hey guys,

I keep getting this CEL code, "P0420 Catalyst system efficiency below threshold." The only thing I have done to my car is a custom local shop cat-back 2.25 exhaust with a dynomaster muffler. BTW, this is on a 96 Impreza L.
Thanks for any help.

Cody

 

If a catback is your only mod, then this code may in fact indicate that the catalytic converter is shot. If the car has less than 80K on it, it should be covered under the 8/80 emissions warranty.

 

haha! My car has 192,xxx miles on her! pretty sure the only coverage is what's in my bank account at the time. Well crap...doesn't a new cat cost like $1100???? Can I just gut it out??? what can I do?

 

If you remove the cat you will still have the code and CEL. At that mileage as long as you don't have to pass inspection you can do one of the "fixes" that are used with catless exhausts, or if you do need a cat a muffler shop should be able to install a universal one for much less than the OEM price.