Honda Car Forum

"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote:
>
> Yeah, I did. What scares me is that most people don't take care of their
> cars, and poor maintenance does drastic and horrible damage to cats. I'd
> hate to buy a used cat off a car whose owner ran the same plug wires for
> ten years, or ran out of gas a few times.

Ok, I'll bite. Why shouldn't I be running ten-year-old plug wires?

(full disclosure: they may have been replaced at some point. I would need
to check the maintenance records to find out.)

Mark in Seattle
1991 Accord

"Mark G." <anon40629@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1210259142.556124
@bubbleator.drizzle.com:

> "Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, I did. What scares me is that most people don't take care of their
>> cars, and poor maintenance does drastic and horrible damage to cats. I'd
>> hate to buy a used cat off a car whose owner ran the same plug wires for
>> ten years, or ran out of gas a few times.
>
> Ok, I'll bite. Why shouldn't I be running ten-year-old plug wires?



Because the insulation breaks down and leaks HT current, leading to weak
spark.

Weak spark causes excess HCs to reach the cat, overheating it to the point
of "sintering". Sintering is where the cotton candy-like surface of the
cat's element begins melting and blobbing, greatly reducing its effective
surface area, capacity and life.




--
Tegger

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

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/

"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote
> 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

Great photos. Whoa, re those holes. I will check my 91
Civic's catalytic converter (204k miles; about half its life
driven in northern U.S.) soon.

> 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.

And during this time, are you going to keep shopping around
for something more permanent?

Tegger wrote:

> 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.
>


1. You're lucky you didn't burnd down the whole damned town.

2. Them's not holes, tha's cratering!

3. Looks like you will have to find a suitable substitute. Save the
front 'n rear sections as some welding/brazing might be necessary to
make a generic unit work.

But most of all... Howdidya evah pass emmissions?

JT

Elle wrote:

> "Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote
>
>>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
>
>
> Great photos. Whoa, re those holes. I will check my 91
> Civic's catalytic converter (204k miles; about half its life
> driven in northern U.S.) soon.
>
>
>>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.
>
>
> And during this time, are you going to keep shopping around
> for something more permanent?
>
>


I just notified the "authorities" regarding his outlaw practices. They
should be rounding him up soon...

<G>

JT

"Elle" <honda.lioness@spamnocox.net> wrote in news:tXhXj.37$GV3.11
@newsfe08.phx:

> "Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote
>> 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
>
> Great photos. Whoa, re those holes. I will check my 91
> Civic's catalytic converter (204k miles; about half its life
> driven in northern U.S.) soon.
>
>> 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.
>
> And during this time, are you going to keep shopping around
> for something more permanent?
>
>



Update: Can't be welded. The metal's so thin the muffler shop says they'd
just blow holes in it if they tried.

The holes are actually fairly small, about 1/8" - 3/16" in diameter. The
noise is mostly coming from the slits at the rear, which are about the same
overall size.

I will be replacing the cat (and front pipe, whose flange is rotted to
paper-thinness) next month or so. What's going on is a Walker or other
shitty aftermarket. It looks like there's just barely enough room for the
fatter aftermarket unit to fit.

Until then, I'm wondering if some JB Weld and aluminum tape might not quiet
things down until I get around to doing the work. Ordinarily I'd just go
ahead and do it, but things have been busy around here so I haven't had a
chance.

--
Tegger

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

Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy@ExtraGrumpyville.com> wrote in
news:ir2Yj.355282$cQ1.193918@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

>
>
> Tegger wrote:

>>
>> 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.
>>
>
>
> 1. You're lucky you didn't burnd down the whole damned town.
>
> 2. Them's not holes, tha's cratering!



It's better than the pics make it look. The noise is a lot less than what
your average fart pipe makes, but is loud enough to be annoying to somebody
no longer 18 years-old.


>
> 3. Looks like you will have to find a suitable substitute. Save the
> front 'n rear sections as some welding/brazing might be necessary to
> make a generic unit work.



Everything's rotted; can't save any of it. Front pipe ("A" pipe) has to be
replaced as well, as the flange is very thin after 17 years of rusting.



>
> But most of all... Howdidya evah pass emmissions?
>


Guess last spring the holes were small enough not to be noticeably loud.
Besides, the heat shield would have covered them.


--
Tegger

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

Tegger wrote:
> "Elle" <honda.lioness@spamnocox.net> wrote in news:tXhXj.37$GV3.11
> @newsfe08.phx:
>
>
>>"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote
>>
>>>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
>>
>>Great photos. Whoa, re those holes. I will check my 91
>>Civic's catalytic converter (204k miles; about half its life
>>driven in northern U.S.) soon.
>>
>>
>>>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.
>>
>>And during this time, are you going to keep shopping around
>>for something more permanent?
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> Update: Can't be welded. The metal's so thin the muffler shop says they'd
> just blow holes in it if they tried.
>
> The holes are actually fairly small, about 1/8" - 3/16" in diameter. The
> noise is mostly coming from the slits at the rear, which are about the same
> overall size.
>
> I will be replacing the cat (and front pipe, whose flange is rotted to
> paper-thinness) next month or so. What's going on is a Walker or other
> shitty aftermarket. It looks like there's just barely enough room for the
> fatter aftermarket unit to fit.
>
> Until then, I'm wondering if some JB Weld and aluminum tape might not quiet
> things down until I get around to doing the work. Ordinarily I'd just go
> ahead and do it, but things have been busy around here so I haven't had a
> chance.
>



Assuming that it is function a little still, both the aluminum tape and
JB weld would be very short lived. The JB stuff might even catch on fire.

There are exhaust patch products out there designed to with reasonalbe heat.

Why not just wrap a few beer cans around it?

JT

Theres a big Walker 'W' on my OEM muffler for my 98 civic.....

On May 20, 5:28 pm, Tegger <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote:
> "Elle" <honda.lion...@spamnocox.net> wrote in news:tXhXj.37$GV3.11
> @newsfe08.phx:
>
>
>
> > "Tegger" <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote
> >> 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
>
> > Great photos. Whoa, re those holes. I will check my 91
> > Civic's catalytic converter (204k miles; about half its life
> > driven in northern U.S.) soon.
>
> >> 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.
>
> > And during this time, are you going to keep shopping around
> > for something more permanent?
>
> Update: Can't be welded. The metal's so thin the muffler shop says they'd
> just blow holes in it if they tried.
>
> The holes are actually fairly small, about 1/8" - 3/16" in diameter. The
> noise is mostly coming from the slits at the rear, which are about the same
> overall size.
>
> I will be replacing the cat (and front pipe, whose flange is rotted to
> paper-thinness) next month or so. What's going on is a Walker or other
> shitty aftermarket. It looks like there's just barely enough room for the
> fatter aftermarket unit to fit.
>
> Until then, I'm wondering if some JB Weld and aluminum tape might not quiet
> things down until I get around to doing the work. Ordinarily I'd just go
> ahead and do it, but things have been busy around here so I haven't had a
> chance.
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/