Various Topics on Subaru

..ncyclexcs.. ..ail.c..

My '02 Impreza Outback got 121,000 miles, and my local subaru dealer
has got a Cat converter check engine code reading.t. They quoted me
$850 to replace the Cat ($650 part + $200 labor).

All I need is to p*** the California smogs. I am not driving the car
much anymore anyway (gas prices), just keep it in the driveway for an
occasional camping trip (still cheaper than renting... provided no
major repair costs) so giving out $800 just to register the thing just
does not sound right.

Goggling produced a $150 (???) "Catco" converter. Does anyone have
experience with this beast? Can I bolt it on myself to keep the
smoggers happy?

Also, I am not sure if the sensor in the car gives a yes/no kind of
answer, or actually produces a real number. Meaning that if I knew
that the reading was on the borderline, can I make the car barely p***
somehow (heard some urban legends on driving on a highway before the
test).

..gn..

runcyclexcski@gmail.com wrote:
> My '02 Impreza Outback got 121,000 miles, and my local subaru dealer
> has got a Cat converter check engine code reading.t. They quoted me
> $850 to replace the Cat ($650 part + $200 labor).
>
> All I need is to p*** the California smogs. I am not driving the car
> much anymore anyway (gas prices), just keep it in the driveway for an
> occasional camping trip (still cheaper than renting... provided no
> major repair costs) so giving out $800 just to register the thing just
> does not sound right.
>
> Goggling produced a $150 (???) "Catco" converter. Does anyone have
> experience with this beast? Can I bolt it on myself to keep the
> smoggers happy?
>
> Also, I am not sure if the sensor in the car gives a yes/no kind of
> answer, or actually produces a real number. Meaning that if I knew
> that the reading was on the borderline, can I make the car barely p***
> somehow (heard some urban legends on driving on a highway before the
> test).


An aftermarket cat shouldn't be a problem, but its not as easy as
bolting it on. You'll need to cut the old one out and weld the new one it.

And the sensor on the car is just yes/no.

..hnin..

I would clear the code and then have the car smogged before dropping $800
on a repair that may not be needed. If the car fails the test, now you
know for sure you need a new converter. P***es then the original problem
was just an O2 sensor failure.

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..ncyclexcs.. ..ail.c..

On Jul 2, 2:11 am, "johninKY" <gfl...@nospam.kih.net> wrote:
> I would clear the code and then have the car smogged before dropping $800
> on a repair that may not be needed. If the car fails the test, now you
> know for sure you need a new converter. P***es then the original problem
> was just an O2 sensor failure.
>

Thanks! It's interesting that there is no way of telling is it's the
detector problem or the cat problem.

.... .. ..c.. ..x..

runcyclexcski@gmail.com wrote:

> On Jul 2, 2:11 am, "johninKY" <gfl...@nospam.kih.net> wrote:
>
>>I would clear the code and then have the car smogged before dropping $800
>>on a repair that may not be needed. If the car fails the test, now you
>>know for sure you need a new converter. P***es then the original problem
>>was just an O2 sensor failure.
>>
>
>
> Thanks! It's interesting that there is no way of telling is it's the
> detector problem or the cat problem.
>

I think the sensors can be scoped to see if the switching is fast enough
and in the proper range. DO NOT try an ohmmeter reading. Some ohmemeters
will burn out sensors. Thsi may be less of a concern with wideband
sensors - I dunno. I wouldn't risk that.

Carl


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.... .. ..c.. ..x..

Carl 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
> runcyclexcski@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> On Jul 2, 2:11 am, "johninKY" <gfl...@nospam.kih.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I would clear the code and then have the car smogged before dropping
>>> $800
>>> on a repair that may not be needed. If the car fails the test, now you
>>> know for sure you need a new converter. P***es then the original
>>> problem
>>> was just an O2 sensor failure.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks! It's interesting that there is no way of telling is it's the
>> detector problem or the cat problem.
>>
>
> I think the sensors can be scoped to see if the switching is fast enough
> and in the proper range. DO NOT try an ohmmeter reading. Some ohmemeters
> will burn out sensors. Thsi may be less of a concern with wideband
> sensors - I dunno. I wouldn't risk that.
>
> Carl
>
>

Try googling some O2 and cat con info. here's coupla sites I found quickly;
http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/ecms...O2sensors.html
http://www.autohausaz.com/html/emiss...n_sensors.html

carl


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.... .. ..c.. ..x..

