Hey guys

Just a quick question. Do universal Catalytic Converters work on our 8's? I know they dont last at all, but curious to know if it keeps the engine light off?

 

Yes, it will keep the light off for as long as it lasts. The light will come back on once the heat and excess fuel slags it to death.

If you are in California, note that universal cats won't let you pass a smog test, they can't clean the exhaust enough for those tests.

 

Thanks for the reply. Im based in South Africa and we dont have that in Cape Town. Maybe in the near future it might start popping up though. I have a chance to buy a nicer RX8 hence why im asking cause in my country the stock Cat is $3500.

 

Do you have emissions controls at all there? Frankly I wouldn't bother with a cheap cat just to keep the light off, because even at $100 per cat, you are going to hit that $3,500 in replacing it repeatedly in far less time than a new stock cat would last. If the light being on is the only problem, you could just get a Cobb AccessPORT or MazdaEdit and turn off the light from inside the ECU and go catless.

 

If it's just a matter of reading and clearing the CEL, the Torque app for Android phones is an option also.

 

The problem I have is that a dealership i taking the car from me (Trade-in for something else) and wouldnt want to give the car like that with the engine light on. I dont have access to MazdaEdit or the Cobb AccessPORT on my side of the world unfortunately.

 

I would do that but the engine light comes back on within say 30mins after its been cleared. Im situated at the Coast.

 

I just had my catalytic converter replaced today along with spark plugs and ignition coils. Runs like a champ again!.

The converter was pretty expensive but I think it was worth it.

 

My OEM cat went bad & I replaced it with a midpipe.
However, in order to pass inspection, I bought a Walker direct fit cat for $185 and drove it for about 3 weeks with no problems and no CEL.
If you are trading it in, that should be adequate.

 

I had a Magnaflow High Flow Cat installed. Cost $315 with fitting. Then had the cel cleared and its been clear and driving well so far.

The guy who cleared the code kept the revs between 3000 - 4000rpm and we heard like an bop bop inbetween the constant rev sound, but they were very spaced apart and very very light in sound. He suggested that it could be that I have to replace spark plugs to eliminate that bop or bip sound. Its a very light sound though.

He explained I should drive the car between 3000 - 4000rpm and to either stick to 4th or 5th gear and not drive in 6th to create a "closed loop" Said that would be the quickest way to see if the light will come on again.

Check Engine light been off since he cleared it.

 

If we had the Walker Direct fit cat in South Africa, Cape Town I would have gone with that, but the best we have is Magnaflow. Bought the high flow cat and had cell cleared and been running good ever since. No light either.

 

I didn't know you couldn't get it there.
That's interesting, are there restrictions on certain things, or do some U.S. companies not make things available for overseas shipments?