Here is just why Teger's 'Teg needs a new cat.

I finally got around to getting under the car (oil change), removing the
heat shields and seeing for myself what exactly was wrong.

Well, the dealership lied to me. There was not "a" hole in the catalytic
converter, there were SIX of them. Once I removed (what remained of) the
heat shields, I was able to see them all.

Click here to see those holes:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/...cat-rust-1.jpg
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/...cat-rust-2.jpg
The holes are indicated by red arrows.

If you look closely, you can see the stainless steel wire mesh Honda's
supplier used to cushion the ceramic element inside the cat's body.

Looks like this cat rotted from the inside out, and the outside in. But
mostly the former. Remember this cat is 17 years old and has seen over
300,000 miles.

Interestingly, the front of the cat (reduction side) was quite solid and
had no holes at all. Even when vigorously tapped with a ratchet handle the
front end of the cat body rang true and solid.

The REAR end, of course, is the oxidation side. This side is concerned with
making water and carbon dioxide out of the combustion gases. It seems some
of that water always stays inside the cat, eventually rotting the oxidation
side from the inside out. And that's exactly what happened to mine.

I'm going to a muffler shop this morning to see if it's possible to weld up
the holes so I can get a few more months out of the cat.



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/