Catalytic Converter Question

[mickey]

I just took my truck to install the Volant cat-back exhaust yersterday at a muffler shop. The mechanic looked inside my nissan catalytic converter and noticed they were empty. No ceramic inside at all. It just looks like an empty soda can, so to speak. He said it's supposed to have ceramic in there or it won't pass smog. Has anyone else noticed this on their truck? I'm just wondering if it's normal or should I take my truck to the dealership? I just don't want to deal with them due to some reason, sometimes they never entertain me! please!

[180fan]

you run rich, the excess fuel burns up in the catalytic converter. run too much extra gas, and you'll start torching up the innards of the catalytic. bad news if you live in an area with stringent emissions testing. If I recall, an oem cat will run you quite a bit, I was quoted 800 for an oem one by my local dealer.

1. Fix the excess fuel problem. This will keep the life of the second catalytic up, and will also keep your fuel costs down in the long term.2. you can get an oem catalytic that's 50 state legal from magnaflow in varying diameters for a fraction of the cost of an oem. Just need to get it welded up.

[mickey]

wow! thank you so much for this. I'll do this all. Let's see how it goes... again thanks for this. you are such a great!

[KFL]

There is a chance if its stock truck, then like the S14 we have two cats. 1st cat is built into the lower portion of the exhaust manifold. 2nd cat is right before catback its hollow, (heated 02 sensor..doesn't effect car though.) I figure 1995+ other nissan cars might have it setup like that.I would hit up one of or advertisers that sell oem parts click thru to exhaust section it should show the setup or find a factory service manual.Unless the car has a aftermarket header which negates the cat in the lower flex section/downpipe of the exhaust system.

[JdrifterCA]

Exhaust flow more freely with empty cat ^^ cat convert covert all the enviromentally harmful gases to "unharmful" form. with out it, u will fail smog. u really dont need it... lolz no need for dealer, just but a new one and bolt it on. CAT converter is really useless if u dont care about the enviroment. Ever wondered why ppl run stright pipes? lolz

[180fan]

and ever wonder why there is so much pollution in CA that makes it so that law makers put heavier fines 1k+ that I've seen for missing catalytics and put more stringent emissions testing?