Trying to figure out what is causing my exhaust smell. Doesn't really smell like rotten eggs, and Doesn't smell like oil. Just a toxic fume kind of smell. If i put the vents on fresh air, the smell comes in, but only when at idle and not moving. If I switch the vents over to recirculated air, I don't smell anything. but the smell is pretty strong from outside.

I'm thinking either a clogged cat converter, or maybe an O2 sensor. Any way to check the O2 sensor? How about the cat?

Thanks!

 

just get under there, you should be able to eyeball the cat and gather its condition, as for the o2 sensors, as long as you arent throwing any codes they shouldnt be the issue, but if you check them, just unscrew them with anything 23mm i believe, and see if they are golden brownish. you sure you dont have an exhaust leak or something?

 

I guess I could. The car has 313k miles on it, and the 02 and header to cat is all original as far as I know.

 

not sure a cat or a 02 sensor lasts for 313k...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wed3k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">not sure a cat or a 02 sensor lasts for 313k...</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's recommended to replace the o2 sensor every 60k miles, and the cat every 100k or so... so yeah, might want to look into getting new ones.

 

I don't know how I missed this before, but there is a pretty obvious exhaust leak under the front of the car, which is probably right at or before. the cat converter.

Couple questions for you.

First, what is a decent replacement cat cost? Are those cheap ones you see on ebay for $20 just a straight pipe, bypassing the cat all together? This needs to be street legal still, and I'm not really looking for any performance gains, but if I could get some out of this deal for not much money, then I might consider.

Secondly, can I do this myself? I mean, I know how to turn wrenches, but I'm just learning how to weld. Are the pipes leading into and out of the cat bolt on, or do you have to weld? Or could I use some muffler clamps? Can I do all this with the car on jackstands or do I have to put it on a lift?

 

A replacment cat should bolt right up. Its really easy to install. Good luck

 

judging by the miles you have. i suggest going nuts on the bolts with a wd40 or liquid wrench first.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ogbusboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">judging by the miles you have. i suggest going nuts on the bolts with a wd40 or liquid wrench first. </TD></TR></TABLE>Naahhh... Just get new nuts & bolts 'cause you WILL break them. (Those guys from CA have no idea how much salt they put on the roads out here.)

 

Beautiful! Just what I wanted to hear. Now I got to actually crawl under it and see exactly what pipes are bad.


Where's the best place to get a replacement?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Naahhh... Just get new nuts & bolts 'cause you WILL break them. (Those guys from CA have no idea how much salt they put on the roads out here.)
</TD></TR></TABLE>

you got me there!

 

I beleive I figured out where the leak is coming from. The flex pipe before the cat converter. The cat still appears to be in one peice. Here's a pic




So where do I find a replacement? Does it just pull off or un bolt some how? Please help!

 

I don't know what year/version you have...

You have to replace the whole section of pipe from the exhaust manifold back to the cat. There's bolted flanges but they're outside of your picture. All I can see here is the bolted bracket that holds it to the block. Unfortunately that flexible bellows thing makes this an expensive section of pipe. (Not as bad as a new cat, tho...)

http://www.manhonda.com or your favorite parts store??

 

Thanks. It's a 93 Accord LX 4 door.

I think I'm going to just take it to the exhaust shop down the street. I just rememberd they fixed my brother's Nissan Sentra a while back with the same problem for $75. They sold him some sort of universal connector that swiveled instead of the flex pipe.

 

Well....I took it to the exhaust shop to get a new stainless flex pipe welded on. $125 later, the smell is still there.

This sucks.

 

o2 and cat are the next two things....i'd go for the o2. It definitely needs replacing, plus you can get one for I think around 60 bucks for a Bosch sensor. Then you wont be in the hole for 100 bucks that a catco cat would cost...

 

Is a Bosch any good? I know I just pulled Bosch spark plugs out of there that were misfiring, same deal with my mom's Accord.

 

Bosch and NGK are probably the best brands.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Adam_F123 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well....I took it to the exhaust shop to get a new stainless flex pipe welded on. $125 later, the smell is still there.

This sucks.</TD></TR></TABLE>Well, from your picture you obviously needed that. Maybe it wasn't the only leak??