Catalytic converter rattling.....going bad.....

[megatone]

Actually that is false,those aftermarket cats do not perform the same as OE.


OEM cat's are up to 95% efficient,high end "direct fit" cat's are only about 60% efficient,and those cheap $100 universal cat's are about 30% efficient.


Those higher end aftermarket cat's will barely get a vehicle to pass emissions. Remember the check engine light does not turn for emission reasons till the vehicle passes the 1.5 times the allowable particulates.

I should have been more clear with my statement. What I was trying to convey was:

A MagnaFlow cat purchased in Nevada, Florida, Texas (where ever) performs the same as a MagnaFlow cat purchased in California.....the only difference is the CARB stamp on the cat and the tax $$$ in California.

I know OEM is the best way to go. But $$$ is not permitting at this time.

As for the percentages of efficiency......I don't know. I do know that last year I purchased a 'direct fit' cat for my other daughters 2004 Volkswagen Passat (v6). The brand was also MagnaFlow.......with the CARB stamp/tax on it. I bought it thru a local Autozone parts store. The price was $760 I installed it, cleared the cat related code, drove it while I had my laptop connected to the car, watching the emissions monitors...........as soon as all monitors had 'readied', I went to the smog shop for inspection and the car failed due to tail pipe emissions........Visual and Functional passed.......just burned dirty......Brand new cat burning dirty.........so I borrow a 10 year old cat off my neighbors VW Passat and run the smog test again......it passed. Some cars just run closed to the max allowable emissions.

 

[tjkj2002]

VW .

Those 2 letters and "passing" emissions just don't go together(does not matter what fuel is burned in the engine).


I want to say at least 90% of all VW's(includes audi's) I work on have the MIL on for O2 sensors.They can not make a engine that can pass emissions reliably be it gas burning or the other fuel.

 

[megatone]

Those 2 letters and "passing" emissions just don't go together(does not matter what fuel is burned in the engine).

I used to buy VW's and Audi's with blown engines/transmissions....DIRT CHEAP. I would then swap in a used engine or transmission, resell them and make a great profit. They actually have high resale values (for being such problematic vehicles). And yes, I too have found that those *** cars are the hardest to pass smog. One Passat in particular last year, absolutely would not "see" the B1S2 o2 sensor. I would look on my scan tool and it was as if the sensor didn't even exist.......then I look at the Real Time data logs and I see the sensors activity and it is working........but the o2 monitors never readied. I ended up pulling the motor/trans and all the components related to the IMMO security system and then sent the rest of the car to the wrecking yard.

 

[M38 Bob]

Wouldn't have a VW up my **** if I had room for a steamboat.

Bob

 

[tommudd]

Wouldn't have a VW up my **** if I had room for a steamboat.

Bob

I had a 69 Bug that I loved to beat on, great vehicle to run check fences and the cattle on the back 40.
Only foreign vehicle I ever owned

 

[tjkj2002]

I had a 69 Bug that I loved to beat on, great vehicle to run check fences and the cattle on the back 40.
Only foreign vehicle I ever owned

My KJ is the most foreign vehicle I have ever owned,it's like 20%-30% not US made.