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de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 16th, 2010, 3:29 pm
by mrswany2009
i have been informed from uk websites (mx3 sites) that the cat cant be removed on post 1992 mx3 sucessfully. this is on the 130bhp engine we suckers got in the uk.

is this true or false,

it was my understanding the cat could be reaplced resulting in more horses.

regards

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 16th, 2010, 6:02 pm
by wytbishop
On OBD2 cars the O2 sensors are placed pre and post cat to measure the change in levels and so without the cat the engine would not run properly. On OBD1 cars this is not the case. O2 sensors are in each header and only measure the absolute levels so the cat does not affect ECU data. Unless something is dramatically different in the UK MX-3 you should be able to remove the cat on cars before 96'.

Or maybe I'm a total moron...hard to say.

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 19th, 2010, 5:02 am
by Mike Wakeham
It's more to do with the law of the land than anything else.

In the UK, if your car was registered in 1992 onwards, it HAS to have a CAT fitted to pass emissions on the MOT.

If you're pre 1992, so that'll be J and early K registration cars, you can remove it without the Fuzz or VOSA stitching you up! :D

I do know, (from people on UK-MX3) that if you're running a KLZE you can get away with removing the CAT, but that's only on a ZE converted car.

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 10:08 am
by mazdags94
Technically, we have to do the same thing here in NY. They want to see a catalytic converter as well. However, a buddy of mine passes the emissions test and inspection with flying colors using just a glass pack. If you want the flow, just get a high flow resonator, test pipe (that looks like a cat), or just get a high flow cat.

As bishop said, you can remove it without a problem, but if its because of inspection purposes, I'd say get one of the mentioned parts and say it's a high flow cat.

But I know nothing of the UK laws, so maybe this wouldn't work. Just a thought for you :shrug:

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 11:32 am
by Daninski
wytbishop wrote: Or maybe I'm a total moron...hard to say.
Hard to say indeed. :) ........(paybacks a bit*h)

You can either buy a high flow cat from someone like Magnaflow or simply hollow out your cat.
OBD1 cars have only one O2 sensor per side in North America but in the OBD2 (96-97-98) there one O2 sensor then below that one O2 sensor monitor. You can omit the lower two with no adverse effects. If Europee-in MX-3s have an O2 sensor after the cat then I have no clue.

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 1:30 pm
by RS_OBD'oh_2
if there is an O2 after the cat, you can get around it with a sparkplug spacer plug. It's a trick to pull the sensor out of the exhaust stream. You'll find it on many aftermarked headers and a google search will have the info you need(if you even need it).

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 22nd, 2010, 7:12 pm
by Sleeper6
Theres also the old school way of just hollowing out your cat... looks stock just abit more open is all

Re: de cat k8 post 1992 true or false

Posted: April 23rd, 2010, 9:07 pm
by Tollis
Yeah I've got a hollowed out cat on my stock exhaust. Sounds pretty cool actually. It won't pass an emmisions test though good thing o don't need them here :p