c240's catalytic converter
07-23-2010, 04:31 PM
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C240
c240's catalytic converter
hi everyone
i need some help regarding my catalytic converters, about 2 years ago my OEM catalytic converters broke so i took the car to mb dealership and got it replaced for about $2300 both sides a year later they broke again so i thought there might be a misfire or somthing i took the car to the dealership and got them to check to see if there is anything wrong with the engin or misfire and they told me there is nothing wrong cost to fix $2500 this time, so i said f**k it took the car to an exhasut shop and got magnaflow's catalytic converters now its broken again yesterday i took the car to a different mb and they checked and told me there is nothing wrong with my engin and both cats need to be replaced.
anyways im really tired of this issue, and dont have the budget to get OEM cats . i wonder if anyone has any suggestion or anything, i was thinking of going with stright pipe, but i dont wanna pollut the air and sound like 16 years old kid who drives a 90 civic with magnaflow on it
here is a picture of her
i need some help regarding my catalytic converters, about 2 years ago my OEM catalytic converters broke so i took the car to mb dealership and got it replaced for about $2300 both sides a year later they broke again so i thought there might be a misfire or somthing i took the car to the dealership and got them to check to see if there is anything wrong with the engin or misfire and they told me there is nothing wrong cost to fix $2500 this time, so i said f**k it took the car to an exhasut shop and got magnaflow's catalytic converters now its broken again yesterday i took the car to a different mb and they checked and told me there is nothing wrong with my engin and both cats need to be replaced.
anyways im really tired of this issue, and dont have the budget to get OEM cats . i wonder if anyone has any suggestion or anything, i was thinking of going with stright pipe, but i dont wanna pollut the air and sound like 16 years old kid who drives a 90 civic with magnaflow on it
here is a picture of her
07-23-2010, 06:19 PM
#2
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The big question here is why do you keep suffering Cat failure. This is not normal. Do you drive fast over speed bumps or similar with hot exhausts? The biggest killer of Cats is driving over harsh bumps while the honeycomb is incandescent in the Cats.
07-23-2010, 11:55 PM
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glyn for my own info what are the pros and cons of going stright pipe, am i gonna get CEL? poor gas milage? any good aftermarket brand cat for w203?
07-24-2010, 09:42 PM
#5
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You can remove the so called secondary Cats - if you remove the primary units you will have a perpetual message on dash from the post cat O2 sensors that Cat function is sub standard.
You will fail emission tests. I'm not a fan of aftermarket Cat's.
You will fail emission tests. I'm not a fan of aftermarket Cat's.
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07-25-2010, 09:50 AM
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07-25-2010, 10:22 AM
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Are you getting any messages or check engine? From my understanding you just have noise coming from the cat because something is broken inside?
If you are not getting any messages and check engine lights then maybe you can go to an exhaust shop and have them cut open the cat and remove the broken honey comb. 2200 seems very expensive and I honestly wonldn't change the cat unless the cat has gotten poisoned.
This is how the honey comb looks and it can easily break.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._structure.jpg
Replacing a pipe instead of the Cat won't make your car too loud. I think the only problem you'll have is if you need to pass emissions and a check engine light.
If you are financially not ready then replacing the cat with a pipe might be the best choice for now...until you finish school and have enough income for another cat replacement)
If you are not getting any messages and check engine lights then maybe you can go to an exhaust shop and have them cut open the cat and remove the broken honey comb. 2200 seems very expensive and I honestly wonldn't change the cat unless the cat has gotten poisoned.
This is how the honey comb looks and it can easily break.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._structure.jpg
Replacing a pipe instead of the Cat won't make your car too loud. I think the only problem you'll have is if you need to pass emissions and a check engine light.
If you are financially not ready then replacing the cat with a pipe might be the best choice for now...until you finish school and have enough income for another cat replacement)
07-25-2010, 10:34 AM
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thanks for your quick reply karo
yes the stuff in that honey comb is broken and make rattling noise and i dont know its just me or wat, i feel a lil underpowered & car shakes abit since they are broken. i spended over $2700 on these stupid cats which i couldve spended on mods (amg body kit)
is there any way to not to get engin light?
yes the stuff in that honey comb is broken and make rattling noise and i dont know its just me or wat, i feel a lil underpowered & car shakes abit since they are broken. i spended over $2700 on these stupid cats which i couldve spended on mods (amg body kit)
is there any way to not to get engin light?
