I went to the dealership yesterday because my engine light has been on for a while. I knew it had to do with the catalytic conveter because I ran a code reader on it. The car is still under warranty so I figure the dealership can just replace the part. The service adviser asked me to come look at the car and showed me a straight pipe going to the exhaust. Not only that, but the straight pipe had only two bolts connecting it. So.... Any suggestions on what cat I should be getting? I also have a mazdaspeed exhuast and was wondering if any cat will fit?

The previous owner also tore up the undercover and both front mud guards are missing. Not to mention the endless amount of screws/bolts that I'm missing!!!!

surprisingly, dealership was very nice tho =)

 

Did you buy this from a private party? I thought their were laws about a car having to pass emissions to be sold. By a private party or dealership.

 

i say you get a high flow cat, or go back to stock if you really want a cat....you might feel a difference in HP

 

I bought it from a dealership in CT. The buy tons of cars and move them out of the lot really fast. However, I did sign a contract that said you buy the car as is. even if i call them, they probably won't do anything. I'm not sure what the laws are in CT about cats tho. I'll check that out later. I must say tho, it's a pain to buy a car out of state.... MA has to be the freaking anomaly state and doesn't allow temporary license plates. It was troublesome to get the car to MA.

 

I know lots of people that have replaced their stock cat with high flow. Others run the car with no cat at all. I have heard that there is some difference on sound and performance. If you buy though an OEM cat you will have a warranty. I had to replace mine because of CAT failure but mazda did it for free since I was covered by the 80000 miles warranty. It is your car and you spend your money! So I would suggest you to search a bit more in this forum about plus and minus of having or not having cat! Further look at posts for high flow cat. Spend some time educating yourself about this issue and then decide!

 

There are people that sell their OEM cat here every once in a while. Keep an eye out for one.
The RP Supercat is a popular high flow unit that will give you some HP gain. It would also be cheaper than buying a new OEM cat from the dealer. There are other hi flow units out there, check the vendor forums for other options.

 

I've looked at the high flow and was actually considering getting it. Not sure if it would fit tho. From what i remember, my cat was just replaced with a straight pipe. I need to look under the car again to see if I would have to modify anything... high flow cats also increase in sound from what i understand so I would have to decide whether or not a MS exhaust and the high flow cat would make too much noise. does anyone have this set up?

 

if the cat was made for an rx8 then itll fit

 

If you have no cat now, then a high flow cat will be quieter. No cat w/o resonators, no cat with resonators, high flow cat, stock cat Thats loudest to quietest.

 

did the dealer break a federal law by selling the car without the cat?

 

One would think so Zoom. I believe there's recourse here even if dealer posted "as is." As is doesn't mean illegal!!

 

It is illegal for a dealership to sell a car without a cat converter

By law, they HAVE TO put a cat on it, its part of the safety inspection.

You may actually have a legal case against them if they refuse to put a cat on the car.

PS- I work in the car business as my profession, trust me on this one.

 

 

nice find

 

1. glad the dealership was friendly and didn't try to rip you a new one for being a n00b and complaining about a cat that wasn't there. (some techs love to pick on customers)

2. I don't live in CT but I gotta agree with everyone here that selling a car without a cat is a violation of Federal emissions standards.
The problem you have now, is that the burden falls on you to prove that it had no cat when you bought it.
How long have you had the car?


3. If you decide to replace it on your own, listen to Al. Every now and then you'll see OEM cats on here for a good price or you could spend approx $400 or so and get the RP supercat

 

See if they'll just give you some cash back for the missing Cat and then go buy a high flow Cat. Lemons to lemonaide.

 

You might even be able to trade your cat-less midpipe for a stock or highflow cat with someone on the ForSale/Wanted/Trade threads.

Good luck