Uhg, seems like they welded the converter in the wrong orientation to the pipe. The O2 sensor won't fit. Of course no one is answering their phone.

Anyone else have this issue? Need to pass emissions and this is a setback...

 

Why would anyone else have this issue? This was a custom job that got screwed up, get it fixed. Automatic?

 

Yes, Automatic.

Custom job? Not sure about that.

So far not impressed, they didn't even ship a complete set of hardware. Luckily I have a scrounge bin.

This is "Magnaflow", not a shoddy "custom" garage build.

 

Wait, did they ship you the complete pipe after welding in one of their cats? Or did you have a shop weld it in?


The former is rather rare, it wouldn't shock me if they messed it up, not being RX-8 specialists.

 

It was a complete system. Was suppose to be bolt and play...

Magnaflow 23909 Mazda RX-8 Catalytic Converter Direct Fit 49 State (Exc.CA)

 

Oh, you bought it this way..................My bad.

 

Where did you purchase it? It is listed to work with the Automatics?

 

Looking at the packing slip, came from Canadian Catalytic, Woodbridge Ontario.

I'll keep calling them tomorrow. Hopefully I can get somewhere. Worst case I'll have to find a shop here in Houston and have it cut and re-welded$$$.

 

Nope it is only listed to work with M/T equipped RX-8's.

MagnaFlow Catalytic Converters - 49-STATE & CANADA Catalytic Converters For Trucks, Suv's, American Muscle, Diesel, & Sport Compact Vehicles

 

Excuse my ignorance, why would a car with Automatic transmission and Manual have different Catalytic converters? If I read correct the automatic makes less power so I would think there would be less issues?

 

Because the manual trans takes up far less room.

 

Yes, I see that now. However the web site from where I purchased did not specify manual transmission only. Not cool, so it seems I'll have to get it cut and rotated.

 

This is a stock pipe, you can see the O2 sensor location is about the same as yours. Magnaflow makes good stuff so I doubt it was a mistake.

 

Yes, much more room with the manual. If I was a bit more educated would of only purchased the Catalytic portion and had it welded to the stock pipe.

Had plans of gutting the old Cat and re-installing after I passed the emissions.

 

Well, hopefully they take it back. You can try one of these as well but I am not sure if the car would throw a code or not because of it. It also might still be a tight fit. The thread pitch is a standard metric thread pitch, I am sure any hydraulic hose/fitting supplier could get you something that would work as well.

 

magnaflow does make "direct fit" Cat for our 8, it looks like Mangnaflow (or the factory that actually makes it) screwed it up.

both AT and MT uses the same cat.

Either return or cut it & weld urself, but if it's me I would just return it

 

Thanks, I'm going to try this first before cutting and rotating the Cat. Really appreciate the help. I'll keep everyone posted if I was successful passing emissions in this configuration.

 

Yeah their website says MT only. But maybe the fitting was installed too far forward. Either way that **** ain't gonna work. Honestly I refuse to work on AT RX-8's (yeah I'm a snob) so I could not tell you if the midpipes are the same or not.

 

Changed my mind, had the hole relocated.

Lets see if the emission light stays off now.

 

All of the 23909's the hole is in the same spot and wrong my friend had issues with his being turned enough when welded at the factory that the O2 sensor was rubbing the underneath even on a manual. We tapped and welded it in farther back. Nobody I know has got a complete set of hardware with one.
I have the Magnaflow 49150 on my auto and have had no problems. Looking at them side by side the only difference I see is $300 and the o2 sensor hole is a couple inches farther back on the 49150.

 

I have same issues what was your outcome

 

The Magnaflow cat is M/T ONLY! If you have an auto, return it.

 

OP, if you are still around, please let us know this cat is holding up. Magnaflow cats have not lived long in this car AFAIK, but more data points are always needed.

 

Yes, if there is experience about longevity of these cats, please post about them.