Well, i recently bought a 97 Acura Integra.
I bought the car on craigslist. (I bought it as-is with no smog)
The guy who sold me the car took out the ****ing Engine Check light bulb.
So I never knew that the check engine light was on. The Engine runs good but when i took it to smog and the mechanic lifted up the car & basically he took out the CAT and both 02 sensor. All he had was DC header and a straight pipe to a stock muffler.

They told me is around $450 - $500 to put a cat and both 02 sensor back on.
Please help! is there a cheaper way around this? (I don't want to illegal smog it)

 

Okay, i have a '98 teg with the same problem. This is a fairly easy fix. What you need to do to make it legal again is find a CAT to bolt back on there, you could either find tat section or weld it in with some 2 1/2'' tubing. After this, purchase both o2 sensors, youll also need to buy bungs that the o2 sensors will screw into. Drill 2 holes, one in the header (i have the DC header as well) which is before the CAT and one after the CAT. Then tack weld the bungs on, plug your o2 sensors in, screw them into the bungs, and youll be good to go. Hope this helped

 

Oh yeah, the cost for both o2 sensors will run you about $120, the bungs are about $10, and the CAT you could pick up a new one off CL for about 80 bucks.

 

sounds like it is still going to run me at least about $300-$350

If I can find a integra that i can borrow their whole system. what year integra would it fit directly on to mine? i know 94-95 won't fit since it is obd1 and i heard that 2000 and 01 integra exhaust won't fit directly b/c they're longer. please guide me HT.

Thanks!

 

hopefully the harness plugs are still there.
Now would be a good time to upgrade your exhaust. Going stock would be a step backwards if you plan on playing with the car in the future. You can source a cat either weld-on or bolt in for 100 or less. I suggest at least 2.5in hi-flow cat.
You need to source two (unless the header has one) o2 bungs and two o2 sensors (these can get pricy, about 80-120 per) now find a catback exhaust you like and pay a reputable person/shop <$100 to do the welding. Waay less if all you need are the bungs welded and verything else bolts on. Magnaflow "true" hi-flow cats can be had with or without the sensor bung already there.
So youre lookin around 300 anyways but at least you have more input when you piece together the system the way YOU want it.
hth

 

I agree, no point in downgrading if you dont have to

 

I am looking at buying a Catalytic converter on ebay.. there is a lot of them. which one will pass smog? please help thanks! they have some only $20 and they have some $140
I just want something cheap that i can pass smog. thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ACURA...#ht_2658wt_822

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-...ht_4185wt_1194

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Magna...#ht_3010wt_902

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1996-...#ht_2721wt_690



So i found these front and back 02 sensor good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-R...#ht_1573wt_729

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-F...#ht_1821wt_729

about $100 for both

 

I would recommend buying the first CAT you listed. Looks pretty good, and not too cheap, but still a fairly decent price. The second one almost looks like a resonator or something. haha Thats my opinion anyway, and with the new CAT there is already a spot to screw your o2 sensor in.

As for the sensors, i'd ****** those up if i were you, cause im in the same boat and i havent found anything cheaper. So those are definately a good deal.

 

Best thing to do would be to get a used exhaust. Bolt it up to the header and plug in the O2 sensors. That will fix your check engine light, get you passed smog, not kill your bank account, and you'll pick up quite a bit of power and mileage.

Find someone parting out an Integra. That shouldn't be too hard. It's illegal for the junkyard's to sell cat converters.

 

thank you guys. I actually found a shop around my place that will put a new cat on and install both 02 sensor and smog my car for $320. sounds like a decent deal?

the only thing i need to provide is both 02 sensor.

I thought about buying a new cat back exhaust system. but even if I buy an aftermarket catback exhaust system don't i still need to buy both 02 sensor and a new cat?

 

Indeed, the cat-back exhaust has nothing to do with emissions. I have the same problem, and dont know which cat to buy. I am in search of a direct fit for my 2000 Integra.

 

might want to try http://www.rockauto.com/ for replacement O2 sensors. For future reference all your dash warning lights should light up for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to the running position before actually trying to start the car (lets you know that the warning signals/bulbs are working). It's always a good idea to check this when you are buying a used car to help prevent getting taken by shady people. I bet you could file a civil suit against the person for fraud and win if you could actually prove that the bulb was taken out.

 

RockAuto is a great place to purchase OEM replacement parts .

 

thanks!

 

Just find a used cat and depending wether the pipe is welded or bolted just get a cheap used cat i bought one for $30.00, perhaps i got lucky, i have seen them for $50 and $80-$100 online here on HT. As far as the o2 sensor missing you can buy them here on HT maybe $30 shipped. I know what you mean I had a gutted cat and had to go buy an oem cat from someone an hour+ away on HT.

 

my opinion is just borrow a buddy's exhaust for the inspection. save a **** ton of money. pay him to borrow it so it's not too much an inconvenience for him. but on a side note, is there any big draw backs to not even having an o2 sensor on the car? both of mine are disconnected (2000gsr) and it still runs fine. gettin 35 mpg. does it affect power? dont mean to jack the thread.