Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

CAT going bad, just replace whole system?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 05:12 PM
  #1  
iosigma's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: East Tennessee
Default CAT going bad, just replace whole system?

My 02 Z-28 starting throwing a code today, so I took it and had it check out. The right side cat was throwing the code(meaning it's going bad). The guys at the shop said it would eventually have to be replaced. I check on a price for the part at my GM dealer and they said it was $442.00! My car has 83,000 miles on it. The guy at the sales desk said he would cut me a deal on the cat. $376.00 (whole sale cost) If I decided to replace it. My question is this; Should I wait till it goes bad and replace it; replace it with an after market set-up;reaplce the exhaust from the headers back? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Tom
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 05:22 PM
  #2  
2001NBMZ28's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Default

Damn, could've gotten a free one if you were under 80K. Was it P0430? Outside chance it could still be a bad/leaking 02.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 05:37 PM
  #3  
Louie83's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 0
From: Dayton, OH
Default

DEFINITELY replace it with an aftermarket set-up, that is insane for a stock cat.

You can get Pacesetters and a catted Y for a very reasonable price. Put your $376 towards that and you are almost already there.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 05:42 PM
  #4  
HeapaShifter's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
Default

You should replace the exhaust with aftermarket from the headers back.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 05:54 PM
  #5  
Jon B.'s Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Default

I might be in sorta the same situation. My car recently started throwing P0420, and i'm still hoping that is is just that O2 that is bad. If it is the cat it sounds like it is header/ory time and just get rid of the rear O2s and the cats all together. My car has under 80k though, so we'll see I guess.

Jon
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 06:02 PM
  #6  
brad8266's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,797
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, NY
Default

****, **** the cats, just get the cat code deleted out with tuning software.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 06:07 PM
  #7  
davered00ss's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,520
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield, CT
Default

First off, Emissions equiptment is warrantied fro 96 mo / 96K. If the dealership told you you need one they should replace it under warranty.

Second, It is probably just a bad rear O2 sensor.

Third, Good excuse to get a set of Kooks long tube headers.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 06:12 PM
  #8  
LS69TA's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
Likes: 0
From: Texarkana, Tx
Default

If you don't have to pass emissions, I'd just gut them and put some $50 o2 sims on it.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 06:14 PM
  #9  
Danny2tek's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,770
Likes: 7
From: Miami
Default

Originally Posted by LS69TA
If you don't have to pass emissions, I'd just gut them and put some $50 o2 sims on it.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 08:14 PM
  #10  
iosigma's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: East Tennessee
Default

Is there a good catted "y" pipe that I can replace the stock setup with that will work with the stock headers? If I can do that I think I'll go ahead a replace the headers back. Suggestions? Need to try to keep the cost down as much as possible.
Thanks again for your replies thus far.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2006 | 09:22 PM
  #11  
Cakes's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Ware, MA
Default

iosigma, Stainless works makes a catted y-pipe that is a direct replacement for the stock cats/y-pipe. I believe it is around $600 or so and comes with Random Technology cats. Other than that MagnaFlow makes replacement cats for our cars and I believe that Random Technology may make a set but I am not 100% sure. For around $1200-1400 you can do a set of 304 stainless headers (Kooks, QTP, Stainless Works, Dynatech) with catted y-pipe that will run just as clean and give a nice kick in the pants gain. I have a pretty bad rattling passenger side cat that I am having the dealer look at tomorrow. Hopefully they will fix it free of charge due to the fact I have under 80K on the car. I then will be considering one of the header systems mentioned above.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2006 | 06:22 PM
  #12  
iosigma's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: East Tennessee
Default

Today I called a friend of mine about the cats to see what he could do about the price. He works in a muffler shop. Anyway while we we're talking, I remebered that my security fuel shut off had kicked on a couple of days before. The resistor in my ignition key wasn't registering with the car. Anyway when this happens the fuel mix is shut of from the engine and the engine shuts off. I starting to think that the fuel shutting off leaned out the mixture to the engine when the exhaust hit the sensor it threw a code thinking there was a problem with the exhaust. The security code threw right before the cat/o2 code. I think they might be related. I have driven the car for two days now with out a code and or secuirity problem. Time will tell i guess
Thanks
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:14 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE