtecbrah

I tried a cheaper option first before replacing the part. I brought the car to a garage and they welded it. 1 kilometer later my car just died at the red light. Had it towed to a garage and the mechanic believes it's a bad knock sensor so he will order the part and fix it tomorrow.

vtecbrah

Do you guys believe it could be a bad knock sensor? That's what the mechanic's scan tool showed but I have a hard time believing it's only that.

vtecbrah

Was not the knock sensor. Car died again after it has been replaced. **** man what could it be?

ezone

1000 different possibilities.
Start at square one and diagnose.

Your mechanic was wrong, now what would he like to do?

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

get a friend with similar car, swap in his cat and test (please ask him before taking the cat out of his car)

that is the part you changed, you should test it...

vtecbrah

Yep. The new guy was wrong with his diagnosis. I have never seen him at the garage before.

Now I talked to my trusted mechanic and he believes it's the Crankshaft Position Sensor.

If that doesn't work I'll try to test the catalytic converter.

But I'm confident that the problem is the Crankshaft Position Sensor. Another mechanic told me the same thing.

drhawkinz

you have a code scanner? you should have a CEL with a code for a bad sensor. i would start fixing what you know is wrong with the car and go from there.

vtecbrah

I received one by mail today.

But the thing is no CEL is on.

The mechanic will change the Camshaft Position Sensor today and if that doesn't work he will change the Crankshaft Position Sensor too.

After that if it still doesn't work I will bring it to another mechanic who specializes in electrical problems.

vtecbrah

It's now solved. It was a EGR Valve that needed to be cleaned.