smazzrt

Currently my CEL is throwing a p0420 code, which is the catalytic converter. Is it most definitely the catalytic converter, or could it be the second oxygen censor? How difficult is it to replace the catalytic converter on a 98 accord? i am not all that firmilar with where it is, or what would be involved with replacing it. can anyone give me a decent idea on the time, skill, tools required to replace it myself? thanks for all of the help.

Elvis1977

It's the catalytic converter. Another reason to buy a Toyota camry next time. I was shocked also when mine went bad on my 98 accord. This is serious bullshit!!!

-Bionic-

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Elvis1977 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's the catalytic converter. Another reason to buy a Toyota camry next time. I was shocked also when mine went bad on my 98 accord. This is serious bullshit!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

What is the big deal? Go buy yourself a camry!

KGAccord

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Elvis1977 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's the catalytic converter. Another reason to buy a Toyota camry next time. I was shocked also when mine went bad on my 98 accord. This is serious bullshit!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think the oem catalytic converters carry longer warranties than the 3yrs/36, about 5yrs/ 100k i think. you may have been able to get it done for free. even still for under $100 you can buy a carsound hi flow cat and have installed total should be under $150 much less than new oem ones.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smazzrt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Currently my CEL is throwing a p0420 code, which is the catalytic converter. Is it most definitely the catalytic converter, or could it be the second oxygen censor? How difficult is it to replace the catalytic converter on a 98 accord? i am not all that firmilar with where it is, or what would be involved with replacing it. can anyone give me a decent idea on the time, skill, tools required to replace it myself? thanks for all of the help.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if you don't know where it is located on your car you probably shouldn't be changing it yourself. look into it being covered under warranty or go to a custom exhaust shop to have one put on. don't buy oem cause it will cost way too much.

-Bionic-

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smazzrt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Currently my CEL is throwing a p0420 code, which is the catalytic converter. Is it most definitely the catalytic converter, or could it be the second oxygen censor? How difficult is it to replace the catalytic converter on a 98 accord? i am not all that firmilar with where it is, or what would be involved with replacing it. can anyone give me a decent idea on the time, skill, tools required to replace it myself? thanks for all of the help.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How many miles do you have on the car? Would it be covered by the warranty? I know I friend who got it replaced because he had less than 60,000 miles.
I'm not a cat specialist, but I think both a bad cat and a faulty second O2 sensor would give the same code...don't quote me on it. As far as replacing it, you need leverage and a good breaker bar, unless you got access to power/air tools. If you were to take it to a shop, I would assume that they would charge you 100 dollars at the VERY most, which is roughly the price to install a header or cat-back. I'm not to sure about the price for the catalytic converter, but I heard it goes all the way to 250 dollars. Some even debate about buying one from the local junkyard.

Elvis1977

I've owned many Camry's and have never had to replace a catalyic onverter. Even after 190k miles! And my car had only 88k miles when the check engine light went off. The warranty is 80k parts only. The OEM part alone costs 600 dollars not including installation. I have done alot of research and many mechanics also agree that you should ONLY put OEM cataylic converters on Honda's. They are just very sensitive vehicles and by the way 98-02 accords are ALL Low Emmissions Vehicles. OEM converters for this vehicle is strongly recommended! Basically that means 600 freaking bucks for a converter every 80k or so! I'm not saying Honda's are bad cars, they are just second to Toyota in just about every category. There is no question that the Accord is a great, reliable car but something as simple as a converter or automatic transmission issue for example needs to be addressed and seriously studied by HONDA. How many people on this web site have complained about their AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION giving them problems? Honda just can't figure this problem out for ALL generations of their vehicles. Go and drive a Camry after it has 150k+ miles and see how much smoother it shifts than a Honda. Vibration at idle and weak motor mounts are usually always a problem with Honda vehicles.

