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Several months ago I purchased a Race Roots catted midpipe to replace my failed OEM cat. I didn't think about it at the time (first cat replacement), but the O2 sensor on the RR pipe is in the straight section before the catalytic converter. Here's a photo:
So, you probably know where I'm going with this... I can't pass an inspection here in Texas because the ECU is sending the cat performance insufficient error. Anyway, I've looked high and low for a tuner in DFW area (I've contacted RX7.com, Rotary Performance, Steve Kan, Cobb of Plano, etc. and no one can flash my ECU with a new map).
So, I'm thinking now that maybe I'll have a muffler shop take the cat out and weld it in before the O2 sensor? Won't be as slick looking, but maybe that will solve the CEL issue and get me past an inspection? And maybe I won't have to spend another $500 on this.
Wondering what y'all think? And, before someone starts in on Race Roots and my purchase choice, yes I know what the reputation is. Yes I did a lot of research. Yes, I kind of regret buying this pipe. If I thought I could sell this pipe I'd probably just go and buy a Supercat pipe and sell this one. Perhaps that will be my last resort.
Anyway, what do y'all think about modifying the pipe a bit? Has anyone tried something like this? Any chance of success?
Did you look through the pipe and see the cat in place? From the external looks I would think that's a single resonated midpipe without a cat. If you bought it for 500 bucks that sounds like it was new.
If they built it wrong send it back for a correct one. They should pay the shipping if it's their mistake.
I'm taking a guess those guys can't flash your ecu because you don't have a tuning tool. If that is the case then buying one is a option also, although it's 300-400 bucks for the tuner then more for someone to program it if you can't do it.
Last edited by logalinipoo; 07-16-2015 at 04:06 PM.
Well, I'm not an expert but there is a metal honeycomb core in there. It is what I expect a cat to look like. Also, I don't think it was built wrong. This photo is from their website. Mine looks exactly the same.
I'm not sure why, but for some reason I didn't expect to have the CEL problem. Just inexperienced or ignorant, I guess. After the beating RR took on the forum here, I think I kinda wanted to give them a chance...
I did buy it new from Race Roots. Only $375. But, if I want to fix the CEL issue my options seem to be:
1) Buy a new SuperCat midpipe
2) Buy an Accessport from MazdaManiac, with the proper map
3) Modify existing midpipe
Since the SuperCat will cost about $500, including shipping, and the Accessport is $500+, I'm hoping that the modification might work. Of course, I could also buy an OEM cat, but that will run about $1,400.
BTW, logalinipoo, I live just up the road in Mansfield. Two of my daughters used to work at a party farm out there in Alvaredo.
A honeycomb sounds right. That's strange they build it that way. I'd at least give them a call. I wouldn't expect to buy a new catted pipe and have a CEL. It might be a little easier to have a new 02 bung added after the cat. Any muffler shop should do that pretty cheap. But moving the cat forward should solve the CEL. IT might also cause the cat to get too hot and go bad very quick.
IF you buy a used accessport or Mazda edit personal they run around 300-400 bucks.
Cool Man, I haven't run into anyone who even likes kind of close. I think I've seen one guy who's in benbrook, but anyone else is north of ft worth or north of Dallas. I'm in Saudi Arabia right now for work. I just got here yesterday. I'll be back in texas around the beginning of September.
Yep. At about 65K miles it started to rattle and roll. Not good sounds. I kept thinking I was running stuff over on the road. Then it started smelling bad and sounding bad. So, I got rid of the old pipe. Here's the thread where I mention the new cat:
yeah team was spot on. and someone directly asked about codes but didn't reply. I haven't heard much of them. Of course I bought a racing beat dual resonated pope so I'm normally not concerned with midpipe discussions
Way more trouble to reverse it. The bend will be weird and the flanges on each end are different. Three-bolt on the header end and two-bolt on the muffler end. Would be easier to chop out the cat and weld it in on the forward end.
Talked to a shop and I'm going to take it in tomorrow to see about putting an O2 bung in after the cat. Then I can stick a bolt in the forward bung to plug it up. Hopefully my sensor harness will reach that far back...
Why would it not be a good idea to extend the O2 sensor wire harness if a new sensor location is out of reach? If anything, it might require 6" or so. Is it about wire routing? Or something else?
Why would it not be a good idea to extend the O2 sensor wire harness if a new sensor location is out of reach? If anything, it might require 6" or so. Is it about wire routing? Or something else?
The O2 sensor is voltage based, so increasing the wire length will increase the resistance and your readings will be off.
Shouldn't be any problem for any decent muffler shop to correct, but you will have to pay them to make it right. Sorry it ended up that way and also for not catching it sooner.
So, the muffler shop guys looked at the RR pipe and were very doubtful anything would work. There was no way the O2 sensor would reach behind the cat. And chopping it up to move the cat was problematic because of where things are placed and where the bends are.
Looks like I'll be replacing the dang thing unless I can find someone willing to tune it for me. I haven't found anyone in DFW who could do it. The local rotary shops can't. I even checked with Cobb of Plano.
Maybe someone looking for a non-catted midpipe might want this thing since it won't stink like a midpipe...
I'll give you a stock tune with that code turned off for free. soot me a pm with your email. it won't take me 5 min total. The only problem is you'll need to buy an accessport for it. I think I saw one posted for sale in the last few days. They run about 300 bucks used.
Shouldn't RR enter in the discussion somewhere? I feel like an explanation is owed as to why the design makes no sense.
For what it's worth, I posted about all of this on the thread they started about this pipe. They never contributed or responded. I was never able to find a phone number for them and my email requests for support were answered slowly and were not helpful. My impression is that they don't really care. At this point, neither do I.
Honestly, though, I did plenty of research. I knew about their reputation on this forum. I saw the pipe, but didn't recognize the problem before I bought it. Caveat emptor.
07-16-2015, 03:47 PM
