What is a resonator? Where is it and what does it do?


pics if you have them please.

[Modified by prelude10, 10:47 PM 2/21/2002]


[Modified by prelude10, 10:47 PM 2/21/2002]

 

The resonator is located between the catalytic converter and the muffler of your car. Not all cars will have them, but Preludes (in this case) do. Basically, it keeps the stock exhaust fairly tuned and clean sounding. All it really does is put just a little more exhaust resistence on your car before it goes through the big 20lb stock muffler. It's shaped like a long tube (cylinder) if you decide to look for it. I have removed my muffler for now and the resonator has kept my exhaust sounding really clean, deep, and just as good as a cat-back. I guess to appreciate it's small purpose, you would have to remove everything but the cat, then drive it, and then put the resonator back on, then drive it. Still not a neccessary part of the car though--I may be wrong, anyone else with ideas?

 

there's two different resonators, one for the intake and one for the exhaust. as far as the exhaust, a straight pipe with just a muffler, and no resonator = loud and obnoxiously annoying. they make aftermarket resonators that are quite smaller and less resistant than the factory. they're basically just a muffler before the muffler. the intake resonator on a 5th gen is located right in front of the right front wheel well behind the fender. that's easily removed if you want a CAI.