To those with OBDII. How to pass emissions with bad front cat converter??

[az_240]

I have a 97 240. My CEL is on for a bad front cat and I need to get it to pass emissions and registered asap.
Ive been searching for hours now trying to find out what I can do to get the CEL to turn off and pass emissions. I plan on going KA-T when I have money and would rather not have to replace that first cat since it will be removed anyway with an SR downpipe. I have not even been able to find a bolt on replacement for that front cat anyway so I guess thats not even an option.

So my question is can I use a real cat in place of the dummy cat and pass/remove CEL with my busted front cat?
Does it HAVE to be a special 3 way cat? If so what cats are 3 way cats? I know random tech makes em but they are 200 bucks!... are catco and magnaflow considered 3 way cuz id rather get one of those for 50... but id only get those if I can pass.

What other options do I have?

any help is appreciated!

[!Zar!]

Even though your car is obd2, the cat is still a reg obd1 style cat.

But I suggest you start looking for a used good condition primary cat.

It will be harder for your car to pass being as how the cat isn't heating up as much as it would be if it were closer to the exhaust manifold.

[az_240]

Cant seem to find any primary cats for sale at the moment.

I should be able to pass if I install a catco 3" cat in place of the dummy cat correct?
Can the CEL be erased if I replace that dummy cat?

[Adam496]

You could try the sparkplug anti-fouler trick
http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=99137&highlight=spark+plug

[neilsan]

i hate pre-cats. Gut it and make a CEL eliminator /w parts from radioshack.

or try a new upper O2 sensor. Do you believe the pre-cat is legitimately bad? they usually (at least in my experience) stop working because theyre clogged, which makes the car feel shitty.

[az_240]

if it was the o2 sensor wouldnt it be throwing a o2 code?

[Cashizslick]

i hate pre-cats. Gut it and make a CEL eliminator /w parts from radioshack.

or try a new upper O2 sensor. Do you believe the pre-cat is legitimately bad? they usually (at least in my experience) stop working because theyre clogged, which makes the car feel shitty.


:werd:


Cat elim's are the way to go. Skrew the environment - there are so many prius's on the road now we can afford to dirty things up a bit . . . .

[az_240]

I'm bringing this back from the dead because I am experiencing the same issue.

I basically need to get my car to pass emissions for as cheaply and quickly as possible.

I heard it works if you remove the o2 sensor and plug up the hole... any feedback on this?

[R33E8]

if you remove the O2 sensor and plug up the hole you will get a O2 sensor code.. The spark plug anti-fouler trick should work..

[az_240]

^what is that? I was told this works as long as the o2 is still plugged in... just not in the cat.

[drftwerks]

ok clear codes and monitors.

run the monitors that it can pass.

you can pass smog with all but two monitors passed.

if this doesnt make sense to you, then im sorry, dont try and do it yourself.

[az_240]

^what the?

No you can't have any codes in order to pass emissions in AZ. Im sure its the same in cali. Ive already tried and failed 2wice.

So there is no solution other than getting a new cat I take it...