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Old 08-16-2012, 10:41 PM   #1
Charlton
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Member#: 43038
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Franklin, Tennessee U.S.
Vehicle:
2002 Forester S
Black

Default Cat Converter Shot: Local Muffler Shop??

I just bought a 2002 Subaru Forester S with 153000 miles and the CEL was on when I pulled off the lot. The salesman told me to bring it back Monday and they would fix it. They replaced the 02 sensor but the CEL continued. I failed emissions and the code was P0420. The dealership has agreed they will replace the cat converter on the car. They said they will not replace with Subaru OEM due to cost.

There is a reputable shop in the area that installs Imco cats on cars. That is who will be replacing the cat. It will be a California Imco cat.

Is this risky business or will a reputable shop typically do a good job? What about aftermarket universal cats? The Imco seems to be pretty good and they are made here in TN!
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Old 08-16-2012, 10:48 PM   #2
Eyedoc Orlando
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Member#: 146216
Join Date: Apr 2007
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Birmingham, AL
Vehicle:
2007 Impreza 2.5i SE
Newport Blue Metallic

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If you can get your hands on a whole OEM pipe with cat for the car, that's always the easiest and you won't have to worry about the welds lasting. I would check to see if you can replace that section from the dealer or junkyard fairly inexpensively. An aftermarket cat should work, but sometimes they can still upset the computer if they're not quite tuned perfectly for the car or in the near exact placement. I also don't like muffler shop quality welds.

Also you should go ahead and change the O2 sensors out just to be squeaky clean.
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Old 08-16-2012, 10:53 PM   #3
Charlton
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Member#: 43038
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Franklin, Tennessee U.S.
Vehicle:
2002 Forester S
Black

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyedoc Orlando View Post
If you can get your hands on a whole OEM pipe with cat for the car, that's always the easiest and you won't have to worry about the welds lasting. I would check to see if you can replace that section from the dealer or junkyard fairly inexpensively. An aftermarket cat should work, but sometimes they can still upset the computer if they're not quite tuned perfectly for the car or in the near exact placement. I also don't like muffler shop quality welds.

Also you should go ahead and change the O2 sensors out just to be squeaky clean.
The dealership replaced the O2 sensors as an attempt to fix the code so I'm assuming these will be the sensors used in the new cat
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Old 08-18-2012, 10:01 PM   #4
J.Gibbs
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Member#: 312107
Join Date: Mar 2012
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Sterling
Vehicle:
1998 LowFoz
Glacier White

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyedoc Orlando
If you can get your hands on a whole OEM pipe with cat for the car, that's always the easiest and you won't have to worry about the welds lasting. I would check to see if you can replace that section from the dealer or junkyard fairly inexpensively.
Its a federal offense to sell used cats out of a junkyard. Plus the dealer he bought it at is paying for the repair. If the cat they choose doesn't fix the CEL, then you can have them replace that with an OEM cat from the dealer
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Old 08-18-2012, 10:11 PM   #5
Charlton
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Member#: 43038
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Franklin, Tennessee U.S.
Vehicle:
2002 Forester S
Black

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The dealer did have a local/reputable muffler shop replace the cats free of charge and they did a good job. As of yet no rattles and the CEL is gone.
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Old 08-18-2012, 10:14 PM   #6
J.Gibbs
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Member#: 312107
Join Date: Mar 2012
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Sterling
Vehicle:
1998 LowFoz
Glacier White

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlton
The dealer did have a local/reputable muffler shop replace the cats free of charge and they did a good job. As of yet no rattles and the CEL is gone.
Yea its an easy job for a good shop. 4 bolts lol
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