Clogged CATALYTIC converter story!

[likedatyall]

Alright about a 2 week ago I got a code for P02040 (Catalytic inefficiency-bank 1). I bought 02 sensor for before cat. I did not install the O2 sensor until.... Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. I kept driving it for a few days and then my cat went out on me on last Friday(car got extremely sluggish and when I got home it was glowing RED HOT!!!!). Upon removal and inspection, it was clogged.

So, needless to say, I bought a new cat from Techtonics Tuning ($350-3 day shipping, lifetime warranty, and comes with gaskets and bolts considering the dealer wanted $800 just for the cat alone and no warranty) and two new O2 sensors (front and rear). I went ahead and bought new NGK spark plugs and replaced all four coilpacks.

I installed all of the above and car cranked right up and purrrrrrred. I then went to Advanced Auto and had computer reset. I only had 1/8th of a tank left so I filled it with Super (93 octane) and also added NOS octane booster (it says it increases octane level by 6 points). Now I am happy as a pig in slop. I decide to go out with the wife for dinner and drinks. On the drive home she says the car really drives great (install Murphy's law here), then the check engine light comes on.

Today I checked the code at Advanced Auto and it said P0240 (catalytic inefficiency bank 1). WTF? Is it related to the octane booster or what? I reset it today and I am going to drive out all the gas and see what happens.

[absolutegtr]

All that octane booster did was up your octane level from 93 to 93.6....NOT 99 octane despite what you may think.

How did the car drive after the CEL came on (after new cat)

[turbo kraut]

octane boosters are a waste of money........

[kdall82]

It is the Tech Tonics Cat. I installed one as well and it threw the same code. I called Tech Tonics and they said that it shouldn't thrown a code so they sent me a new cat. I paid to have it put on and guess what, the same code showed up again.
I am thinking about buying a OEM cat because I don't want the check engine light on.

[ziggituning]

I wonder why the TT cat would throw a code if a test pipe doesn't? Any ideas? Wjere did you get the new O2 sensors, maybe the ones from TT are not good? just speculation.

[old guy]

Unfortunately the 1.8T is very sensitive to HFC's and the dreaded P0420. The only HFC that I know of that has no issues at all is the Milltek HFC. Unfortunately it is expensive. you can probably get away with adding an anti-fouler to your rear O2 sensor and prevent the code from returning.

[kwimberly]

I have my OEM car from when I put in a test pipe. It has about 70k miles on it. I'd consider selling it, but I'm thinking about hanging onto it in case I trade in the car or if Florida starts doing emissions again.

[kdall82]

Quick question for Old Guy. How do you add an anti-fouler?

[kwimberly]

Quick question for Old Guy. How do you add an anti-fouler?

Looks like oldguy is offline. Adding an antifouler is easy - you just screw it into the cat and then screw the o2 sensor into it - it's just a spacer to back the o2 sensor out a little bit.

[kdall82]

Thanks

[likedatyall]

All that octane booster did was up your octane level from 93 to 93.6....NOT 99 octane despite what you may think.

How did the car drive after the CEL came on (after new cat)

I'm no sponsor for octane boosters or whatever. It drove flawlessly after the CEL came on (after new cat).

[Papachristou]

get apr 1+ flash or revo II and ask for the cat delete file

my o2 spacer only worked interminttently. the CEL still still came from time to time.

[widgget]

like i mentioned in the PM, i'm running the same HFC and don't have that code but i have a stage 3 setup and the Revo software might have the cat delete built in.

[likedatyall]

get apr 1+ flash or revo II and ask for the cat delete file

my o2 spacer only worked interminttently. the CEL still still came from time to time.

What is apr 1 + flash or revo II cat delete file.

[widgget]

^^ it's the 1+ file but they just remove the monitoring of the O2 senors so that you won't throw the codes and get a CEL. Since your car is stock and i'm guessing you don't want to chip it just for this the spacer would be the way to go.

[Papachristou]

^^^ what he said.. its their standard 1+ flash (235chp) but it also stops checking the rear o2 so you dont get a CEL

[kwimberly]

^^^

You can even get the cat delete file without 1+.

[diagnosticator]

You have a new pre cat O2 sensor but it's the post cat sensor that is involved with the cat efficiency monitoring. The post cat O2 sensor needs to be replaced too.

