Hey all,

Quick question....is the cat covered by the 8 year/100,000 warranty? Mine for whatever reason decided to start rattling and turn on my CEL.

i did some searching on here but got mixed answers so i was hoping i could get someone who knows for sure or had personal experience with this issue. If it is covered which local bay area shops will do the work with least hassle?

My cat needs to be replaced. If its not replaced under warranty then screw it and i'll get a high flow

 

8 year/80k mile, not 100k

 

The 8yr 100,000 mile warranty is on the engine core only.

Mazda extended the warranty on the clutch pedal assemblies to 100,000 miles as well.

Those are the only 2 100,000 mile warranties.

However, California law mandates that catalytic converters be warrantied up to 70,000 miles.

Federal law ALSO mandates that catalytic converters be warrantied up to 80,000 miles.

So if your cat is failing, and you are over 80,000, you have 5 options:
1) knock out the insides of it and deal with the rasp, the buzz, the smell, etc... and ignore the emissions requirements
2) Buy a new cat for $1,300
3) Buy a used cat for $100 to $400 off the boards here (typically the newer a cat is, the more it will cost)
4) Buy a midpipe and ignore the cat and the emissions requirements
5) Buy a midpipe with a welded in cat of some type and hope you pass emissions with it (most still don't)


If you go with a midpipe option, I highly highly recommend the BHR midpipe above all others. Every other cat can fail, packing blow out, etc... and you get rasp, drone, buzz, etc. The BHR pipe uses a single resonator designed specifically for the rotary, (the heat, frequency, flow, and torture) and it WORKS. About to pass 20,000 miles with mine and still perfect.

 

^ Thank you for a very detailed response.

i'll look into that BHR midpipe. is it a bolt on easy replacement? i will also be putting it in front of a stock exhaust. i plan to upgrade to something catback dual exhaust eventually

 

Yes. Perfect fitment to OEM on both ends. It is my only exhaust mod. It was developed by Black Halo Racing, and they all have RX-8s (or did, 1 or two now have 7s), and it was developed on their 8s.

BHR stuff is always top notch. http://www.blackhaloracing.com

They are also forum vendors here.

 

Thank you very much RIWWP. Quick responses and detailed information. I'll save up for the BHR pipe then and hopefully I'll be able to afford it before the cat becomes a problem. Thanks again.

 

Do they offer and deals or sales/discounts for being a forum member? and on that site the pipe you're recommending is the first pipe correct? price is $450

 

No discounts off of the price you see, but trust me when I say that it isn't gouging in the least. Their products are not only worth every penny, but their profit margin isn't crazy either. BHR really does their best to get the best possible product at the best possible price.

They DO still have a margin of course, they are in it to make money, but they won't steer you wrong, they won't rip you off, and they back their products.


It's entirely worth it.

Any additional add-on to the pipe is up to you, but most of it isn't needed unless you wanted to add the cat to the pipe to pass emissions.

 

You'll probably pass the emissions test with a BHR midpipe with their cat. converter option, but you won't pass the visual check here in California.

 

yah passing smog is important to me because if i cant pass smog then no reg stickers =( but i dont want to have to spend a lot of money. what are my options in replacing the cat and passing smog? OTHER than jsut getting a stock cat cuz thats an obvious solution. lol

 

Can't help you there Not in CA.

 

I could not find a California legal aftermarket cat. converter available for an RX-8. So you'll have to get a used factory one that works or a new one from Mazda.

I think it's about $1300 just for the cat, plus you may need some misc. gaskets and nuts probably, plus labor if you can't do it yourself.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...ftermktcat.htm

 

Is it any different between OEM and AEM cat? I got the AEM cat before and check engine light was on, after that I replaced the OEM to smog check, now I'm thinking about both, which one is better? I got a custom cat, look so weir =.='.

 

AEM doesn't make a cat for the 8, or even a midpipe, so I have no idea what you are talking about.

Anything other than the OEM cat has at least a chance at causing a check engine light, that shouldn't shock you.



Are you talking about the intake? AEM makes an intake for the 8, and if that is causing you a check engine light then you are doing something wrong. Probably MAF screens missing or the MAF messed up.

 

You could just buy a used cat from a member on here, then if you want a midpipe just take your old cat and knock the insides out. Then you could just swap between the good cat and hollow cat pipe when you need inspection done. It will end up still being around $400 but at least then you get something you know will pass inspection. It will probably be pretty raspy though, and may not even work as good as a midpipe you could buy. Just another option to consider.

 

hmm maybe ill just get a used cat for cheap so the light will go away then save up for a midpipe or high flow cat and just swap between them when smog check time comes.