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SES Light - cat needs to be replaced?

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Old 09-18-2008, 07:41 PM
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Default SES Light - cat needs to be replaced?

So I'm getting an SES light, P0420 and P0430. 1st bank and second bank, IIRC.

Does this mean the cat(s?) are bad? I had an open exhaust after the cat for a while. could that cause it to throw the code, or do i have to replace the cat? and is there more than one? I was under there fixing the pipe on my exhaust and i didn't see a 2nd one...

Thanks in advance.

Car is a 96 TA, LT1 + T56
Old 09-18-2008, 07:49 PM
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I've always had open exhaust and never cause me to throw a code, more then likely its your 02 sensors, if it was your cats you would notice a lot of hesitation everytime you step on the gas and wouldnt be able to go above 3k rpms.
Old 09-18-2008, 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by TimeMarchesOn502
I've always had open exhaust and never cause me to throw a code, more then likely its your 02 sensors, if it was your cats you would notice a lot of hesitation everytime you step on the gas and wouldnt be able to go above 3k rpms.
It is not an o2 sensor code.

P0420 and P0430 are catalytic converter codes. The cats need to be replaced. Or just cut off.
Old 09-18-2008, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by keliente
It is not an o2 sensor code.

P0420 and P0430 are catalytic converter codes. The cats need to be replaced. Or just cut off.
and dont waste money on a elim just make a spacer for the o2 sensor
Old 09-19-2008, 11:28 AM
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The '96-'97 cars came with two cats.
Old 09-19-2008, 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28
The '96-'97 cars came with two cats.
Hmm. Ok. I know theres one right in the middle, is the second one closer to the engine?
Old 09-19-2008, 10:00 PM
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The bank 1 (driver side) cat is in the engine bay, bolted right to the exhaust manifold. It is drum shaped, doesn't really look like a cat.
Old 09-20-2008, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Formula413
The bank 1 (driver side) cat is in the engine bay, bolted right to the exhaust manifold. It is drum shaped, doesn't really look like a cat.
Ahhhhh ok, i saw that, wasn't sure if that was it or not. cool, good to know. Thanks man.
Old 09-20-2008, 12:32 PM
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if you have access to an inferred temperature gun you can see if the cats are clogged or not. if you point the gun b4 the cat (with the car on) and get a temp reading and then point the gun after the cat and get that temp reading the temp behind the cat should be hotter than b4 it.
Old 09-20-2008, 01:33 PM
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^^ not so accurate cats will get hot regardless clogged or not, check this at night when its dark, if the cats glow red then u have a problem.
Old 09-24-2008, 02:48 PM
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Well, cleared the codes with my new OBD2 scanner, took it for a spirited drive and the SES light hasn't come back yet... Guess it was because of the open exhaust. no backpressure, or readings that were off due to the oxygen or something is my guess. cheap fix for sure!
Old 10-01-2008, 09:37 PM
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ok so i lied. SES light came back.

So is it definitely the 2 cats, or could it be a sensor?

If it is the cats, what is the most beneficial, but not exorbitantly expensive way to fix it and still pass emissions? I figure if I can upgrade for the same price as replacing all the upper pipe, i might as well.
Old 10-01-2008, 10:27 PM
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The options would be to get direct fit replacements, get aftermarket cats (I have heard someone mention the Magnaflow part # 59959) and have them welded in, or gut the cats and have someone with a programmer remove the codes for bad cats. Since you car is OBDII you can pass emissions as long as the codes are tuned out. It's illegal, of course.

P.S. I love Quasar Blue LT1s, got any pics of it?

Edit: I found your other thread with the picture. Looks great. One of those weird TA's with the Formula spoiler.

Last edited by Formula413; 10-01-2008 at 10:32 PM.
Old 10-02-2008, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Formula413
The options would be to get direct fit replacements, get aftermarket cats (I have heard someone mention the Magnaflow part # 59959) and have them welded in, or gut the cats and have someone with a programmer remove the codes for bad cats. Since you car is OBDII you can pass emissions as long as the codes are tuned out. It's illegal, of course.

P.S. I love Quasar Blue LT1s, got any pics of it?

Edit: I found your other thread with the picture. Looks great. One of those weird TA's with the Formula spoiler.
Yeah, I'm in love with the color... I wouldn't be surprised if theres only once car optioned the way mine is, it is so freaking odd. formula spoiler w/ the 150 speedo, cloth, premium sound with a tape deck, etc etc. its just weirdly optioned, aside from 1 of 108 in quasar blue.

Sounds good. I figured those were my options, but I don't have a tuner so I'll probably just get a couple of cats and have them welded in because i have to get another piece of exhaust welded too. though one thing on the Magnaflow cats... Jegs list them as only suitable for cars up to 5.2l of displacement, its there going to be a flow issue on the LT1? I just don't want to rape the power if i don't have to.
Old 10-02-2008, 04:34 PM
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I did some more digging around, the part number I listed is for a 3" in/out universal cat. I'm not sure what size inlet/outlet the stock cats on an LT1 have, I know the I pipe is 2 1/2", I think the cats might be too but I'm not sure. Here is a page listing all the sizes and shapes available for that cat:

http://www.planetmagnaflow.com/shop/Spun-Cat-100.html

Magnaflow also makes direct fit replacements which they claim flow better than stock, and they aren't very expensive. Try looking around online, the site I listed above didn't have them but they are available. Part numbers are 23517 = driver side, 23518 = passenger side.




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