[likedatyall]

You have a new pre cat O2 sensor but it's the post cat sensor that is involved with the cat efficiency monitoring. The post cat O2 sensor needs to be replaced too.

I replaced both pre-cat and post-cat o2 sensors with new ones. So which one is bank-1?

Today while driving home the CEL went off again. Seriously, do I have to buy a factory cat for $800 or what? I really want to avoid getting under the car again. Where, how, and what can be done on the cheap?

[old guy]

I replaced both pre-cat and post-cat o2 sensors with new ones. So which one is bank-1?

Today while driving home the CEL went off again. Seriously, do I have to buy a factory cat for $800 or what? I really want to avoid getting under the car again. Where, how, and what can be done on the cheap?

Both of your sensors are on bank 1. The front one is B1S1 (bank 1 sensor 1). The rear one is B1S2 (bank 1 sensor 2).

[old guy]

You could always try the "Wayne" cure. As far as I know he is still making his angled blocks. The VW guys have used this with great success. It also seems to work pretty good with the B5 and B6 1.8T. Clicky click1 Clicky click 2

Cheers!

[likedatyall]

You could always try the "Wayne" cure. As far as I know he is still making his angled blocks. The VW guys have used this with great success. It also seems to work pretty good with the B5 and B6 1.8T. Clicky click1 Clicky click 2

Cheers!

Thanks old guy. I guess I'll give it a try. It can't hurt (logic being: removing TT cat, returning TT cat, then spending $800 on dealer cat, and then installing dealer cat). Thirty six bucks sounds like a bargain. I hope he still makes them.

[diagnosticator]

Thanks old guy. I guess I'll give it a try. It can't hurt (logic being: removing TT cat, returning TT cat, then spending $800 on dealer cat, and then installing dealer cat). Thirty six bucks sounds like a bargain. I hope he still makes them.

Yes, thanks for helping with that info "old guy"!

BTW, "likedatyall", how many miles on your A4? The emissions warranty on the OE cat is 8 years 80K miles.

[tdn]

BTW, "likedatyall", how many miles on your A4? The emissions warranty on the OE cat is 8 years 80K miles.

This is what I came to say. By federal law, if you're under 8 years AND 80k miles, the car company (dealership) has to replace the cat for free of charge, which includes labor.

[likedatyall]

This is what I came to say. By federal law, if you're under 8 years AND 80k miles, the car company (dealership) has to replace the cat for free of charge, which includes labor.

Yeah, I know. I read all the posts concerning Catalytics. Unfortunately I have 110,000 miles on my '04. That's why I did it myself and bought the TT Cat. Dealer wants $800 for only the Cat, you can figure at least another $300 in labor.

[diagnosticator]

I thought that may be the case, (mileage) but I wanted to make sure. Seeing as others have problems with the TT cat causing efficiency codes, maybe you should return the TT cat and get a Milltek HFC instead? The 90 degree fittings for the O2 sensors is worth a try anyway.

[likedatyall]

I thought that may be the case, (mileage) but I wanted to make sure. Seeing as others have problems with the TT cat causing efficiency codes, maybe you should return the TT cat and get a Milltek HFC instead? The 90 degree fittings for the O2 sensors is worth a try anyway.

The Milltek HFC is $1000 (from their supplier). Not gonna happen.

[lookaught]

The Milltek HFC is $1000 (from their supplier). Not gonna happen.

Strat has 20% Off sales all of the time, so its $799+shipping.

I just bought one yesterday. After seeing the quality of the full exhaust system I was sold on it rather than TT or LaBree, etc. Milltek uses HJS cats, which are the same that are used by pretty much every top race team in the world, including every single WRC team. I think that sums up the quality and performance. The cat alone is 340 Euros, plus custom fab work to have it added to a test pipe... so $800 isnt a bad deal.

[a2gtinut]

original CAT is two stage metal core.
TT uses cheap ceramic which will not last so close to manifold - higher temperatures.
HJS and Emitek metal cores are

[kwimberly]

Use the code "superhonda" and this becomes $290. Don't know if these are crap or if it even fits, but if you're on a tight budget...

http://www.hottexhaust.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=22960