Situation: I drive a '01 2.5RS and just got a CEL. I picked the car up used at 30k, and I'm at about 71k miles now, have a Cobb CAI (installed last summer), and at my 60k service had NGK Copper plugs put in along with a set of Kingsborne plug wires. Everything else is stock.

I just brought my car (consequently the CEL went off on my way to the dealer) and they told me I need a new catalytic converter and it'll cost me about $800.

Someone told me that it could just be the 02 sensor.
Any other possibilities/advice? I'm going to take it to another shop to see what they think.
Would it be easy to do myself? I'm a novice, but have some handy friends.

Side note: I was considering getting a cat-back setup this summer. Would it be more cost effective to do that now instead?

Any other thoughts???

 

well, from what i've read, the EPA says that if your cat has been deemed malfunctioning or non functional (by the dmv) you can have it replaced. at this point, i wouldn't even consider getting a subaru cat. chances are the price for a subaru cat will be 2 to 3 times more than that of an aftermarket high flow cat. i say go for the Random Tech Hi Flow Cat. i've heard good things about it in terms of performance. check out the install here : Hi Flow Cat . another option is that you could go to a subaru junker and get a cat from a wrecked car. that'll save you a lot of money, but it's probably easier said than done. junk yards with subarus are hard to find.

but the first thing i would do is take it to another shop and have the mil code pulled, so you know exactly what's wrong.

if it's just the o2 sensor, that's no big deal, it's pretty easy to replace. i actually had a cel thrown because the wiring harness for my o2 sensor was frayed, so you might want to check that too.

but what it comes down to, just get a second opinion...

 

Will a high-flow really make that much of a difference on an engine as near-stock as mine is?
I don't have an intentions to turbo it and I know that too much flow is a bad thing on N/A engines.

Anyone else have input about the catalytic converter? Know good vendors, etc?

Thanks!

 

Someone just mentioned to me that they thought catalytic converters (and a few other exhaust components) are covered under a longer warranty than everything else.

I looked it up in my.subaru.com and sure enough under the "Warranty Information" link, there is a Federal Specification Emissions Extended Defect Warranty which covers 8 yrs/80k miles.

Makes me think the dealer I brought it into is pulling some shady business...

 

yeah, a lot of dealers tend to be...i'm still in the process of finding a dealership that doesn't treat me like i'm a dumbass and actually treats me with respect...i bought my car used from a subaru dealer, and when i brought it in for a CEL, they treated me like i was a baby or something...well, go back to the dealer, or another one, and see what's up first...

btw, a high flow cat will increase your engine's responsiveness, there will be less back pressure in your exhaust system letting the hot gases flow more smoothly from the exhaust ports to the tail pipe...even on a practically stock car it would be a good idea...just gotta make sure it passes emissions in your state first...

 

What MY began having the 8/80 emissions warranty?

 

Well now I'm thinking that I may as well have it replaced for free anyway. If it happens again, I'll have them check the oxygen sensor next...