I have been chasing multiple check engine codes with a trip to the dealer each time. It now seems that the code last read indicates replacing the catalytic converter at a cost of 1600 to 2000.
I have run one can of seafoam through the gas and am now on my second Seafoam tank. Is the Seafoam going to clean the catalytic?
Or
Do I turn a blind eye to the check engine light?
2012 Hyundai Accent 5 door.
233000 km
-- Edited by oshawacliff on Thursday 7th of April 2022 03:28:55 PM
-- Edited by oshawacliff on Thursday 7th of April 2022 03:29:57 PM
at 232 k could u not buy a convertor from amazon or auto parts a universal one and get it changed out that price is outragous at least. usually they plug up and car runs like crap
Has the car been on the highway recently? Sometimes when driven in the city on short jaunts at low speeds the catalytic converter will become contaminated. A good run on the highway for an hour or so should get the catalyst hot enough to clean it out. When the e test was still being done this guy bought a Jaguar at an estate sale. It wouldnt pass the e test and the dealer wanted $2600 each for the catalytic converters. We took it out on the highway and drove the sh*t out of it. The check light went out and it passed the e test.
I've been thinking about filling the tank with another dose of Seafoam and going for a spin. I had another car that showed check engine and a few good runs at 6000 rpm cleared the c/e light.
Methal Hydrate 3% to 10% ratio in gasoline. you get it at Canadian Tire looks like same type of jug as varsol. Cheaper than seafoam too. I had a 98 Cadillac that would always fail Drive Clean but running Methal Hydrate got it to pass.
Warning, it is a super octane booster so that little Hyundai will really light up while you are running methal. Seat of my pants with my Northstar V8 felt like 50 HP added.
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Ray White, Toronto ON
1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"
Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON
1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1
Polo green metallic & tan - Bowling Green Kentucky
I dont think seafoam will hurt, Ive used it in several of my cat vehicles over the years without issue. Used it to clean out fi/carbs/valves when I had rough idle or similar problems, not a cat problem. Never used methyl Ray but sounds interesting.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Is the code coming from the 02 sensor behind the cat? If so there's a cheat for that. You can buy "extenders" that screw into the 02 hole and you then screw the 02 into the extender. This takes the tip of the senor out of the exhaust stream and therefore prevents the error from occuring. This only works if in fact the cat is bad. Usually you get a "Catalytic Efficiency" fault. My old 96 Accord started throwing this code a month ago. I had to replace the factory cat 2 years ago thanks to it rusting and the aftermarket replacements barely have enough precious metal in them to work. Usually they stop working after a year or so. Sure enough my engine light came on with this code. I'm going to install the extenders once it warms up here. They are around 15 bucks on Amazon and likely available at NAPA etc.
Can you cheat on 1 and 2? What are the consequences?
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Well after about 3 cans of seafoam and some more check engine lights I decided to take the advise of my Dealer service manager. A visit to a reputable muffler show in Ajax.
Quote There are 2 catalytic convertors in the system. The primary one mounts to the block as part of the exhaust manifold and there is a secondary one further down the system which does not have the ability to set codes.
There has been evidence of an exhaust leak
Primary Catalytic Converter (aftermarket) 750.00
Labour 150.00
Replace exhaust pipe after primary convertor 150.00
Grand Total with TAX 1189.20
3.5 hours to install
No more codes for a while. Hope to get another hundred thousand miles.
My income tax refund is in transit......
Time to give it to Visa.
Cliff
no photos due to restrictions about being in the shop.
Hopefully your aftermarket cat lasts longer than the one I put in my Accord. It lasted about 8000kms before setting the 02 code again as they put the bare minimum of precious metals in them. Unfortunately the only real way to go is with the super pricey OEM cat if you are keeping the car for a longer period of time. There's a "cheat" to trick the rear sensor into thinking all is well by installing a spacer such as this one on Amazon:
