Generic Catalytic Converter

[T-Keith]

Hard to say, it depends on how your car is running and how much it needs the cat to cleam up the emissions. Some cars are more demanding then others.

 

[ediamiam]

The car is running quite well, and the mileage is about where it should be for combined city / highway. Very minimal oil consumption, premium is recommended, but I have been burning midgrade.

 

[frankpc]

I wonder why the tech jumped to the cat?
I assume your car has a single three way cat? No pre-cat in the exhaust manifold? I have seen folks replace three way cats with less expensive "high performance" two way cats and flunk emissions testing. So if you have a three way, make sure you replace with a three way.
Also the O2 sensor might be suspect at that mileage. Are you getting a CEL (check engine light)? Have you checked for stored OBD-I codes? We own a '95 Miata that will throw a OBD-I 17 code on occasion which is "O2 sensor output not changing". It passes emissions testing fine, but ..
Frank

 

[ediamiam]

The both 02 sensors were replaced prior to last emission test, and yes at highway speeds I do get the check engine light. The manual with the car doesn't indicate how to get the codes, but I was planning on getting one of the chilton style manuals.

 

[frankpc]

The OBD-I codes could be helpful, I'd guess you could find the test process at an Internet 626 site. Not sure how they work on a 626 but on a Miata you do the following:
- Run car until warm
- Open the little black diagnostic box under the hood and jumper (with a paper clip) the "TEN" and "GND".
- Turn the key (don't start)
- All the instrument light come on
- After they go out, the CEL will blink.
- Count the blinks being careful to differentiate between a two digit code (short pause) and multiple codes (long pause).
- Check the code chart.

Good luck.

Frank

 

[ediamiam]

That procedure is pretty consistant with the procedure in the Haynes manual. I tried it. It works. That's the good news. The bad news is the blinking sequence, a 24, is not on the list of codes and diagnostics. I'm also thinking, unless something seriously changes, its going to be a problem I can live with, as driveability is fine, mileage is where it should be. I will defer it until the next major instance of where I have to take it into a shop. Same with the catalytic converter, and probably stick with something more OEM, rather than generic, if that poses a problem in passing my next smog. Thanks for all youse help.

 

[ediamiam]

Got a question for you guys. On my last smog check, early 90's Mazda 626 California, the smog technician indicated he had to get the rev the engine to get the temp higher as the initial testing was borderline failure. Even though I had driven the car, gotten it hot, it still sat for 15 minutes before the test. Its the original cat, and he indicated that he thought it was marginal and probably needed to be replaced, mileage at 160K. Now the question is will a generic cat work for me, or do I need to stay with OEM. I see those muffler shops that advertise cats offered at $99 (for most cars).

 

[daves66nova]

try a magnaflow obdII cat. it might be overkill, because the obdII is more, but you should definetly pass.check on ebay for regular cats also. i have seen carsound brand cats for around 40.00. carsound makes magnaflow