Problem with Catalytic Converter??

[JDRosenberg07]

Ok so i went to have my exhaust tip welded back on yesterday and asked the guys at the shop if the knew any reason why i would have a drone (with the artisan exhaust) around 3k rpm. They were thinking about it and couldnt really find an answer and they took some pliers and began tapping on the pipes. When he got to the cat it sounded hollow and empty.

Ive never done anything to the cat and the exhaust doesnt replace the cat, but they think its empty They also said if it was empty i would have a CEL on but then they realized the O2 sensor is before the cat so it wouldnt shoot the code.

They said thats a possible reason for the droning but i dont know. Can anyone chime in on this? anyone else with a "hollow" cat?

[BamaCoupe]

If it is just an empty can that's not a bad think, it just means you have one less unnecessary cat. There are three things that can be done when removing a cat from the car:1. Removing it and welding a pipe in its place.2. Gutting the cat and reinstalling (better method of concealing the fact of not having a cat).3. Gut the cat, weld pipe inside it and reinstalling.I told you this because it sounds like someone (plant or dealership) thought your car needed option two done to your exhaust. I would not worry, if your cat is a can now you've gained two or three HP, should not have lost any torque and will save a couple gallons of gas per year. None of which are too bad, I would just keep it to yourself and go on, and yes it will make it louder.

[smithersbpr]

i punched my 3rd cat out. there is no need for it.

[mrodrig2]

i punched my 3rd cat out. there is no need for it.

To outright say that there is no need for it is not necessarily true. Some places do not allow any modification to your car's emissions system so removing it would constitute a violation in those states and cause the vehicle to fail inspection.

Aside from the potential legal issue, having that 3rd cat there is a matter of individual conscience. The 3rd cat reduces some amount of environmentally harmful emissions. That amount depends on how well your first 2 cats are functioning and how efficient your engine is. If you are the type of person who tries to minimize their harm to the earth, then you might want to consider leaving it on.

If you do not fall into that category, then removing the cat will save your car a negligible amount of weight and perhaps net you some increased exhaust flow. (And perhaps net you some cash since cats resell very well if its still functional and even if its not can be junked for the platinum or palladium that's inside.)

[BamaCoupe]

A cow fart is just as harmful to the environment as the difference between a car without a cat then a car with a cat, so what are we going to do, kill the cows? Sorry, I'm just sick of hearing about this global warming BS.

[JDRosenberg07]

The thing is tho i never had anyone do anything to the cat. I watched the guys who installed my exhaust from start to finish and they didnt even touch it.

[smithersbpr]

directions for solving the issue with your third cat.1. take cat out2. get a long screw driver and hammer3. put screwdriver in the cat4. hit screwdriver with hammer and repeat till cat falls out5. put cat back on

the dealership will never know the difference. lol it still looks the same from the outside.

[mrodrig2]

A cow fart is just as harmful to the environment as the difference between a car without a cat then a car with a cat, so what are we going to do, kill the cows? Sorry, I'm just sick of hearing about this global warming BS.

No one mentioned global warming... and just because you don't believe in the issue doesn't exclude others from caring about it. I'm not espousing either side, merely presenting that the cat was put there for a purpose and is not useless as the person I replied to stated.

[ESP]

No one mentioned global warming... and just because you don't believe in the issue doesn't exclude others from caring about it. I'm not espousing either side, merely presenting that the cat was put there for a purpose and is not useless as the person I replied to stated.

...I think a lot of people don't realize that catalytic converters actually add harmful toxins to the environment. Think about it...sure you've got all these nasty hydrocarbons that are leaving your engine and the cat takes care of them. But what's the other side of that equation? What do you think come out the other end of the tailpipe? Fresh air and kittens? Hell no...it's carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide (two of the main toxins which "scientists" point their fingers at when warning about global warming). There are a number of people and organizations that are trying to change the current regulations regarding the necessity of catalytic converters. That being said, I (like BamaCoupe) am sick of the whole "eco-friendly" crap. Petrol engines are on their way out...it's up to the auto industry to adapt to that. /rant

JD, haven't other people with the Artisan exhaust been complaining about the droning issue too? I don't think you're alone in this. As for the cat issue...that's just odd.

[mrodrig2]

So you are telling me you'd rather have your car emit CO rather than CO2 that can be processed by plants...? And the reason many cars have multiple cats is because one is a traditional cat that might result in N2O but down-line cats may be selective cats specifically for capturing or converting N2O. No cats = all harmful gases escaping. IMO, capturing or converting some is better than none.

[dldjros69]

So you are telling me you'd rather have your car emit CO rather than CO2 that can be processed by plants...? And the reason many cars have multiple cats is because one is a traditional cat that might result in N2O but down-line cats may be selective cats specifically for capturing or converting N2O. No cats = all harmful gases escaping. IMO, capturing or converting some is better than none.

ill quote this post, but could have quoted all of them

Why do i have to pay for and pass emission tests. i dont care about passing them its the paying for them part.

Then i see big arse trucks driving by spitting massive amounts of dirty black smoke into the air. They put more crap in the air at that moment than my car would in 3 years. (Cats or not)

Im not saying f the environment but u sound as crazy as Al Gore.

[mrodrig2]

I'm not sure which part of that statement you find crazy so lets break it down sentence by sentence.

Sentence 1. Carbon monoxide is highly toxic and undetectable to humans. Carbon dioxide is much less toxic and can be sensed in the nose, mouth and throat. I'll let you decide which one you want to come out of your exhaust.

Sentence 2. This is in response to ESPs statement regarding CO2 and NOx creation. I never claimed to be ignorant of the cat reaction products. It is a known issue and I stated one method that is used to control that problem.

Sentence 3. This is my personal opinion. I prefer to do something rather than nothing.... regardless of how much or little of an effect it has. If you feel that's crazy then oh well, you have your opinions which are just as valid as mine. I only posted in the first place because someone said the cats not necessary and basically inferred that OP should remove it. That statement is not true and could cause the OP or others reading this post trouble if they do so without checking their local laws first, so I responded to clear that up.
Modified by mrodrig2 at 10:06 PM 3/26/2009

[Rob.Vegan]

Just one comment about the whole emissions thing... Pennies add up.

I know in California we have emissions tests and need the 3rd cat, I doubt they will fall for a false cat due to the noise it creates.

As for killing the cows... Yes we are killing them already However why not let us humans run out of the little time we have left on this planet and have some fun

Party time, Excellent

[JDRosenberg07]

Wow okay i never though this would turn into an enviromental debate.

I only posted in the first place because someone said the cats not necessary and basically inferred that OP should remove it. That statement is not true and could cause the OP or others reading this post trouble if they do so without checking their local laws first, so I responded to clear that up.

This post was never even intended to ask if i should or how to remove a cat. i wasposting because its not even there to remove anyway and i wasnt, nor anyone i paid, the ones who removed it. i wasnt asking if i should or shouldnt remove the cat i was stating that i dont think i had it in the first place. and was wondering if that was a possibility of a droning issue not how many cows im killing per mile.

Sorry ahead of time, its 3am and ive been working on a history paper for the past 5hrs now. not trying to offend anyone im just a little frustrated.

[Zerep]

the earth goes through a cycle every couple of thousand years or million depending on your beliefs "Global warming" is just part of that cycle. we are finishing the ice age and returning to normality i bet you that future generation will be worried about global freezing lol