Aftermarket Catalytic Converter & Rear O2 sensor replacement

[Rzarenzi]

Hello fellow ROC members,

I was hoping you might have some insight or reccommendation on aftermarket Catalytic Converter for 2006 Ridgeline. I need to replace my cat & rear O2 sensor before my next state inspection, so the check engine light will go off. Quote from dealer was about $1200 to replace catalytic converter & rear O2 sensor. I was browsing around in the past over the internet and most aftermarket catalytic converters seem to be substantially cheaper than the Honda one. Any thoughts on a reliable replacement, preferebly bolt on (no welding required) for replacement? I don't need high performance or anything. My Ridge has 103,000 miles.

Thanks in advance! Happy Holidays!

[Ourfarm09]

I think you will be fine with a good after market one. If I am correct, Honda doesn't make their own converters anyway.

[Rzarenzi]

Thank you for the feedback - Ourfarm09

[Robert_u]

They are charging you so much because its all labor. I had to change both of Mine and I was qouted1700 but I went to a custom muffler shop and got it done for 850. And it took them 7 hours to complete because to get them out you may have to remove the exhaust and drop the front axle.

[Rickman]

Or you could have the light turned off with a code reader just before your inspection, but I don't recommend it!

Just in case it fails the test!

[speedlever]

Originally Posted by Rzarenzi

Hello fellow ROC members,

I was hoping you might have some insight or reccommendation on aftermarket Catalytic Converter for 2006 Ridgeline. I need to replace my cat & rear O2 sensor before my next state inspection, so the check engine light will go off. Quote from dealer was about $1200 to replace catalytic converter & rear O2 sensor. I was browsing around in the past over the internet and most aftermarket catalytic converters seem to be substantially cheaper than the Honda one. Any thoughts on a reliable replacement, preferebly bolt on (no welding required) for replacement? I don't need high performance or anything. My Ridge has 103,000 miles.

Thanks in advance! Happy Holidays!

You might get lucky by replacing the O2 sensor and resetting the codes. I think I'd try that first. IMO, the cats shouldn't need replacing so soon. Unless they've been damaged by misfire or something.

[areno]

Originally Posted by speedlever

You might get lucky by replacing the O2 sensor and resetting the codes. I think I'd try that first. IMO, the cats shouldn't need replacing so soon. Unless they've been damaged by misfire or something.

I did the de-fouler method on our 2005 ody and our 2006 Ridgeline (both had the cel on with the P04** codes) and within a day the CEL code went away, came back once and has not come back in over 2 years.

My take on the the high frequency with which this code appears on Honda's is that they have programmed very tight variances into what the sensors receive and expect as "normal". I'd love to see someone with the code go to an emissions station and do the exhaust pipe test. I bet the results would show that the emissions are still extremely clean. Anyway, I think the thought behind the "fix" below is that pulling the O2 sensor farther away from the cat, even by an inch or so, takes it out of the stream enough that it doesn't detect as much of the crap that it is monitoring.

This is a $5 fix that has worked on both of our Hondas. I was disappointed after the code came back the first time thinking that it didn't work. But after a day or so it went away and has never come back.

The hardest part is finding the room to get the o2 sensor out.

Here is the link on how it's done: http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2162522

Hope it helps, Adam

[Parsec]

I haven't heard of what areno suggested, but I guess for $5 it's worth a shot. Older Hondas are notorious for tripping multiple codes if there is a bad O2 sensor. If the de-fouler method doesn't work, I also recommend changing out just the O2 sensor and drive it normally for a day or 2 to see if the other codes disappear. Worked on my old CR-V.

[Jack]

My daughter drives an old Nissan Sentra with 140K on it. When I go to get the state inspection (virginia) I used my code scanner to see what code is being "thrown" and write it down for my memory. Right before I run it through the inspection I used the scanner to reset. Works everytime for me.

[ace5000]

Hello all,

151,000 miles here and I'm getting a persistent P0420 code. I got it to go off for a few miles after changing gas, but it is staying on.

I will try to swap the sensors and clean them, but if it fails and I must replace the warm-up bank 1 cat, where can I get a good aftermarket one?

Many thanks