Carl 1 Lucky Texan wrote:

> Carl 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>
>> runcyclexcski@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Jul 2, 2:11 am, "johninKY" <gfl...@nospam.kih.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I would clear the code and then have the car smogged before dropping
>>>> $800
>>>> on a repair that may not be needed. If the car fails the test, now you
>>>> know for sure you need a new converter. P***es then the original
>>>> problem
>>>> was just an O2 sensor failure.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks! It's interesting that there is no way of telling is it's the
>>> detector problem or the cat problem.
>>>
>>
>> I think the sensors can be scoped to see if the switching is fast
>> enough and in the proper range. DO NOT try an ohmmeter reading. Some
>> ohmemeters will burn out sensors. Thsi may be less of a concern with
>> wideband sensors - I dunno. I wouldn't risk that.
>>
>> Carl
>>
>>
>
> Try googling some O2 and cat con info. here's coupla sites I found quickly;
> http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/ecms...O2sensors.html
> http://www.autohausaz.com/html/emiss...n_sensors.html
>
> carl
>
>

check this article too;
http://www.troublecodes.net/articles/catfailure/

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..ncyclexcs.. ..ail.c..

> > Try googling some O2 and cat con info. here's coupla sites I found quickly;
> >http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/ecms...O2sensors.html
> >http://www.autohausaz.com/html/emiss...n_sensors.html
>
> > carl
>
> check this article too;http://www.troublecodes.net/articles/catfailure/

The latter was a great source, thank you, Carl!

..cha.. ..os..

You can try installing a spacer on your rear o2 sensor. I have a catless
exhaust on my 03 WRX. The spacer pulls the o2 sensor out of the direct flow
of the exhaust , no CEL and gets threw emissions. Costs about $2. You get 2
spark plug spacers available at any autoparts store. I can dig up the part
number if you need it. You will need to drill out the opening some on the
spacers too.


<runcyclexcski@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ac0a945c-0bf6-4ebe-8b76-bdf724fe3bf5@i36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> My '02 Impreza Outback got 121,000 miles, and my local subaru dealer
> has got a Cat converter check engine code reading.t. They quoted me
> $850 to replace the Cat ($650 part + $200 labor).
>
> All I need is to p*** the California smogs. I am not driving the car
> much anymore anyway (gas prices), just keep it in the driveway for an
> occasional camping trip (still cheaper than renting... provided no
> major repair costs) so giving out $800 just to register the thing just
> does not sound right.
>
> Goggling produced a $150 (???) "Catco" converter. Does anyone have
> experience with this beast? Can I bolt it on myself to keep the
> smoggers happy?
>
> Also, I am not sure if the sensor in the car gives a yes/no kind of
> answer, or actually produces a real number. Meaning that if I knew
> that the reading was on the borderline, can I make the car barely p***
> somehow (heard some urban legends on driving on a highway before the
> test).

..ncyclexcs.. ..ail.c..

On Jul 3, 8:32 am, "Michael Prosek" <upssu...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> You can try installing a spacer on your rear o2 sensor. I have a catless
> exhaust on my 03 WRX. The spacer pulls the o2 sensor out of the direct flow
> of the exhaust , no CEL and gets threw emissions. Costs about $2. You get 2
> spark plug spacers available at any autoparts store. I can dig up the part
> number if you need it. You will need to drill out the opening some on the
> spacers too.

I can see how that can clear the check engine light but how would that
affect the smog check readings?


> <runcyclexc...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ac0a945c-0bf6-4ebe-8b76-bdf724fe3bf5@i36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> > My '02 Impreza Outback got 121,000 miles, and my local subaru dealer
> > has got a Cat converter check engine code reading.t. They quoted me
> > $850 to replace the Cat ($650 part + $200 labor).
>
> > All I need is to p*** the California smogs. I am not driving the car
> > much anymore anyway (gas prices), just keep it in the driveway for an
> > occasional camping trip (still cheaper than renting... provided no
> > major repair costs) so giving out $800 just to register the thing just
> > does not sound right.
>
> > Goggling produced a $150 (???) "Catco" converter. Does anyone have
> > experience with this beast? Can I bolt it on myself to keep the
> > smoggers happy?
>
> > Also, I am not sure if the sensor in the car gives a yes/no kind of
> > answer, or actually produces a real number. Meaning that if I knew
> > that the reading was on the borderline, can I make the car barely p***
> > somehow (heard some urban legends on driving on a highway before the
> > test).