KGAccord

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Elvis1977 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've owned many Camry's and have never had to replace a catalyic onverter. Even after 190k miles! And my car had only 88k miles when the check engine light went off. The warranty is 80k parts only. The OEM part alone costs 600 dollars not including installation. I have done alot of research and many mechanics also agree that you should ONLY put OEM cataylic converters on Honda's. They are just very sensitive vehicles and by the way 98-02 accords are ALL Low Emmissions Vehicles. OEM converters for this vehicle is strongly recommended! Basically that means 600 freaking bucks for a converter every 80k or so! I'm not saying Honda's are bad cars, they are just second to Toyota in just about every category. There is no question that the Accord is a great, reliable car but something as simple as a converter or automatic transmission issue for example needs to be addressed and seriously studied by HONDA. How many people on this web site have complained about their AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION giving them problems? Honda just can't figure this problem out for ALL generations of their vehicles. Go and drive a Camry after it has 150k+ miles and see how much smoother it shifts than a Honda. Vibration at idle and weak motor mounts are usually always a problem with Honda vehicles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

nobody cares cause camrys are ghey

a hooked up camry

a hooked up accord

philadd

no disrespect, but if you dislike Hondas so much, why even bother coming on to HT?

I've owned 2 cars, both Accords. The first Accord had 283,000 miles on it when I finally sold it. No auto tranny problems, no cat problems. Current car is a '99 w/ auto tranny, 140,000 miles. Again, no tranny problems, no cat problems. Heck, no real problems at all.

Yes, the V6 autos are known to be problematic. Yes, people complain about them all the time on here. But you also need to keep in mind that hardly ever hear from the guy who doesn't have problems. I know tons of people with Accords, and none of them have had problems. But when you come on here, it seems like everyone and their mom has had every single problem you can possibly think of.

Funny thing is, my dad has owned 2 Camrys, both of them crap. The first one broke down every other week (was only a couple months old). The second one didn't make it past 90,000 miles before the tranny took a dump. By that time, there were so many other problems with the car that my dad couldn't take it anymore. He then bought a '01 CL (which we all know has essentially the same motor and tranny as the 6th gen V6 Accords)... and guess what, no tranny or cat problems.

I guess it all depends on who you talk to, but IMO, most people only remember the bad things and don't even give a second thought to anything else.

Elvis1977

whatever! I call it like I see it!

dennis

Either replace the cat with cheap version or throw an o2 simulator in place of rear o2 - or do both if cheaper replacement cat causes rear o2 to throw a CEL.

Elvis1977

I never said I disliked Honda's. I love them. That's why I own one with 131k miles I put on myself. Go and reread the post. Again, HONDA'S are great, fantastic, and reliable cars. They, in my opinion overall are just second to Toyota in most catagories. I will agree that most Honda's look better in body style than Toyota's. As far as transmission issues. Overall, Toyota's blow Honda away on Automatic transmissions. But, Honda's manual tranmission is excellent and may be better than Toyota. But, most 4-door sedans are AUTOMATIC whether Toyota or Honda.

smazzrt

it has 111K on it, so waranty replacement is out of the question.

alotawatts

I would triple check about the warranty. Use Net search engines on Recalls etc. At least some of the 6th generation Civics have unique / long term emission warranties - O2 sensors etc.

smazzrt

i have looked, there are only a few recalls on my car. although none are for the cat.

shadow_ridge

hey.... before you do the cat.... are u losing mpg??

i had the same code, and my O2 on the headers was died.. fixed it code gone.


what happends the car runs so rich.. the cat cant do its job right, and the other O2 thinks its the cats fault..


check your O2 first

fubuallstar

not to sound like a ahole but thats a big do it yourself especially on a 98. i swapped my cat out in 15 minutes. just buy a cheap cat w/o or without a 02 sensor and for 30 extra a exhaust shop will send ur cat to a shop(possible machine shop) to add a 02 hole. after that get a jack and a impact wrench and everything is all gravy. its only 6 bolts if u need more info just let me know. if i sounded like a smarta$$ pls forgive me