"Honeycomb structure's been removed from your cat?"
 

Does that mean my cat's been gutted?
I have a P0420 last week. Then experienced loss of power in the middle-top end. I thought it was a clogged cat at first and didn't drive the car since then till I brought it into the dealership, thinking I'm gonna have my cat replaced yay!
But then they told me the honeycomb's been tampered with, wtf? and my warranty's declined.
The thing is though if it was gutted all along, why would a P0420 appear now? And why would I have the symptoms of a clogged cat?

I'm getting an RB DR midpipe and see that'll fix the power issue. Can you guys think of anything else that would make an rx8 experience my problems? (Ignition stuff just replaced last week.)
I mean... does it sound like I have a bigger problem here? Engine was replaced last year.

Ok digged a little deeper and found out some more info.

Possibility on clogged mufflers? That the honeycomb went straight into the catback?

Oh fml...

very possible

Your CAT is FUBAR... I suggest getting a midpipe

lol wtb, of course the pipe's fubar, like i said the honeycomb structure is gone...

The funny shit is the dealer told me the cat's been tampered with and they can't replace it under warranty, what should I do?
I mean I know I didn't gut the cat...
I already ordered a Agency Power midpipe to hold off till mid-may for the Racing Beat to be back in stock.

Tell that dealership they don't know shit might as well closed it.

Ur cat went into ur muffler. Take it off and shake it back out just to make them look like a moron.

Even if u can't shake it out, they are still morons because a complete burn out cat can and had happen, ask me how I know. I got mine replaced under warranty, my cat was empty, yep. Has nothing left.

And I wanna know how do they proof that ur cat has been tampered with?

Mufflers have been replaced under warranty because of cats burning out and the remains end up in the muffler.
I've had 4 cats replaced on my car. 3 were plugged, but the last one burned out.

I mean I don't know man, I don't know what to tell them.
They just told me, yea we took it apart and looked at it, it's empty, the honeycomb's not there, we aren't able to do anything for you cuz someone gutted out the cat. And I took it home cuz they aren't gonna be able to install a catless pipe. So I told them I'll install a midpipe and see if that fixes anything.

How did you get urs replaced nyc when it was empty. (I suspect I am in ur situation that u had before.) The cat is empty, and looks like its been gutted (at least to the tech/rep).

The service rep kept telling me his tech is a vet blah blah blah, he knows his shit, there's no way the honeycomb elements could be blown into the muffler yada yada yada.

I've told them it has happened before to the other guys, on (rx8club). He's still not convinced.

What should I say or tell them to have them to continue working on my car?
I have a aftermarket catback btw and I no longer have the OEM pipe.

It is a common failure for the CAT to disintegrate and fall to pieces....it will likely be mostly in your muffler canister.

If they can't figure that out maybe take it someplace else ;) If you didn't gut it..and it should still be covered...I would make a stink with Mazda NA

I bought the car used since 3/09, I mean... I know I didn't gut it. Unless my previous owner did, but then again, how on earth is it possible that it takes 3 years to find out? Even so I would've had the P0420 code longgggggg time ago if it was gutted right?

So pretty much their tech's put the possibility of the cat being burnt out completely out of the question. He just thinks I "tampered" the cat and therefore declined my warranty.
I called Mazda USA and they told me there's pretty much nothing they can do regarding this issue.
Can some of you who's had burnt out cat replaced help me with this? (al and nyc)?

Did they remove the muffler and try and dump the catalyst structure out of it?...if they didn't try how would they know where it went ;)

They took the cat out and took a peek in it.

Ahem...
Cough...


Tell them to try again, or better yet, go to a different dealer.
Your dealer sucks.

I know there's more than one dealer in Florida.

BC.

Try banging on the muffler with your hand. You should hear the remaining pieces rattling around in there.

deral emission law to have it covered I didnt say one word, the tech did show me the pipe and was like wtf happened to the car? I was like I don't know. Then he just replaced it

Just because he is a vet does not mean he knows his shit. I'm willing to bet I can replace a cat and muffler faster than him even if I'm on jackstand and he can use his shop lift.

Anything after the cat will not effect the cat itself. Not like u weld a piece of metal plate to completely shut the cat anyway. This is more like some lazy ass dealershitwo just hope that u will pay for full msrp of the cat instead of file it under warranty (they can only claim labor hours on it. Which is like only 1 hour for cat replacement)

Tell them that its federal emission law to have it fix, if they don't want to do it. Call mnao and tell them they are not doing it. And you will let the media and local state attorneys general to complaint

Well no, they are pretty much accusing me of tempering with the cat itself.
Too many stupid hondas gutting their cats in Florida I guess (cuz we don't have annual check).
He just assumed I'm one of them.
I mean it doesn't even make sense, a midpipes only like wt... 200 bucks.

They can't just assume. Just because a lot of people do it for retarded reasons(so vtec can kicking faster y0) doesn't mean you or anybody else gonna do it

Have u ever called mnao?

GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALER

Its either that, or you get a friend to make a video of you removing the muffler, and shaking the contents out onto the ground, then post it on the internet, and send a link to both your dealer, and Mazda North America.

If you really wanted to get your point across, do it in the entrance to the service department, and ask your shop's service manager and "veteran" rotary guy to explain that.

You need to do something yourself at this point.
Either go to a new dealer, or inspect the muffler yourself.

This dealer isn't going to do anything until you force them to (video proof).

BC.

Yea, they said they can't really do anything other than making a note. It's up to the dealership (technical side) to decide. They did advice me they could have the dealership call the corporate technicians. I'm gonna go talk to the manager today.

Yea. I guess I'm gonna have to do that if talking to the manager doesn't work.

Ok, they called corporate and mazda sent the ok for replacement.

good deal

Good job....never hurts to stick to your guns ;)

I would make sure they check out your catback as well....the matrix went someplace :)

Yep, I'm a tad bit worried abt that. I don't have my stock muffler anymore, and I'm pretty sure if there's problem with my HKS muffler, they won't be paying for that.

Good. Now u should talk some shit to that"omg vet I know my shit rotary garbage tech". I know I would

As for ur hks muffler, well. U can always take it down and shake as much out as u can. Or just wait till it melts itself