07-25-2010, 10:36 AM
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Are you getting any messages or check engine? From my understanding you just have noise coming from the cat because something is broken inside?
If you are not getting any messages and check engine lights then maybe you can go to an exhaust shop and have them cut open the cat and remove the broken honey comb. 2200 seems very expensive and I honestly wonldn't change the cat unless the cat has gotten poisoned.
This is how the honey comb looks and it can easily break.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._structure.jpg
Replacing a pipe instead of the Cat won't make your car too loud. I think the only problem you'll have is if you need to pass emissions and a check engine light.
If you are financially not ready then replacing the cat with a pipe might be the best choice for now...until you finish school and have enough income for another cat replacement)
If you are not getting any messages and check engine lights then maybe you can go to an exhaust shop and have them cut open the cat and remove the broken honey comb. 2200 seems very expensive and I honestly wonldn't change the cat unless the cat has gotten poisoned.
This is how the honey comb looks and it can easily break.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._structure.jpg
Replacing a pipe instead of the Cat won't make your car too loud. I think the only problem you'll have is if you need to pass emissions and a check engine light.
If you are financially not ready then replacing the cat with a pipe might be the best choice for now...until you finish school and have enough income for another cat replacement)
07-25-2010, 10:49 AM
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
Go to a muffler shop and ask them if they will be able to cut the cat open and remove the broken honey comb.
If that doesn't work then you might have to remove cats and replace with a pipe. Your car might sound a little louder and you will get check engine light. I believe a tuning shop will be able to go into the ECU and disable the warning.
Or you can just drive around with the check engine light on but if you get another check engine (something serious) you might not notice because of the already check engine light on.
Try to see if the muffler shop can cut the cat open first.
Also I have no idea why the car would be shaking and loss of power. It might be your mind playing a trick on you? When I detail my car for some reason the car feels like it responds better and drives better
(mind playing a trick on me)
If that doesn't work then you might have to remove cats and replace with a pipe. Your car might sound a little louder and you will get check engine light. I believe a tuning shop will be able to go into the ECU and disable the warning.
Or you can just drive around with the check engine light on but if you get another check engine (something serious) you might not notice because of the already check engine light on.
Try to see if the muffler shop can cut the cat open first.
Also I have no idea why the car would be shaking and loss of power. It might be your mind playing a trick on you? When I detail my car for some reason the car feels like it responds better and drives better
(mind playing a trick on me)
07-25-2010, 10:59 AM
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
Air passes freely
Since honey comb broke it can clog the holes and air doesn't pass freely anymore causing loss in power and/or even shaking
When a converter becomes clogged with debris or are broken, the engine has to work much harder to accelerate and idle because the exhaust pressure is backing up in the pipe. This causes a highly erratic idle and or stalling and little or no power on acceleration, as well as higher engine temperatures. In this case the shaking described may be strong idle.
Since honey comb broke it can clog the holes and air doesn't pass freely anymore causing loss in power and/or even shaking
When a converter becomes clogged with debris or are broken, the engine has to work much harder to accelerate and idle because the exhaust pressure is backing up in the pipe. This causes a highly erratic idle and or stalling and little or no power on acceleration, as well as higher engine temperatures. In this case the shaking described may be strong idle.
Last edited by W203E35; 07-27-2010 at 10:52 PM.
07-25-2010, 11:02 AM
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2002 C240, 2006 ML350, 2011 X3
08-05-2010, 01:00 AM
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08-05-2010, 11:04 AM
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2002 C240, 2006 ML350, 2011 X3
Ok thanks, I will try to get the shop to just cut and fix the cat like Karo said. If not.... I will have to shell out the cash for oem 
08-05-2010, 12:02 PM
#22
Out Of Control!!
That's misinformation. There's nothing magical about the OEM cats, other than how wide open your a$$ is after the dealer reams you. I've had a Magnaflow on my car for about 5 years now, if memory serves. Get P0420 every so often, but it clears and takes at least several months to come back. For the price difference of one cat of about $11-1200, it's an inconvenience that I think most people could live with.
11-01-2012, 07:44 PM
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2003 C240
2003 c240
I have rattling coming from my c240, plus a recent loss of power and my check engine light comes on. I have reset it but on acceleration it comes back on, I barely mad it up the hill to my house. Do you think this is a sign my cat core might be clogging exhaust flow and cuasing my loss of power. This is a new vehicle to me and has been freshly tuned up?
