Darkhalf

iTrader: (1)

Well just after 3k miles of LT Headers and carsound cats, my SES light kicked on the for the first time <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> I pulled it into the garage and let it idle and I could hear something rattling. I looked underneath the car with engine off and tapped the passenger side cat and it sounded like something is broke inside it. The car now backfires and smells like raw fuel when I start it up. This is telling me that my passenger side cat is shot, but how can that be only after 3k miles? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

I checked for leaks and from what I can tell, and I will post pics later on, that it might have a slight leak where the cat slips onto the header. Would that have caused it too fail so soon? The ECM is pulling in air causing dumping more fuel into the mixture causing the cat to get really hot and fail? I'm lost everyone I need help. I am taking it to the GM dealership to see what code it is throwing. However I am not going to have them fix it, because its probably out of warranty and thats fine with me. The muffler shop that installed the cat is a Magnaflow/Carsound dealer and hopefully he will be able to fix under the Carsound warranty(which is 5 years 50,000 miles)
Any input on this would be appreciated.
Thanks

Darkhalf

iTrader: (1)

Here are some pics of the passenger side collector with the cat sliped on and clamped on.
The first two are of the passenger side and the last one is the driver's side. These pics are taken after 3K miles of driving in nice days and some rainy days so take that into consideration. Otherwise it looks like I have a faint leak on the connection between the cat and collector causing that cat to fail over time.
http://photo.starblvd.net/~Darkhalf/2-4-5.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~Darkhalf/2-5-1.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~Darkhalf/2-4-4.jpg

Tell me what you think.

Red2000SS

Many people report that they are running much richer after installing long tube headers. Have you auto-tapped it to see if you are running much richer.

If you are running way rich, it could clog the cats after a while.

Just a thought - not saying this is the cause, but something to check out / think about.

Good luck.