Catalytic Converter
 

So I'm new to this site, I'm used to being on VWVortex, forgive me if I mess something up. But anyway, from what I'm seeing on the Internet quite a few people are having troubles with their catalytic converter. My CEL has been on for the past 300+ miles and I'm gonna fix it now. I bought the car about 7-8 months ago and everything was grand:smile:. Now, I've replaced both O2 sensors and now I've got the "Cat. converter efficiency below threshold" or w/e it is. NOW, my question is...has anybody had any experience with exhaustdistribution(dot)com or better yet their cats? I know DEC is an alternative, but I have been hearing mixed results with them. This deal is completely direct fit, but I'm not to sure about it. Any thoughts? I'm 17 and can't really afford $1200 OEM stuff. Not to mention I'm only getting 28mpg compared to the 34 I was getting when the light wasn't on.

There is about 1 instance on this site of an aftermarket cat working properly and not throwing a CEL. It sucks, I know, my aftermarket cat throws one constantly. I bought a wayne angle block, I haven't installed it yet, but I'm hoping that will keep the CEL off.

What year is your ti? When do you need to have the car emissions tested?

It's a '98, and no emissions in Alabama, or where I live anyway. My main concern is damage to the engine, MPG, and that annoying orange glow in my instrument panel.

as mentioned, aftermarket cats simply do not work on these cars.
yes, it sucks major balls, but you will have to get an OEM cat.

when ready, DO shop around though, as the price varies by as much as 500 bucks... I've been quoted as much as 1700, but ultimatelly I paid about 1200.

painfull fact is that there are way less aftermarket companies that make proper aftermarket parts for 318tis, than they do for vdubs...

I didnt really want to start a new thread cause Im having sorta the same problem. I dont really have $700 to throw into an OEM cat. if all the DEC does it keep the light on will it harm anything?

Also I kinda stuck getting the old cat off. I need help with that one. I broke one of the bolts and stripped two that connect the header to the cat pipe. Now what?

If the light is on on an OBDII car it will not pass emissions in MD. Not sure if that is true for other states. I bought a wayne angle block (google it) and it works flawlessly. I have an aftermarket cat because I couldn't afford the $1800 at the time when mine went out and the CEL light was always on because of it. If I cleared the CEL it would come back in ~100 miles. With the wayne angle block I have put ~500 miles on it so far and no CEL.

As for getting the cat off, there was a thread here a while back and it seemed that most people couldn't get the header bolts off without drilling them out, search around for it.

I couldnt find any thread related to that. I did manage to det the cat off. However I now have a bolt ( the repair manual calls it a stud) that has been snaped off and half drilled through. Can I remove/drill the stud and replace it with a traditional nut & bolt?

Ahh Didnt think to type 'nuts'
Thanks.

Cat Converter questions
 

I am having the same issue here in WA. I have an aftermarket Cat in the front and the original in the rear. Do you need one or two of those Wayne Angle Blocks and if you need one do you put it fwd or aft?, I'm not sure if there's more than one 02 sensor. :help:

The block is only for the post cat (rear) sensor. I'm guessing you don't have a ti if you have more than one cat?

I've put at least 1000 miles on it so far and the light hasn't come back, I am happy with it.

I think it has a 2 cats only because it has this weird thing in front of the muffler, I think it's a cat but am not sure. it's shaped like a kidney. here's a picture of it. http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...8Image0002.jpg

The one between the oxygen sensors is the cat, the one in the rear is a resonator. If your car is a '95, you'll only have a pre-cat o2 sensor. If it's '96 or newer, you'll have a pre-cat and a post-cat o2 sensor.

Thank you for your help!!!

Thats the resonator. Its used to quiet the exhaust noise some more before it get to the muffler.