Catalytic Converter Question

[Abbott]

I have an 02 Tahoe 5.3 with the flex fuel system. The other day the converter started to make a rattling noise. Sounds like the honeycomb stuff on the inside came lose. Service Engine Soon light came one. Check it and it said fuel running to lean (bank 2).

I got a couple questions. Is the light coming on because the O2 sensor behind the cat isnt getting good air flow? Can I remove the cat's off this vehicle with no future problems? Would the check engine light still come on?

I have read some where that if you remove the cat's it mess's up stuff on the inside of the engine is that true.

I run no cat's on both my diesels with no problems. Can someone please help me on this problem.

Thanks

---------- Post added at 05:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:20 PM ----------

Just went out and hooked the reader to it. I am getting the P0420 code Catalyst System Efficiency Below Thersold (Bank 1)

 

[Sickblutahoe]

Here read this I posted what I did on this thread. http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26476

 

[Abbott]

Here read this I posted what I did on this thread. http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26476

I looked at your thread and I understand it all. I am not much of a mech. What does the spark plug non-foulers do? Do they make it where there isnt a high flow of exhaust going thru it? Did your Service Engine Soon light stay off? If I have a 2.5 in exhaust pipe what size of pipe what i need to replace where the cats are?

 

[Sickblutahoe]

Yes all the spark plug non fowlers do it keep the rear o2s out of the exhaust stream so it tricks the PCM into thinking you have cats that are working. Your front o2s are the important ones and there before the cats so leave those alone. Now for the pipe all I did was make a couple of 14 inch pieces of 2 1/2 inch pipe and flared them at both ends and slid them in place of where the cats are and welded them in. I'll take a pic of mine tomorrow it's dark out right now. If your not mechanically inclined then I would have a muffler shop do this for you, you still should save some cash by doing it that way. Also I had an 03 evolution that I did this to a couple years ago I sold that car to a buddy of mine and to this day a coulpe years later the cel has never came on.

 

[Abbott]

K a pic or two would help. I got a couple buddies that can weld stainless, so they are going to do that for me. When you took the cat off how much louder did it get? What engine do you have in yours? I will still have the muffler on. Wife uses tahoe to drive for everyday jobs. It has 200,000 miles on it. A little louder is ok with me but not so loud that the people 3 blocks away can hear it. I have two F250's diesels and neither one has cats on it and all it did when i took them off was whistled louder. I can turn a wrench but cant weld. Thanks for the help.

 

[91RS]

Just fix your truck properly. Magnaflow makes a direct fit setup that isn't that expensive. If the cats are coming apart it can hurt the performance of the truck and pollutes more.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Magn...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b19bc516

 

[Abbott]

Just fix your truck properly. Magnaflow makes a direct fit setup that isn't that expensive. If the cats are coming apart it can hurt the performance of the truck and pollutes more.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Magn...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b19bc516

Will that one fit an 02 tahoe with the flex fuel system? I know there are different cats for different engines on these tahoes.

 

[91RS]

Will that one fit an 02 tahoe with the flex fuel system? I know there are different cats for different engines on these tahoes.

The Magnaflow site shows that part number for both 4.8L and 5.3L unless you're in CA then there is a different part. As far as I know, GM only has one cat for the 4.8 and 5.3s.

 

[DaUsedMCR]

is that magnaflow setup more free flowing than the stock setup? would one need them for use with headers and exhaust system for more power?

 

[Abbott]

I will have to check it out maybe