Removing the cats and check engine light

[DeHaldaswerth]

Several months ago, I bought some very cool looking cat test pipes made of titanium. Well, I installed them the other day as I was installing a Lightweight exhaust. My intention was to save a bit of weight by removing the cats. Anyway, after about ten miles, the check engine light came on. I checked the error code, and sure enough, it told me that both of the now nonexistant cats were functioning below threshold. By the way, the test pipes had bosses for the 02 sensors, which I of course used. Moral of the story -- the removing the cats will indeed trigger the check engine light, at least on my '01.

 

[docjohn]

Interresting, because on my 96 ob-2 they do not cause a code.The threshholds may be tighter in later years.

 

[canuck]

'01 will have the enhanced OBDII diagnostics. You will have a code for "catalytic convertor deterioration."

 

[fangtl]

How about 97-00s?

 

[canuck]

How about 97-00s?

'98 was first year for mandatory OBDII, some 97's were compliant.