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Replacing Full Exhaust [mainly to eliminate pre-catalytic converters]

5.5K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  Chabelito  
#1 ·
I replaced my entire exhaust system based on discussion on this forum board as well as mr2oc.com and my own personal research. Here's the summary of what I found:
1. Pre-Cat's need to be removed is the consensus among the forums, so I considered new cat-less headers or carving out cat inners. I went with cat-less headers. (No brand?)
2. Looking at reviews of the headers, I found complaints about fitment with the stock downpipe, so that lead me to my next purchase (planning phase, bought all at once).
3. Downpipe with high flow cat (legality sake, I live in NH, and one is required, therefore I will have one [and not carve out the inners]). Top Speed Pro 1
4. Looking at review of the downpipe, I found issues with fitment for stock headers and cat-back exhaust, I was already intent on replacing the header, so meh.
5. I then looked at buying a cat-back exhaust since I found complaints on the downpipe, so I went aftermarket there too. I bought Manzo brand Cat-Back exhaust.

The end result was... very loud... and after a few days, I got a check engine light for P0420, meaning, my cat wasn't getting the job done. After some research, knowing it had something to do with O2 sensors, I cleared it, and am awaiting the light to come back on. I will fill in any info worth relaying back on this board, should the light come back in. Things I'm suspicious of, new header O2 positions made for taught wires to the O2 sensor (RH side). I deleted 2 of the 3 cat's, so that could play a role. (The light will 100% come back if that is the case, and it may just take running a cold engine (rich run) to make it come back) If this is the case, I will have to find a way to trick the difference between the sensors in which there is no cat, so I don't get useless check engine lights, I would still like to know if the other cat is working however. The final concern, is that my father in law blasted the sensor with WD-40, when he was aiming for the threads... I appreciate the offer, but I wish he would not have done that.
On the upside, my wife and kid and dog now know when I'm coming home...
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#3 ·
I know that the Manzo cat back exhaust isn't all that loud with pre-cats removed from the stock header. The sound is slightly louder than stock and sounds more like what the exhaust tone should have been from the factory. I believe there are Spyder videos on YouTube with that exhaust if you want to compare sound.

You may have an exhaust leak causing the louder sound than typical for the setup you have or a loose O2 sensor/wd40 damage. I had to replace both upstream O2 sensors when one went out after changing out my exhaust. It's been fine for 10k miles so far since the change-out.
Another thing to try would be disconnecting the battery for a bit so the computer resets for the new setup and sensors. You've probably already done that but just throwing that out there.
 
#4 ·
If I had to guess I would say prolonged oil burning killed your main cat and it was simply the Precat material keeping your P0420 at bay. Now that those precats are gone, your cat is failing. My main cat didn’t make it to 200k and even on a completely hot engine Precat made the difference between smog pass/fail on the sniffer test so they do have a marginal effect on exhaust gases.

Anyway, does your car burn oil? I’m only assuming it does because it’s a pre-facelift.
 
#6 ·
If I had to guess I would say prolonged oil burning killed your main cat and it was simply the Precat material keeping your P0420 at bay. Now that those precats are gone, your cat is failing. My main cat didn’t make it to 200k and even on a completely hot engine Precat made the difference between smog pass/fail on the sniffer test so they do have a marginal effect on exhaust gases.

Anyway, does your car burn oil? I’m only assuming it does because it’s a pre-facelift.
I keep meaning to check the oil 😅. In regards to the 1st half, My exhaust (stock) had no issues. I only replaced it because of my concern of failure (of the pre-cats). My main cat (now) is brand new (new downpipe). Ideally, if it works as it (the new cat that is) should, I should have low enough emissions to pass. What I'm thinking is my father in law doused the O2 sensor in WD-40, and now it's failing. I don't know / remember, which one he sprayed, he may have sprayed them all for all I know. What I'm particularly interested in, and I will do some digging this afternoon/evening, is how to find out which sensor is bad, or if there is even a way to tell. (thinking checking with multimeter through wiring diagram and electrical theory, etc.) I assume all o2 sensors will need replacing... 😔
 
#5 ·
Technically I don't think most high flow cats are road legal (not that they won't pass emissions testing but just by the letter of the law). Either way, spraying down the sensor with anything short of MAF/electrical contact cleaner is a definite no no...hopefully that is the extent of your issues.

FWIW the stock setup is somewhat restrictive but the huge upside is how much that lends to volume control. Best case scenario is you may just need to replace the contaminated O2 sensor.
 
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#8 ·
I will try again after work, but I cannot feel any air escaping from any joint in the exhaust. I checked when I got to work. I remember the first time I started it up after I installed the new exhaust and I had an exhaust leak at the downpipe to cat-back, I adjusted the joint, re-tightened, and the previous air flow that existed before, no longer exists now. I've done a 360 degree check of all joints. Block to header, header to down pipe and down pipe to cat back. 100% no exhaust leak. I can check if there's a leak when I start it up cold. I'll check all 3 joints again. Not sure how it would be the same [or nearly the same] volume as a stock exhaust. It was previously 1.75" and is now 2.25" plus 1/2 the [high-flow] cat [1/3 technically, but each cylinder's exhaust only goes through 2 when stock, now goes through just 1], and the muffler is less than half the size of the stock muffler, again with much larger piping [inlet/outlet] with a 3" tip for the last 6 or so inches.
 
#10 ·
  1. To test the heater, disconnect the sensor connector.
  2. Using an ohmmeter, measure the resistance between terminals +B and HT:
    • At 68°F (20°C), resistance should be 11–16 ohms.
    • At 1,472°F (800°C), resistance should be 23–32 ohms.
      Heated oxygen sensor terminals

      Heated oxygen sensor terminals
  3. To test the sensor, connect the OBD II scan tool or a Toyota hand-held tester to the data link connector (DLC).
  4. Warm up the oxygen sensor with the engine speed at 2,500 rpm for approx. 90 sec.
  5. Read the sensor voltage on the scan tool screen as you perform the following tests:
    • At idle, the A/F sensor output voltage should fluctuate 6 or more times in 5 seconds.
    • During fuel enrichment (acceleration during a snap-throttle test), the output voltage of the A/F sensor should be below 0.56 V on a generic scan tool (2.8 V on the Toyota tester).
    • During fuel cut (deceleration during a snap-throttle test), the output voltage of the A/F sensor should be above 0.76 V on a generic scan tool (3.8 V on the Toyota tester).
    • If the output voltage of the A/F sensor remains at 0.660 V on a generic scan tool (3.3 V on the Toyota tester) even after performing all the above conditions, the A/F sensor circuit may be open.
    • If the output voltage of the A/F sensor remains at or above 0.76V on a generic scan tool (3.8 on the Toyota tester), or at or below 0.56 V on a generic scan tool (2.8V on the Toyota tester) even after performing all the above conditions, the A/F sensor circuit may be shorted