Altima 2.5 pre-cat failures

[mpd2435]

My 2002 Altima's pre-cat failed and was replaced under warranty. A week later my engine had to be replaced. A used engine was installed by the dealer under warranty and I was give a 3 month warranty with it.( my original warranty expired the week they were replacing the engine) My question is should I worry about the new pre-cat failing again or should I replace it with a catless header? If I go with a catless header do I need any additional pipes or parts to go with it? What headers fit my car without modifications? Sorry for all the questions but this is my 1st Nissan. I did do a search but didn't really find definitive answers.

[Serkle K]

I wouldnt worry about it if is was replaced with a brand new cat, just remember if you dont have one it might throw a CEL/SES light, and if you try to go to inspections w/o they will fail you on site... unless you know people that will/can pass you... good luck!

BTW you in SNJ or NNJ?

[spike228]

Get rid of the precat. Get a nice set of headers and an O2 spacer/simulator. The spacer /simulator will solve the precat issues.

Also, the primary cat should suffice for emissions testing.

[mpd2435]

I'm in South Jersey just across the bridge from Philadelphia.

[mpd2435]

This is my 1st Nissan, if I went the header route what brands are recommended and do I have to change any other exhaust parts? Will these bolt up to the existing exhaust? Thanks

[Serkle K]

Camden County in the house!! lol just playin'... i thought you were around my parts... IIRC Stillen has a header for your alti, and maybe JWT (but i'm not too sure) good luck though...

BTW where'd you get you alti? dealer? or private seller?

[mpd2435]

Believe i or not I bought it at a Ford Dealer used. It only came with a 2 month warranty but lucky for me both the converter and engine went while still under the warranty. Where are you located?

[mpd2435]

I just realized your in Pennsauken. Your right down the street from where I work.

[Serkle K]

Nice, where abouts? ... i have a few jobs, so I actually work all over the place in SNJ, it's finally good to see/meet a local SNJ nissan/altima owner on the forums... I've met a few others on forums, but they had already gotten rid of their 1st gens... and never met any other nissan/altima owners from the tri-state area... if you are looking for local place for aftermarket stuff, i know a great place by the cherry hill mall, nice guys great work... and I help them out at their booth at the Merchantville car show... BTW keep us posted on what you do about the headers

[mpd2435]

Serkle K I'm a patrolman for Merchantville PD. I've worked all the car shows, what booth were you at? Oh and by the way, my Nissan experiment was short lived. After 8 trips to the dealership in two months, 2 engines later, not to mention misc. other parts that went bad, I just returned it to the dealership and drove away with a Ford. When the Altima wouldn't start the other day again it as the final straw.

[Serkle K]

Serkle K I'm a patrolman for Merchantville PD. I've worked all the car shows, what booth were you at? Oh and by the way, my Nissan experiment was short lived. After 8 trips to the dealership in two months, 2 engines later, not to mention misc. other parts that went bad, I just returned it to the dealership and drove away with a Ford. When the Altima wouldn't start the other day again it as the final straw.

Oh man, Sorry to hear about your misfortune with your Altima... Yeah you do work not to far from where I live... a buddy I went to grade school with is a Pennsauken PO, he was really close friends with Tom Soto... I did balloons for Imagine Audio's booth, they had the main street the last 2 years right next to the Station (I think that's where it is), just up the corner from where the Elvis impersonator performs, LOL!!... I'm most likely going to to it again this year, my cousin puts in his miata for them... They're nice guys, they do great work... IIRC it's not till july, so if you rememebr to, stop by... what ford dealership did you get it from again??

[mpd2435]

Echelon Ford, I just had them pick it up at my house and flat bed it back to them. They credited me back for the Altima and I picked up a 2005 Ford Five Hundred off their lot. It's not a bad car, a little bigger than I wanted though. There is a Benefit for Soto tonight 2/26/08 at Pinsetters.

[Serkle K]

Yeah, I saw there was a benifit for his family... I went to grade school with him... he's was a year ahead of me... Again sorry to hear about your misfortune with the Altima... good luck with your new ride... Maybe I'll see you around at the car show, if you want/remember email me when it's closer, or just remember to stop by the Imagine Audio booth, and look for the guy making balloon animals, haha

[mpd2435]

I'll stop by your booth, The car show is in usually in July but we don't have a specific date yet.

[Serkle K]

Yeah IIRC it's usually in the first or second weekend of July...

[Darius]

Do not buy a Stillen if you want to keep the secondary cat. The race pipe they provide eliminates that. You should still pass emissions with a secondary cat and HotShot header. Probably have to buy one used however.

[mpd2435]

I dont need to worry about it anymore because I returned the car to the dealership and picked out another one.