2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
#1
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
Cat is shot, and car sounds like a truck. Additionally, I keep getting CEL with code pointing to cat.
I've checked with local dealers (Autozone, Advanced, Miller's, etc) who have this cat they say should fit my Civic: Walker #93268 http://www.mypartsgarage.com/walker-...ter-93268.html
This cat has an arrow stamped on it (I'm assuming pointing in the direction of exhaust flow). However, when mounted in the direction of the arrow, the O2 sensor plug ends up on the wrong side of the cat, out of the reach of the sensor.
Does anyone know if these cats HAVE to be installed in certain direction? Looking through I can't see any difference end to end. If I can mount it with the arrow facing the engine, the sensor wire should reach. My alternatives are to buy a cat with down pipe attached for about $100-150 more. I called a Honda dealership for ***** and giggles, and they quoted me over $1,000 for a cat with down pipe, and stated I may still get CEL trips by installing the sensor on an aftermarket cat.
Any suggestions?
I've checked with local dealers (Autozone, Advanced, Miller's, etc) who have this cat they say should fit my Civic: Walker #93268 http://www.mypartsgarage.com/walker-...ter-93268.html
This cat has an arrow stamped on it (I'm assuming pointing in the direction of exhaust flow). However, when mounted in the direction of the arrow, the O2 sensor plug ends up on the wrong side of the cat, out of the reach of the sensor.
Does anyone know if these cats HAVE to be installed in certain direction? Looking through I can't see any difference end to end. If I can mount it with the arrow facing the engine, the sensor wire should reach. My alternatives are to buy a cat with down pipe attached for about $100-150 more. I called a Honda dealership for ***** and giggles, and they quoted me over $1,000 for a cat with down pipe, and stated I may still get CEL trips by installing the sensor on an aftermarket cat.
Any suggestions?
#2
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
There's a reason that aftermarket cat is so cheap.
#3
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
#4
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
If you want to have a much better chance of the cat lasting a while, get a cat that is California C.A.R.B. approved if you can't afford OE. Especially if you have to pass an emissions test, no matter what area you live in. Many states follow Californias guidelines.
http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic...california.asp
And figure out what caused the first cat to fail....so you don't ruin the next one right away.
As a professional, I would not install a cheapo cat for a customer. If they want cheap, they are free to go to some other shop.....and be mad at them when it fails way too early.
Because chances are very good that it will fail way too early.
I get paid to solve problems, not create more problems.
My first guess would be to orient the cat so your O2 sensor is pointing the same location and same direction as the original.
http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic...california.asp
And figure out what caused the first cat to fail....so you don't ruin the next one right away.
As a professional, I would not install a cheapo cat for a customer. If they want cheap, they are free to go to some other shop.....and be mad at them when it fails way too early.
Because chances are very good that it will fail way too early.
I get paid to solve problems, not create more problems.
My first guess would be to orient the cat so your O2 sensor is pointing the same location and same direction as the original.
#5
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
If you want to have a much better chance of the cat lasting a while, get a cat that is California C.A.R.B. approved if you can't afford OE. Especially if you have to pass an emissions test, no matter what area you live in. Many states follow Californias guidelines.
http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic...california.asp
And figure out what caused the first cat to fail....so you don't ruin the next one right away.
As a professional, I would not install a cheapo cat for a customer. If they want cheap, they are free to go to some other shop.....and be mad at them when it fails way too early.
Because chances are very good that it will fail way too early.
I get paid to solve problems, not create more problems.
My first guess would be to orient the cat so your O2 sensor is pointing the same location and same direction as the original.
http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic...california.asp
And figure out what caused the first cat to fail....so you don't ruin the next one right away.
As a professional, I would not install a cheapo cat for a customer. If they want cheap, they are free to go to some other shop.....and be mad at them when it fails way too early.
Because chances are very good that it will fail way too early.
I get paid to solve problems, not create more problems.
My first guess would be to orient the cat so your O2 sensor is pointing the same location and same direction as the original.
Last edited by pollycranopolis; 08-09-2013 at 12:51 PM.
#6
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
I just wanted to make sure cats in general are not designed or required to be fit in one direction v.s the other. If this is not the case, and they can be installed either way, I'll just have my exhaust guy flip it and hit it with a good weld in a position where the sensor wire will reach the cat plug (like the original)
#7
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
This might be a question for the manufacturers' customer assistance hotline. IMO, it probably depends on the construction design of the internals and placement of the sensor. Many factory cats have more than one substrate package within the shell and do not work properly when installed reversed (and OE can't be bolted up that way anyway). I can't tell you if your aftermarket cat would be similar or not......but I doubt it. I bet it only has a single bed and orientation would make no difference other than you need the O2 sensor placed as far rearward as possible.
http://www.walkerexhaust.com/support/contact-info
1-734-384-7830
These are designed to flow in either direction, despite the stamped flow arrows. In fact most all of their cats are similar bed spec, multi flow, for generic applications. Obviously not ideal in terms of quality or longevity, but should work in a pinch.
#8
Registered!!
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Michigan
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
The owner before me on my car, just cut it off completely and I still average 36mpg. Since you said you were willing to deal with the CEL...
#9
Super Moderator
iTrader: (4)
Re: 2003 Civic EX: Catalytic Converter Replacement Issue
There are some CARB legal cats for the EX here that are WAYYY less than $1,000: http://www.discountcatalyticconverte...nts=partfinder
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Civicchicky87
Idle Issues
5
04-22-2015 07:16 PM
jessicakaybby
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
5
04-20-2015 12:11 PM
deus-ex
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
2
04-13-2015 12:29 PM