cat converter question
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Freshman User
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cat converter question
I was wondering if anybody could tell me when a cat converter is no good. Is it safe or effective to remove it all together, or will it effect the vehicle's performance without one? I live in Saskatchewan Canada and I don't think that we have any regulations with regards to cat converters, ( at least as far as I know). Any info would be apreciated.
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In the Unitied States it is illegal I don't know about Canada, but if you do remove the cat and it has a downstream O2 sensor, it will throw a code and possibly cause problems. When cats get plugged up badly you could have the pedal at WOT and the car only moving 35 mph. I've also heard of people using a vacuum gage to tell if they were plugged by both running off a vacuum line and seen if vacuum is low and putting an adaptor in the O2 Sensor hole to see if pressure is building up. If you don't have a downstream and it is somehow legal to remove the cat removing the cat will reduce backpressure which will increase performance at high rpms. I hope this helps.
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Thanx JKorreck, I really don't plan on spinning high rpms too much. The van's performance is pretty good. I get around 22 mpg in town and the motor doesn't seem sluggish so I'm pretty happy with the van.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: northwest
when cats go bad the smell like rotten eggs, or fireworks.
I took mine out. the O2 sensor is upstream of the cats on both my 3.0 and 4.0 aeros.
my mileage increased, and I had more power.
I go up this long hill every day, and the check engine light came on every time I got near the top. I took out the cats, and the check engine light has never came on again.
I took mine out. the O2 sensor is upstream of the cats on both my 3.0 and 4.0 aeros.
my mileage increased, and I had more power.
I go up this long hill every day, and the check engine light came on every time I got near the top. I took out the cats, and the check engine light has never came on again.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Sorry shel. You can't remove your cats. Canadian law specifies that all cars have to have them for emissions reasons since something like 1987 or 88. (that's why they phased out the hyundai pony. Those cars didn't have cats and putting one on boosted the price of the car nearly 3 grand... no one was willing to pay. Hence the birth of the excel) Cars that are made prior to the mandate do not require cats but those made afterwards do. So aerostar you'll ahve to replace your cat... at least... replace it before your next emissions test 
It sucks but hey what can you do? I wanted to take the cat out of my old VW golf to get a little more guts from her little four banger... found out the hard way it was a no-no.
Hope this helps,
Foxy
It sucks but hey what can you do? I wanted to take the cat out of my old VW golf to get a little more guts from her little four banger... found out the hard way it was a no-no.Hope this helps,
Foxy
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From: Scotland, UK
Hi
I live in the uk and could decat without any hassle. but think my o2 sensor is down stream of the cat. after decatting would it be best to reset the vans computer?
i like the idea of bettermpg and more umph. im running the van with no mufflers at the miute so i guess if i de-cat ill need to quet it down a little or face the wrath of my neighbours
thanx
Onefut
I live in the uk and could decat without any hassle. but think my o2 sensor is down stream of the cat. after decatting would it be best to reset the vans computer?
i like the idea of bettermpg and more umph. im running the van with no mufflers at the miute so i guess if i de-cat ill need to quet it down a little or face the wrath of my neighbours
thanx
Onefut
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if you have a downstream O2 sensor I would not chop the cats, even if you "reset" the computer by disconnecting the battery for a while it will still throw a check engine light.
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Freshman User
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From: Scotland, UK
could i not just get the other oxygen sensor time and fit that, assuming it is also a 4 wire sensor 
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From what I understand and someone correct me if I'm wrong, if you have a downstream O2 sensor you also have an upstream, and any chopping of the cat will set a check engine light and affect driveability. The only fix for which is to buy an aftermarket chip that has been programed to not have the downstream sensor. If I'm wrong someone please correct me, this is just to the best of my knowledge from what I've heard from others.