JDM Catalytic Converter

[european]

Hello,

Just a quick question as I've asked a few people but they didn't seem 100% certain.

Has anyone on here, who has a JDM Cat, had troubling with passing AirCare? I didn't fail or anything but I will need to pass again next year before October 2011.
The reason I ask.... I recently installed my full J-Spec Mugen exhaust for my 97 Honda Prelude base. Header, downpipe, JDM cat and cat-back exhaust with twin loop muffler. I installed new O2 sensors as well. The diameter of the piping is slightly larger then stock starting at the collector. The JDM cat flanges are larger in diameter as well. Not by much but it is larger.

The JDM cat I received was not brand new but it wasn't in bad shape either. None of the mesh was rattling around as well.

I'd greatly appreciate it if someone lets me know.

Thanks in advance
Cheers
Mike

[godwin]

It is extremely hard to test the performance of a used catalytic converter just by rattling it (is being the obvious and last resort that the catalytic converter is broken). There are hidden issues without the rattle, eg If it is coated with oil it would not work. (or things like anti freeze if the previous car had a gasket leak, will ruin it in a few minutes). In the end it depends on the surface area of the catalytic matrix in the converter. Honestly I won't use a used one because I don't know the previous history and labour is a lot more the the cost of a converter (especially if it is a custom fit).

You can run a bore scope to make sure the matrix is clean. I would say emissions requirement in North America is tougher than JDM due to worse fuel quality availability. So your converter probably won't do as good as a job as a USDM one.

I think the only sure way for you is go to a shop with a 4 gas analyzer or just take it through Aircare (probably a cheaper option).

[european]

Yea I'll take it through AirCare and see how it goes with the JDM cat on. I don't have to do that until end of September though. If it doesn't work I still have my 2 month old OEM catalytic converter so I can use that. I'd have to get new flanges welded on as its not the same diameter as the JDM cat. I wonder if a OEM cat and Mugen exhaust will pass.. hmmm.

Anyone else gone through AirCare with a JDM cat?

[need2speed]

I have a jdm itr cat and i passed aircare. I have i/h/e as well
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[Akira@Rise]

jdm stock cat should let you through aircar, I've taken many jdm cars to aircare and as long as they are stock motor with stock cat most of them are passed aircare(except RX7s). if your motor is not heavily modified you should be able to pass through aircare with jdm cat, oh just make sure you worm up your cat before go to the airecare facility.

[european]

^
Thanks
I only have a short ram air intake along with full Mugen exhaust (Header, downpipe, mid-section with resonator and twin loop muffler) and the JDM cat from a JDM Prelude Everything else is pretty much stock. Always change my oil and air filter on time. Always make sure my plugs and wires are top notch as well so I should be good on AirCare.

[european]

I knew it...




I failed

I have H22A4 with 5 speed swap. 240,000 km's on the motor.
Oil catch can, short ram air intake with good clean filter, roughly under 6 month old NGK spark plugs and NGK wires.
J-Spec Mugen Exhaust with Mugen header and JDM catalytic converter that was installed around the end of November 2010. Also installed new NGK O2 sensor.
Changed my oil and oil filter about two-three weeks ago and I put 250km's on it since the oil change with little trips here and there around town.
(Don't know if all the parts/mods I listed matter or not)

I drove from my house in to the bank, store then to AirCare place. Motor was fairly warm I'd say. Temp gauge was near the halfway mark.

Any tips?

[Akira@Rise]

that's too bad, you can try "guaranty pass" and drive around 200km and retarded ignition timing before you go to aircare again.
good luck

[european]

Well, I had a discussion with a few people and I was told to throw in my OEM cat and I should be fine. I might try it. My OEM cat is only 3 months old but I'll have to cut my JDM flanges off and weld them to the OEM cat or else it won't bolt up to my Mugen exhaust.

[Expresso]

When you say you drove around before Aircare how long was the actual drive?

[european]

The drive before AirCare was about 20-30 minutes. Keep in mind I don't drive my car very often. Its usually parked for a few days sometimes weeks. Too paranoid of getting my paint damaged, so I walk or skytrain if I can.
I know.. I'm crazy.

[cunninglinguist]

Have you checked other things like your PCV valve and spark plugs/ignition timing? Maybe you have a bad or fouled plug.

Having said that, most of my aircare failures were fixed by new cats or o2 sensors but I knew beforehand other variables were taken care of.

[european]

Plugs and wires are good. Replaced those about 4 months ago and checked before going through AirCare. It might be the PCV valve cause its not directly connected to the intake manifold. There is a oil catch can in between. I'm not sure if that matters or not.

[european]

So I got fed up so I took the car to my mechanic. He welded on JDM flanges to my OEM replacement cat. It was a really tight fit but its in there. This way we didn't have to cut the Mugen exhaust. After he did that, I changed my clutch fluid, manual transmission fluid and I replaced my fuel filter. I did the "Italian tune up" thing for about an hour to hour and a half. I'm not sure if I was doing it right but I was Just hitting it hard. Hard acceleration and close to redline but most of the time it was at 6500ish then shifted into higher gear. I basically just tried to get the cat as hot as possible. Went into AirCare in Surrey and passed!



Don't know what actually helped, Whether it was the new cat, the Italian tune up, got lucky or maybe all of the above, who knows. I don't really care at this point as I can drive my car for another two years.

Now it's time to install BullFrog TB!